London Cocktail Week is to move from October to March, its owners have announced.
The next festival will take place week commencing 15 March 2027, with no show taking place in 2026.
The news comes on the day that organisers Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne completed their deal to acquire the show from Speciality Drinks, owned by Pernod Ricard.
Hannah Sharman-Cox said: “When London Cocktail Week launched in 2010, October was the ideal fit - a quieter time for London bars and well aligned with the UK events calendar. Sixteen years on, the global events landscape is far more crowded.
“Talking to our peers, we believe switching up the dates is necessary, returning the week to a time when trade is quieter and it’s beneficial to bars to drive consumer audiences into venues.”
Siobhan Payne added: “We’re thrilled to see the acquisition completed today. Having full ownership puts us in a position to make decisions that will benefit the festival and the wider industry alike. Changing the dates feels like the right move in every respect, and we’re excited to turn our focus to London Cocktail Week, Spring 2027."