RumFest began in 2007 with a simple ambition: to give rum the same respect and celebration that whisky, wine and beer had enjoyed for years. At the time, rum was often overlooked or pigeonholed as a party spirit, despite having one of the richest histories and greatest diversity of any drinks category. 

Over the last 20 years we've watched the rum world transform. We've welcomed thousands of visitors, introduced hundreds of distilleries to the UK market, and helped launch countless brands that have gone on to become global names. One of my proudest achievements has been seeing bartenders, consumers and producers from every corner of the world come together under one roof. RumFest has become more than a festival - it's become the annual family reunion of the international rum community.

2/ This edition of the show is something of a celebration - give us the whens and wheres and tell us what's new

The 20th Anniversary UK RumFest takes place from 17–19 October 2026 at the Mercure London Suite Conference Centre, Earls Court, London.

Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October are our consumer festival days, featuring hundreds of rums, cocktails, tastings and interactive seminars. Monday 19th October is our dedicated Trade Day, created for bartenders, bar managers, buyers, distributors, the wider hospitality sector and, for the first time, the travel and tourism industry.

To mark this milestone, RumFest will showcase 400+ rums from across the globe, including exciting producers from Ghana, Vietnam, Mauritius and Uganda. We're also shining a brighter spotlight on rum tourism, with Caribbean destinations, luxury resorts and tourist boards highlighting the unique travel experiences, culture and heritage that make rum one of the world's great destination spirits.

3/ Who's got the big stands this year and what about the interesting smaller ones - do any products really stand out?

Naturally brands like Mount Gay with their Rum Truck and Diplomatico with their Venezuelan Lounge are big stands, but new brands such as Crossfire Hurricane Jamaica Rum will bring a custom-converted Morris Minor van as a mobile sound system, record shack, and pop-up rum bar. 

 4/ The talks are always lively - perhaps it's all that rum at the show. Do you have a line up of topics and speakers?

Education has always been at the heart of RumFest, and this year's programme features some of the industry's most respected names. Richard Seale of Foursquare Distillery and Trudiann Branker, master blender of Mount Gay Rum, will lead masterclasses on craftsmanship, blending and the future of premium rum.

We'll also welcome Reactory, who'll demonstrate how their futuristic process can create the complexity and character of decades of traditional maturation in a matter of days - a fascinating discussion on where science and spirits intersect, and Bottler's Marque Company Ltd, showcasing exceptional rums and liqueurs from the Pacific Ocean nations and Australia. It's a programme designed to entertain, educate and inspire.

5/ The trade day is on the Monday - what does a day look like for a visiting bartender?

Monday is a completely different atmosphere from the weekend. Rather than consumers, the hall is filled with bartenders, bar managers, buyers, distributors, hotel groups and drinks decision-makers.

A bartender can spend the day discovering new brands, attending technical masterclasses, meeting distillers & blenders face-to-face, exploring cocktail ingredients and discussing potential collaborations. It's less about queuing for samples and more about building relationships and developing careers. If the weekend celebrates rum lovers, Monday is about helping shape the future of the rum industry.