There’s a growing number of exciting trade fairs and festivals for bartenders and industry professionals to visit. Here, The Spirits Business highlights some of the most essential events that the spirits world has to offer in 2018.

SB recommends essential spirits industry dates for the diary

Across the world, events organisers are already busy planning this year’s line-up of key events for brands, distributors, marketers and bartenders.

From cocktail festivals to some of the biggest spirits shows around the world, we’ve rounded up the top events to mark a date in the calendar for.

Click through the following pages for the world’s most important and unmissable spirits industry events in 2018.

Vinexpo, New York

5-6 March

Vinexpo heads to New York in March for one of North America’s biggest drinks shows. The event will offer a series of tastings, exhibitions and talks from some of the world’s newest producers, as well as established brands.

www.vinexponewyork.com

 

Spirited, London

15 March

SB brings some of the world’s best spirits and cocktails together under one roof for a new London event. The first Spirited show will host a range of stands, offering the ability to network with producers from around the world, as well as the chance to discover the latest creations and drinks trends.

www.spiritedlondon.com

ProWein 2018, Düsseldorf

18-20 March

Last year’s event saw almost 60,000 visitors in attendance. This year the convention promises to be even bigger. Opening its doors on 18 March in Düsseldorf, ProWein 2018 will add a new ‘craft’ hall, a dedicated area for organic wines and offer even more tastings.

www.prowein.com

 

IAADFS Summit of the Americas, Orlando

18-21 March

The trade show for the Americas duty free takes place in Orlando this March, and offers attendees plenty of opportunities to network with industry experts. There’s also a host of talks, activities and fundraising opportunities for everyone in attendance.

www.iaadfs.org

TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition, Singapore

6-10 May

The Tax Free World Association’s Asia show is an essential visit for any professional in the region. Taking place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the conference promises to be the biggest one yet with hundreds of premium brands and innovative products on display.

www.tfwa.com

 

Vinexpo Hong Kong

29-31 May

The leading Asia­Pacific wine and spirits event returns for its 20th-­anniversary show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in May. The three­-day show features meetings, new products and networking opportunities for importers, distributors and producers.

www.vinexpohongkong.com

Bar Convent Brooklyn

12-13 June

Bar Convent has come a long way since it started out as a small industry meeting in Berlin. For the first time, the show has expanded Stateside with the launch of Bar Convent Brooklyn. BCB is a chance for brands and influencers to network, share knowledge and explore the newest trends in the drinks industry.

www.barconventbrooklyn.com

 

Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans

17–22 July

This summer, the world’s cocktail community descends on New Orleans for the 16th Tales of the Cocktail festival, which promises to be equal parts cocktail conference and family reunion. The event features a selection of seminars, tastings and competitions while celebrating the tricentennial of New Orleans.

www.talesofthecocktail.com

TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, Cannes

30 September–5 October

The flagship travel retail event returns this autumn with a huge range of industry workshops, brand showcases and week­long networking opportunities. Last year, visitor numbers were on the rise, which made the show one of the best ever. Here’s to an even bigger and better 2018 conference.

www.tfwa.com

 

Tequila & Mezcal Fest, London

October

Now in its fifth year, London’s two-­day festival celebrates two of Mexico’s most popular exports. The show hopes to educate consumers on ways to enjoy the spirits, through cocktail masterclasses, food pairings and seminars.

www.tequilafest.co.uk

IBA World Cocktail Championships, Tallinn

1-6 October

This annual gathering of more than 500 bartenders is one of the drinks industry’s most hotly anticipated competitions. Bartenders from around the world will compete to be named the International Bartenders Association’s Bartender of the Year.

www.iba­world.com

 

London Cocktail Week

1-7 October

Eight years on from the first event, London Cocktail Week has become bigger and better each year. Running from 1 October until 7 October, London Cocktail Week will once again be taking over bars and markets throughout the capital to celebrate London’s vibrant cocktail scene.

www.drinkup.london/cocktailweek

Bar Convent Berlin

8-10 October

After record­-breaking visitor numbers in 2017, the Berlin bar show returns with an extended three-­day run. Last year’s event featured 370 exhibitors from 32 countries, and this year’s show looks to be even bigger. This year, the festival puts Italy in the spotlight, naming it 2018 Country of Honour.

www.barconvent.com

 

Boutique Bar Show, London

Dates TBC

London’s new and high­-quality drinks fair returns this year, full of interesting products and inspirational speakers from the boutique bar community. The Boutique Bar Show will showcase more than 100 spirits brands and offer visitors a packed schedule of talks and workshops.

www.boutiquebarshow.com

The Spirits Masters Lunch, London

Dates TBC

Join us at the end of 2018 to celebrate the most impressive entries from our Global Spirits Masters competition. The 2018 competition will see experts blind taste products from across the world of spirits, taking in aroma, flavours and balance. And who knows, you may even leave with one of our Taste Master trophies.

www.thespiritsbusiness.com/the­globalspirits­masters

 

The Spirit Show, London

Dates TBC

Returning to London for its third year, this premium spirits exhibition showcases the best whisky, gin, vodka and rum brands from around the world. Also on display this year are stands offering wine, Champagne and the best fine foods for visitors to sample, while they discuss the biggest trends in the industry and enjoy a variety of musical entertainment.

www.thespiritshow.co.uk