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Unmissable spirits events in 2025

The world of spirits has many shows, events, and conferences for guests to attend. We highlight the ones not to miss in 2025.

Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) 2024
New Orleans festival Tales of the Cocktail offers plenty of parties

Get your diaries and passports at the ready as The Spirits Business team has compiled our pick of the best events from across the globe for the year ahead.

Making their return after successful debuts last year are Ajabu, Africa’s first dedicated cocktail festival, the Sydney Spirits Festival and Edinburgh Bar Week.

Also new on the scene in the UK capital is The Whisky Exchange’s first Tequila & Mezcal Show and the revamped Bar Convent London (formerly known as the beloved Imbibe Live).

It’s about to be another busy 12 months for the industry, so make sure to add these crucial dates to your calendar.


Wine Paris

Wine Paris

Paris, France
10‐12 February

After dropping Vinexpo Paris from its name, Wine Paris is set to return to the French capital with a new location for its Be Spirits arm. Located in Hall 5 of the Paris Expo Porte de Versaille, the 2,000‐square‐metre space will house 218 spirits exhibitors from 31 countries. There will also be four new international pavilions: Moldova, Peru, Italy and Belgium.

www.wineparis.com


IAADFS Summit of the Americas

Miami, Florida
8‐11 March

Returning to the sunny climes of Florida, the annual duty free show is back a month earlier than usual. Held at the InterContinental Miami hotel, the Summit will feature an enhanced array of conference sessions and multiple networking opportunities all against the backdrop of Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Port of Miami.

www.iaadfs.org


Ajabu

Ajabu

Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa
9–12 March and 13–16 March

Africa welcomed its first dedicated spirits and cocktail festival last year, and the biannual event is set to return to two cities in 2025. The 2024 festival welcomed international bars such as Mexico‐based Rayo and London’s Trailer Happiness, for a week of educational sessions, forums, wine tours, and dinners at local Johannesburg and Cape Town venues.

www.ajabufestival.com


ProWein

ProWein

Düsseldorf, Germany
16‐18 March

The limelight will stay on spirits for ProWein 2025, with ProSpirits returning to its home in Hall 5. There will be a focus on themes such as whisky, low‐alcohol beverages, rum, and fruit brandies. In addition, a tasting zone and bar are planned for the hall. Next door, Same but Different will also return in Hall 7, where craft spirits and beer producers will be able to showcase their wares.

www.prowein.com


Edinburgh Bar Show

Edinburgh Bar Show
L-R: Jamie Faulds, Iain McPherson and Gary Anderson, founders of Edinburgh Bar Show

Edinburgh, UK
6‐9 April

After a successful debut in 2024, the first dedicated bar show for the Scottish capital will return with an expanded seminar programme and a jam‐packed schedule of bar takeovers from venues around the world. Visitors can expect to see the best of Scotland’s products and local bartending talent during the event.

www.edinburghbarshow.co.uk


Spain Rum and Gin Expo

Madrid, Spain
8‐9 May

The Rum Lab is bringing back its Spain Rum and Gin Expo to Madrid for the second year in a row. The event will kick off with a DaiquiriMANIA Cocktail Night on 8 May, followed by a conference the next day. The event promises networking opportunities, exclusive tastings, sensory experiences, and seminars from industry experts.

www.rumandginexpo.com


TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference

TFWA Singapore

Singapore
11‐15 May

The Tax Free World Association’s (TFWA) annual conference in Asia is an essential event for travel retail professionals, held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. As is the norm, participants can expect engaging activations, multiple networking events, and informative workshops.

www.tfwa.com


Tequila & Mezcal Show

London, UK
16‐17 May

Known for its flagship Whisky Show (set for 3‐5 October 2025), UK retailer The Whisky Exchange will host its first show dedicated to agave spirits at its usual event spot, Glaziers Hall. More than 150 Tequilas, mezcals and agave spirits from across the world will be on offer, from the likes of The Lost Explorer, Don Fulano and Teremana.

www.thewhiskyexchange.com/events


Bar Convent Brooklyn

Bar Convent Brooklyn

New York, US
10‐11 June

Bar Convent’s annual New York show experienced a ‘record’ turnout in 2024, featuring 230 exhibitors from 48 countries and 47 US states. While we await more details about the 2025 fair, you can expect the usual mix of emerging and major spirits producers showcasing their portfolios, alongside bar takeovers and sessions covering the latest drinks trends.

www.barconventbrooklyn.com


BCB London

BCB London Imbibe Live
The first BCB London event will take place in summer 2025

London, UK
30 June‐1 July

Previously known as Imbibe Live, the UK’s biggest drinks trade show has joined the Bar Convent family, and will head to a new venue in 2025. Held at Tobacco Dock in Wapping, we’re expecting big things from BCB London 2025, which has hired acclaimed bartender Jack Sotti as its brand ambassador.

www.barconventlondon.com


Sydney Spirits Festival

Sydney

Sydney, Australia
11‐13 July

The inaugural Sydney Spirits Festival played host to major international brands alongside Australian craft distillers. Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from distillers and festival goers, the organisers are planning to repeat the event in 2025, bringing together a range of spirits within one large festival.

www.australianginawards.com.au/shop/syd ney‐spirits‐festival‐2025/


Tales of the Cocktail

Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) 2024

New Orleans, US
20‐25 July

The annual New Orleans festival gathers bartenders and spirits enthusiasts for five days of seminars, parties, activations, and a glittering awards ceremony. Focusing on the theme ‘Evolve’, this year’s festival will return to The Ritz‐Carlton hotel.

www.talesofthecocktail.org


TFWA World Exhibition & Conference

TFWA Cannes 2024

Cannes, France
28 September‐2 October

The duty free trade show celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024, when it welcomed nearly 7,500 attendees. Visitors can expect to discover the latest travel retail‐exclusive products and network with an array of media, buyers and brands. The Spirits Business will also host its unmissable annual Travel Retail Beach Party on 29 September.

www.tfwa.com/tfwa‐world‐exhibition‐conference


Bar Convent Berlin

BCB

Berlin, Germany
6‐8 October

Voted the best party city in the world by the Consumer Choice Center’s Nightlife Index 2023, Berlin continues to attract thousands of visitors to its annual bartender and spirits convention. The education programme at the 2024 Bar Convent Berlin was the largest in its history, and its numerous parties and bar takeovers cement it as an event not to be missed.

www.barconvent.com


London Cocktail Week

London Cocktail Week founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne
London Cocktail Week founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne (image credit: Charlie Mckay)

London, UK
9‐19 October

Year after year, London Cocktail Week has managed to stay as exciting as ever, with its programme of tastings, masterclasses and bar pop‐ups. All key elements will be back for 2025 – self‐guided Cocktail Tours, The Connoisseur’s Collection, and the Bartender Knowledge Exchange – a programme of peer‐ to‐peer learning opportunities from some of the city’s most respected bar teams.

www.londoncocktailweek.com


Athens Bar Show

Athens, Greece
4‐5 November

More than 17,000 visitors descended on Athens for its annual Bar Show in 2024, which concluded with nearly 200 events in the Greek capital. Alongside some of the world’s most talented bartenders popping up at local haunts, there were plenty of seminars and tastings to keep the trade busy.

www.athensbarshow.gr


The Spirits Business Awards Ceremony 2025

SB Awards Claudia Winkleman

London, UK
November

A revamp of The Spirits Business Awards (SB Awards) in 2024 saw the awards ceremony return in a glitzy format, with a black‐tie event presented by Claudia Winkleman. Join us in 2025 to raise a cocktail to the brightest and most innovative minds in the industry.

www.awards.thespiritsbusiness.com

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