India Bartender Show announces 2026 sequel
The India Bartender Show (formerly India Bartender Week) will return for a second edition next year, complete with an agave village.
The show made its debut in February this year, spotlighting India’s cocktail scene.
It was founded by three of India’s leading figures in the bar industry: Vikram Achanta, Minakshi Singh and Yangdup Lama.
The trio modelled the concept from New York’s Bartender Show.
On bringing the show back for round two, Achanta said: “India Bartender Show is an important platform as it fills a gap in the current beverage industry. It is one of the few made for the bar trade, where people can exchange ideas, learn, and be part of a larger community.
“Last year proved how ready Indian bartending is for a wider stage, so this year we are widening the platform with bigger spaces, deeper conversations, and more opportunities for discovery for both bartenders and consumers.”
Returning again for the 2026 edition is the India Bartender Show’s Bar Summit, which will be held from 25-26 February at Le Méridien in Gurgaon.
The summit features a two-day gathering of industry leaders – from bartenders to hoteliers – with the agenda including panel discussions, masterclasses, bar takeovers, baithek (a zone dedicated to conversations in Hindi), product showcases and a future room, which explores emerging trends and innovation.
Prior to that, Beverage Week will run from 19-24 February, with bespoke cocktails crafted with local Indian ingredients available in more than 75 bars in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India. Additionally consumers can take part in a range of experiences, such as whisky dinners, cocktail workshops, wine and craft beer tastings, bar crawls and more.
World Bartender Day will then fall on 24 February, celebrated with a ‘special bar takeover by and for bartenders in a leading bar in NCR’.
Handshake Grant returns, consumers involved for first time
The Handshake Grant will also return in 2026, having helped out more than 100 bartenders this year with full financial support for their stay and travel to the summit.
The programme is designed to make the summit ‘more accessible to talented bartenders across the country, ensuring inclusivity and regional representation while placing a strong emphasis on gender diversity’.
It will focus on inclusivity and mentorship for young talent, and is now being extended to bartenders and bar owners from Nepal and Sri Lanka. On widening the scope across South Asia, Lama said: “India Bartender Show is becoming the meeting point for South Asia’s bar industry.
“With representatives from Nepal and Sri Lanka joining us this year, the platform is expanding in a way that feels both natural and exciting.
“Our focus remains on growth, learning, and building a sustainable ecosystem for beverage professionals across the region.”
Next year’s show will also look to diversify and strengthen representation from across the region, with more participants from tier one and two cities. Last year’s show saw involvement from people from more than 20 states in India.
Meanwhile, new features for next year include giving consumers access for the first time with the bar summit now a ticketed event.
There will also be three new zones for visitors to explore. One will be dedicated to Indian craft spirits, the other for beer, wine and no/low, and the third for agave, with an agave village spotlighting India’s fast-growing rise in interest for agave spirits.
Singh added: “By inviting consumers in this year, we are giving them a chance to experience a side of bartending they don’t usually see. It’s also a way to open up more learning opportunities for anyone curious about the craft behind mixology.”
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