Cape Town Cocktail Week gets educational
Kurt Schlechter, the founder of Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen, has been appointed as director of education for Cape Town Cocktail Week (CTCW) and will co-create the event’s inaugural education programme.
The first CTCW took place in December 2025, with this year’s edition to follow on 7-13 December 2026.
The inaugural event included more than 25 participating venues across Cape Town’s City Bowl region, each contributing a signature cocktail.
This year, Schlechter will work closely with festival founder Leah van Deventer to create the programme.
“Education only works when it’s embedded in the industry it’s meant to serve,” said Schlechter. “CTCW, a home-grown festival designed to promote cocktail culture in the city, offers exactly the right ecosystem.
“With our combined passion and experience, Leah and I know how to deliver something that’s credible and comprehensive, and that genuinely serves the community we’ve spent decades mentoring.”
Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, will be the host venue for the education programme, which will be delivered within the hotel’s conference facilities.
“The education programme is a natural extension of what CTCW stands for, and with nearly 30 years spearheading education across the continent, Kurt is the right person to lead it,” added Van Deventer.
“We’re Capetonians building something for Cape Town that can take its place in the global industry calendar.”
The global bar community is invited to submit presentation proposals for the 2026 show, with brand partners interested in powering the programme also encouraged to get in touch.
Those interested in submitting a seminar proposal can do so until 5 June at this link: https://bit.ly/CTCW26EdProg
For brand partnerships, email [email protected] or [email protected]
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