India Bartender Show returns
The India Bartender Show, formerly India Bartender Week, has announced that its second edition, taking place in 2026, will spotlight the country’s growing agave production and welcome consumers for the first time.
India Bartender Week, which debuted in 2025, will return next year under new name India Bartender Show.
Conceptualised by industry stalwarts Vikram Achanta, Minakshi Singh, and Yangdup Lama, the show’s second iteration will welcome consumers as well as trade. “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, said co-founder Singh.
The India Bartender Show has been hailed as the first platform created to celebrate the country’s bartending and beverage community.
Achanta said of the second edition: “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.”
Next year’s event will consist of Beverage Week (19-24 February 2026), World Bartender Day (24 February 2026) and the India Bar Summit (25-26 February 2026).
Beverage Week will see more than 75 bars across India’s National Capital Region serving bespoke drinks spotlighting local Indian ingredients. The week-long event will also include consumer-focused experiences, such as whisky dinners, cocktail workshops, wine tastings, craft beer tastings and bar crawls.
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The Bar Summit will be held at Le Méridien, Gurgaon over two days. The event, targeting industry leaders, bartenders and hoteliers, will offer panel discussions and masterclasses from Indian hospitality experts.
Next year’s show will feature Baithak, a zone dedicated to conversations in Hindi. The Future Room is an area designed to give a deep dive into emerging trends and innovation. And the Product Showcases & Exhibitors Village will spotlight new bar tools and products.
The India Bartender Show will introduce three new zones next year: Agave Village, Indian Craft Spirits and Beer, Wine & No-Low Zones.
Its founders have also said they plan to expand the platform to include bartenders and bar owners from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian countries in a bid to foster cross-border exchange and collaboration.
Yangdup Lama, another of the show’s co-founders, 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.”
Last year’s India Bartender Week welcomed representation from more than 20 Indian states. Its co-founders aim to drive stronger participation from tier-1 and tier-2 cities for the 2026 edition to ensure a more diverse and robust presence across the board.
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