A taste of what’s to come: First venues announced as Bristol Cocktail Weekend returns for 2026

Tickets are on sale now for the festival's fourth edition, taking place from Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 September at venues across the city

Bristol Cocktail Weekend will return to the city for a fourth year, from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September 2026, inviting cocktail lovers to discover the city’s best bars, boldest flavours and independent spirit. 2026 marks the fourth edition of the four-day, city-wide event in a celebration of drinks and creativity.

Designed as the ultimate long weekend for cocktail lovers, the festival will once again transform Bristol’s city centre into a choose-your-own drinks adventure! Wristband wearers will be able to explore a curated selection of venues serving exclusive £7 signature cocktails and £6 alcohol-free alternatives, alongside a programme of special events and food experiences set to be revealed in the lead-up to September.

The first wave of this year’s line-up of venues sees returning favourites such as The Milk Thistle, Filthy XIII, Jaded Dragon, Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery, Blame Gloria, Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Harbour Kitchen & Bar, The Granary Club, Dirty Martini, The Glassboat, Hotel du Vin, Rick’s Bar, Clayton Hotel, Cosy Club, Golden Crane, Harvey Nichols Second Floor Bar, No.1 Harbourside, Spirited, Flight Club and The Juke Box, winners of Cocktail of the Year 2025. Alongside these are some new additions involved for the first time, including Ritorno Lounge, Brown’s Brasserie & Bar and Bristol Beacon’s Colonnade.

The line-up reflects Bristol’s growing reputation as a leading destination for cocktail culture, with venues featured in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list included in this year’s programme and many more still to be announced.

At the heart of the festival, The Spirit of Bristol Hub at Bambalan will act as the central meeting point, where guests collect wristbands and guides before heading out across the city. Spirit of Bristol, the headline supporter of this year’s festival, will be offering visitors to the hub the chance to sample their locally-made gin – an independent, locally founded spirit created by Bristol-based distiller, Pete Lumber.

Organised by food and drink events specialists Living For The Weekend, and supported by Bristol Business Improvement District (BID), the festival continues to champion the city’s hospitality sector, driving footfall and encouraging exploration and discovery of new flavours. Additional supporters of this year’s festival include Monin, Anon Drinks, Buffalo Trace, Johnnie Walker and Casamigos.

“

Alex Nicholson-Evans, Founder and Director of Bristol Cocktail Weekend, said

“Bristol’s exciting bar scene is constantly evolving and this weekend is about putting all of the fantastic venues that make the city so special in the spotlight. Every year festival goers join us to discover new bars, re-visit old favourite haunts and to try new flavours. It’s the ultimate choose-your-own adventure cocktail experience and we cannot wait to do it all again for a fourth year!”

“

Sabrina Shutter, Senior Event Project Manager at Bristol BID, added

“Bristol Cocktail Weekend plays a valuable role in supporting our hospitality businesses, bringing people into the city and encouraging them to experience everything our venues have to offer. It’s a brilliant showcase of the talent we have here and helps strengthen Bristol’s reputation as a must-visit destination for food and drink.”

Tickets are on sale now, with a special Early Access price of just £10 (plus booking fee) available until Sunday 31st May.

With more venues, collaborations and experiences still to be revealed, Bristol Cocktail Weekend 2026 is set to be a vibrant celebration of the city’s creativity, community and cocktail culture.

Bristol Cocktail Weekend is an 18+ event. Please drink responsibly. For more information, including how to buy wristbands, head to https://bristolcocktailweekend.co.uk/