Edinburgh Bar Show 2025 has officially wrapped – and what a show it was. Now in its second year, the four-day celebration of the bar industry, spirits, innovation, and hospitality excellence delivered on its bold ambition to educate, inspire, and connect the global drinks community, while showcasing the very best that Edinburgh and Scotland have to offer.
From April 6–9, venues across the capital were buzzing with energy as bartenders, brand ambassadors, and hospitality professionals came together to take part in the UK’s fastest-growing bar trade event.
Curated and delivered by Iain McPherson (Panda & Sons), Jamie Faulds, and Gary Anderson (Edinburgh Cocktail Week), the show is fast becoming a flagship celebration of the industry.
With more than 1,450 trade professionals attending the seminars and daytime events – and even larger crowds turning out for the evening activations and bar takeovers – EBS25 delivered an unforgettable programme.
The event also saw a near 15% increase in registrations compared to last year, underlining its rapid growth and rising profile. With over 55 events, activations, and seminars hosted citywide, Edinburgh Bar Show has firmly cemented its place on the international hospitality calendar.
Building on this success, the organisers are excited to confirm that Edinburgh Bar Show will return from Sunday 5th to Wednesday 8th April 2026 – promising to raise the bar even higher.
Jamie Faulds said: “We were all so pleased with EBS25 – it felt like a real step-up year on year. There was an amazing energy and buzz across the city, and a real sense of community amongst all that attended.
“A huge thank you goes to our brand partners for this year who helped us build a schedule that certainly delivered on our aspirations to engage and excite our growing audience. Roll on 2026!”
Building on the strong foundations of its 2024 debut, this year’s edition saw a marked expansion in scale and ambition.
Returning to The Voodoo Rooms as the official EBS Hub, the programme featured daily seminars and activities alongside a stellar schedule of bar takeovers and experiential brand activations.
Partner venues across the city hosted acclaimed international bars, while industry leaders delivered powerful insights during panel sessions and hands-on masterclasses.
Highlights included:
– The Johnnie Walker Drop at Johnnie Walker Princes Street: Making its UK debut, this immersive activation ran daily from 12–8pm and proved to be one of the show’s most talked-about experiences.
– Diageo Bar Academy Careers Lab: Offering team-building, career development, and even professional headshots, this two-day event created real value for attendees.
– Glenmorangie Wonder Cinema: A standout bartenders-only event at the Scotsman Cinema exploring the art of cocktail creativity.
– Mindful Drinking & Wellness: Sessions with Everleaf, Laura Willoughby MBE and Camille Vidal and brought a focus on wellbeing to the fore.
– EBS Parties: With Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder joint hosting the opening party and closing with a bang courtesy of Remy Cointreau’s Botanist & Bruichladdich takeover at Uno Was.
Gary Anderson says “It was amazing to see the bar community come out in force for the second edition of Edinburgh Bar Show.
“Expectations were high this year, and we definitely felt the pressure to deliver, but we have been delighted with the feedback from delegates and our brand partners which reaffirms our vision for the future of the event.
“We look forward to returning in 2026 with another dynamic and progressive programme of events that puts Edinburgh Bar Show at the top of the list of international drinks trade shows to visit.”
The 2025 edition also saw a significant uplift in brand participation, with new names including Johnnie Walker, Paragon, Brown Forman and Schweppes joining returning partners such as William Grant & Sons, Bacardi Group, Campari Group, and Pernod Ricard.
Their new and continued support has ensured that EBS remains free to attend for trade professionals, which is a core principle of the organisers.
Iain McPherson adds “Edinburgh Bar Show is very important to the Scottish and greater afield bar communities. Giving free education to bartenders is something we are really proud of, and witnessing that hunger to learn, is amazing to see.
“I think the uptake from year one is a great testament to that. We wouldn’t be able to do this without our amazing brand partners, so a huge thanks to them for the vital support.
Having people all around the world getting to see what Edinburgh’s bar scene is all about is fantastic and also giving the local bartenders the opportunity to learn from some of the Worlds best bars is very impactful too.
The energy I feel at each Edinburgh bar show to date, is very special.”
At its heart, Edinburgh Bar Show is about people. Whether it was bartenders trading techniques, brands unveiling new products, or delegates making connections that will shape their careers, the atmosphere throughout was one of collaboration, creativity, and shared passion.
The feedback from attendees and partners has been phenomenal, Vasilis Kyritsis co-owner of Line and The Clumsies in Athens adds “It was great to be part of EBS, such an amazing event and one of the most upcoming worldwide. Passionate people, amazing seminars and can’t wait to be back next year!”
With momentum building and plans already underway for 2026, Edinburgh Bar Show continues to prove that Scotland is a global leader in hospitality innovation.
The organisers are delighted that EBS will return next year from Sunday 5th to Wednesday 8th April 2026. With a reputation for excellence now firmly established, the 2026 edition promises to be the biggest and most dynamic yet offering even more opportunities for education, collaboration, and celebration across the global bar community.
For updates, media enquiries, and EBS newsletter sign-up, please visit: www.edinburghbarshow.co.uk
