This Cocktail Festival Is Summer’s Hottest Event, Here’s Why
London’s biggest and most famous cocktail festival is back this summer, and you’re invited. For two weekends in July and August, London’s best bars, bartenders, and the world’s most recognisable drinks brands will head to Bedford Square in Bloomsbury for Cocktails in the City, the ultimate garden party celebration.
In Partnership With Cocktails in the City
Top bars from London will all come together in one stunning alfresco location on 2nd-4th July and 6th-8th August. Among the names to look out for are GONG Bar, Sabine Laki Kane and Ognisko. Together with live music, street food, games, workshops, and of course, the city’s best cocktails, this is a truly unmissable festival for cocktail lovers.
The star-studded 2026 line-up features an incredible mix of award-winning hotel bars, secret speakeasies, and cult neighborhood spots, including: Ognisko, Dram Bar, The Coral Room, San Carlo, BouleBar, Laki Kane, Daisy Green, Gambit Bar, Hutong, Waeska Bar at The Mandrake, The Cocktail Club, GŎNG, Quaglino’s, Shochu Lounge at Roka, Hidden Society, Aqua Kyoto, Waltz Bar, Holborn Dining Room, Bar Kinky, Hacha, Scales Bar, Sabine, Archive & Myth, Soma, and 1910.
This festival brings together some of the city’s most exciting bars, mixologists and brands in one place, creating a vibrant and immersive experience.
Elly, Founder & CEO
What we’re excited for at Cocktails in the City
1. The Bartenders Edit
As part of the curated Cocktail Collectives series, The Bartenders’ Edit turns industry insider knowledge into an exclusive drinking experience. Every bartender has a personal list of the ultimate spots they would recommend to a friend, and this feature brings that exclusive list to life.
Created and organised by industry expert Sam Galani, this collective features six venues hand-picked from a Top 20 list compiled by London’s leading bartenders. Each evening, the festival will present a different live collaboration, giving festival-goers a rare chance to discover and drink at the exact bars the hospitality industry itself returns to time and again.
2. The Pan-Asian Collective
From Japanese whisky highballs to Southeast Asian-inspired sours, pan-Asian influence is currently one of the most exciting influences in contemporary cocktail culture.
For this dedicated collective, three of London’s most respected destinations – GŎNG, Shochu Lounge at ROKA, and SOMA – are joining forces. This pop-up brings the electric energy and elevated flavours of these award-winning venues straight into the heart of the garden.
3. Food village
For the first time, Cocktails in the City is introducing a brand-new, dedicated Food Village to elevate the festival’s dining experience. This curated culinary area will feature a premier selection of local chefs and top London restaurants serving an array of delicious small plates designed to perfectly pair with your drinks.
Alongside global street food staples, guests can look forward to the highly anticipated appearance of the new-to-London Hong Kong sensation, Dim Sum Library, serving up their signature dishes throughout the weekend.
This is one of the most exciting highlights on London’s summer calendar. From immersive cocktail-making workshops to ending the night at the silent disco, this is an experience you definitely don’t want to miss.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
4. Coffee cocktails
Think the Espresso Martini is the final word on caffeine-infused drinks? Think again. Hosted by legendary London bars Callooh Callay and Little Bat, this collective explores the next frontier of coffee mixology.
It’s a dynamic showcase for the forward-thinking bartenders pushing the category into genuinely exciting territory with cold-brew highballs, fermented coffee spirits, cascara, and beyond.
5. Workshops, games, live music, silent disco
Guests can elevate their mixology skills at interactive “Make My Marg” workshops dedicated to mastering the perfect margarita, or head over to the Tasting Rooms for a fast-paced experience that blends “speed dating” with producer-led masterclasses and brand ambassador workshops.
When you’re not learning trade secrets, the private lawn transforms into a full-blown summer playground. Guests can dance the night away with a DJ-led silent disco, catch live music on the festival’s mainstage, or challenge friends to classic garden games scattered throughout the festival. From table tennis and cornhole to a dedicated pétanque court hosted by Boulebar, it is a fully immersive summer celebration you won’t want to miss.
Event info
Cocktails in the City takes place in Bedford Square from 2nd-4th July and 6th-8th of August, 2026.
