India Bar Summit: Dates, Full Schedule, How To Attend And Why The Industry Is Excited

The Indian beverage industry is undergoing a seismic shift, moving from simple service to world-class mixology and innovation. At the heart of this transformation is the India Bar Summit 2026, the country's premier gathering for bartenders, bar owners, and spirits enthusiasts. As part of the broader India Bartender Show, this summit serves as a high-octane platform for networking, masterclasses, and uncovering the trends that will define how India drinks in the coming year.

Megha Mamgain To Moderate The "Drinking Indian" Panel

The session, "Drinking Indian: The Future of Indian Cocktail Culture: Aazol, Presented by Barkraft," will be moderated by Megha Mamgain, Managing Editor of Health & Lifestyle and Vice President at Jagran New Media. This high-profile discussion brings together a powerhouse of experts dedicated to the evolution of India's beverage landscape:

• Siddharth Purohit: The Co-founder of Aazol, a pioneering Mumbai-based consumer food startup launched in 2021. Partnering with his mother, Apurva Purohit, Siddharth drives the brand's growth by spearheading sales, marketing, and digital operations, with a focus on bringing authentic Indian flavours to the modern palate.

• Thomas Zacharias & Yangdup Lama: Widely regarded as two of the most influential visionaries in the Indian culinary and bar scenes. Thomas (The Locavore) and Yangdup (Sidecar) are celebrated for their commitment to storytelling and their mastery of indigenous ingredients, consistently elevating Indian craftsmanship and heritage to a global standard.

What Is India Bartender Show?

It is the first dedicated platform in the country, made specifically for bartenders, beverage professionals, and bar enthusiasts. It was developed to fill a long-standing need. Even as the bar scene in India continues to rapidly develop, there is no single place where bartenders can go to learn and network with the best bartenders in the country and around the world. The India Bartender Show is more than a festival or an event. It is a 2-day escape to help the bar industry in India enter a new age of creativity and identity. While the 2025 event (the first of its kind) focused on self-branding and development, the 2026 event will shift its attention to new flavour techniques, the future of bar innovation using technology and AI, and the increasing creative crossover between kitchens and bars.

 

 

 

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India Bar Summit: Dates and Full Schedule

Here is a detailed look at the workshop, sessions and who will be the key speakers at the India Bar Summit 2026.

Main Stage Day 1, February 25th

Main Stage Day 2, February 26th

Workshops Day 1, February 25th 

Workshops Day 2, February 26th 

Future Room Day 1, February 25th 

Future Room Day 2, February 26th 

Beer, Wine And Nolo Day 1, February 25th 

Beer, Wine And Nolo Day 2, February 26th 

Baithak Day 1, February 25th 

Baithak Day 2, February 26th 

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What To Expect In 2026

• Beverage Week (February 19-24, 2026): A week-long celebration of creativity through

customised drinks made with Indian ingredients in over 75 bars in NCR. Consumers can enjoy the best of India’s bar culture. This will also include a variety of consumer-centric activities such as whisky dinners, cocktail-making workshops, wine tastings, craft beer tastings, bar crawls, and more.

• World Bartender Day (February 24, 2026): A bar takeover by and for bartenders in a prominent bar in NCR.

• India Bar Summit (Feb 25-26, 2026): A two-day event for industry leaders, bartenders, hoteliers, and more, featuring:

1. Panel Discussions with prominent bar personalities and innovators.

2. Masterclasses to improve creativity and technical expertise.

3. Baithak – a space for conversations in Hindi.

4. The Future Room – an immersion in the latest trends and innovation.

5. Product Showcases & Exhibitors Village – a focus on the latest and greatest in bar equipment

6. and products.

7. Bar Takeovers and After-Parties celebrate camaraderie and creativity.

    

    

    

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The Minds Behind India Bartender Show

Vikram Achanta

Vikram Achanta is a leading personality in the beverage sector in India, being the Founder & CEO of Tulleeho, a top consulting and training company founded in 2000, and Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia. With more than 25 years of experience, he is a leading voice in the Indian spirits industry, mentoring young talent in the industry and influencing bar culture in South Asia.

Minakshi Singh

Minakshi Singh is the Co-Founder of Sidecar, Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy, The Brook, and The Old House; a celebrated entrepreneur championing sustainability, community-building, and India’s bar identity.

Yangdup Lama

Yangdup Lama, also known as ‘The Spirited Monk,’ is a trailblazing Indian bartender, entrepreneur, and educator who has helped to define the modern cocktail culture in India over the last 25+ years. As a co-owner of the globally recognised New Delhi bar Sidecar, named among Asia’s and the world’s best bars, he is considered one of the world’s best mixologists.

How To Attend The Event

Participating in the India Bartender Show (IBS) 2026, which includes consumer-driven events, demands pre-registration for particular sessions (you can refer to their website), such as bar crawls, masterclasses, or the summit. The second edition will take place on February 25-26, 2026, while associated events will occur in the preceding days in the Delhi NCR.

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