Bangkok will host four days of international bartending talent this October as the Bangkok Bar Show returns from 23–26 October 2026. The event gathers bartenders, bar owners, hospitality professionals and cocktail enthusiasts for guest shifts, collaborations, parties and discussions spread across the city.
Events Around the City
The programme begins on 23 October at AQUA Bar with a Seoul‑led K‑Pop party featuring Don Shin of Kiez Seoul, Soko Son of Bar Soko Seoul, Felix Jo of Villa Record Seoul and Minseok Kwan of Ace Four Club Seoul. On 24 and 25 October, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel becomes the main hub, while other venues host late‑night takeovers and gatherings. Salon Social at Four Seasons Hotel welcomes Steve Schneider of Sip & Guzzle New York, Julia of Bar Kumiko Chicago, Atsushi Suzuki of Bellwood Tokyo, Lorenzo Querci of Moebius Milan, Nico de Soto of Danico Paris and Jay Khan of COA Hong Kong for an evening of shared drinks and conversation.
Seminars during the central two days explore topics such as sake traditions, aperitivo culture, bar ownership, artificial intelligence in hospitality, cultural identity and the growing guest‑shift circuit. Late‑night events include the Female Powerhouses Takeover at Zuma with Shelley Tai of MIUS, Tiger Liang of Foo Bar Shanghai and Ariel Hou of Bar Pine Taipei. The Southeast Asia showcase at The NORM Bangkok features Joash Conceicao of Offtrack Singapore, Kiki Moka of Cocktail Club Jakarta, Shirmy Chan of Term Kuala Lumpur and Edward Reyes of Spirits Library.
The final day, 26 October, features the Bangkok Bar Show Awards and the announcement of Thailand’s 20 Best Bars 2026 at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. The closing party at Firefly Bar continues into the night with Keith Motsi of Virtu Tokyo, Elon Soddu of Bar Amaro London and Nelaka of Kampong Colombo behind the bar.
A Connected Community
Since its start in 2019, Bangkok Bar Show has become a place where Thailand’s bartenders connect with peers from across Asia and beyond. The 2026 edition strengthens that role, welcoming both established names and emerging talent from cities including Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, London and Paris. Southeast Asia is also in focus, with bartenders from Singapore, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur joining Bangkok’s leading venues.
Alongside the drinks, the programme looks at the ideas shaping the industry today — from how Asian drinking traditions influence global trends to the realities of running a bar and the rise of guest-shift collaborations. Together, these exchanges highlight a community that is increasingly connected across borders, with Bangkok at the center of the conversation.
