Ten years on, and Florence Cocktail Week shows every sign of maturity. The conclusion of the 2026 edition, held from April 16 to 22, brought remarkable numbers, high-profile collaborations, and the launch of a book celebrating Florence, cocktails, and the people behind the bar. In short, it was a resounding success.
The Numbers Behind Florence Cocktail Week
The 2026 edition marked a significant milestone for Florence Cocktail Week: ten years — and nine editions — since the event first launched. Looking back across the decade, the numbers tell the story clearly. A total of 70 venues have taken part, alongside 200 events and 185 guest shifts.
One remarkable trajectory for a project that began on a far smaller scale in 2016, thanks to the vision of Paola Mencarelli, the founder and driving force behind Florence Cocktail Week and the other formats that followed: Tuscany Cocktail Week, Venice Cocktail Week, Cortina Cocktail Weekend, and Amalfi Coast Cocktail Week.
A Celebration of Italian Talent
To properly mark its tenth anniversary, Florence Cocktail Week 2026 placed Italian talent at the center of the conversation. That meant established professionals already working at an international level, younger bartenders involved in the Young Guest Bartender initiative, and the bars and hotel bars of Florence that have become an integral part of the city’s contemporary Dolce Vita.
Drink Lists in Step With the Times
The relevance of Florence Cocktail Week 2026 was also reflected in the specially created drink lists developed by the 55 selected cocktail bars. The offering aligned closely with global trends, giving significant space to low- and no-alcohol cocktails, while also embracing the revival of classic recipes as a cultural gesture — one capable of adding substance and depth to more experimental forms of mixology.
Cocktails in Florence, the Book
As Florence Cocktail Week has grown, Florence itself has secured a place on the global cocktail map. As a fitting final touch, the 2026 edition coincided with the publication of Cocktails in Florence. The book, created as an extension of Florence Cocktail Week and published by Gruppo Editoriale, brings together 59 venues and their most representative cocktails, carefully selected by Paola Mencarelli to offer an up-to-date portrait of the very best Florence has to offer in drinks culture.
“It’s a journey,” says Matteo Parigi Bini, founder of Gruppo Editoriale, “that highlights the quality and originality of the ingredients, and the alchemy created through the meeting of tradition, creativity, and the craftsmanship of Florence’s bartenders.”
Images courtesy of Florence Cocktail Week
