On 14 and 15 September 2026, La Nuvola Convention Centre will host Roma Bar Show for the first time, bringing together exhibitors, buyers and professionals from around thirty countries. This year’s edition expands its focus beyond cocktail creation, placing two of the industry’s most pressing topics at the heart of the programme: the rise of no- and low-alcohol drinks and the business skills required to build a successful, sustainable bar.
Roma Bar Show Introduces a Dedicated No- and Low-Alcohol Area
Building on the success of previous editions, Roma Bar Show will once again feature established attractions such as the Mexican Village, alongside educational spaces including the Tasting Room and the Academy.
One of the major additions for 2026 is a dedicated area entirely focused on no- and low-alcohol cocktails. Once considered a niche category, alcohol-free and low-ABV drinks have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the global drinks industry, driven by changing consumer habits and increasing demand for sophisticated alternatives that stand alongside traditional cocktails rather than replacing them.
Business Sustainability and Management Education
Running a successful cocktail bar has never depended solely on technical ability behind the bar. History offers notable exceptions, such as Sasha Petraske, whose influence on modern bartending remains undeniable despite the financial challenges of operating his businesses. Today, entrepreneurial and managerial expertise has become just as important as cocktail craftsmanship.
Reflecting that shift, Roma Bar Show 2026 introduces the Business Room, a new educational space dedicated to leadership, financial management, data analysis, brand development and hospitality business strategy.
The event also strengthens its commercial focus through an expanded Buyer Program, developed in partnership with ICE – Italian Trade Agency and Fiere di Parma, with the aim of creating new international business opportunities for exhibitors and brands.
International Guest Speakers
The programme also welcomes some of the most influential figures in contemporary mixology. Among the featured speakers are Faye Chen from Double Chicken Please in New York, Jonathan Gabbay of Argo in Hong Kong, Marco Corallo from Saikindō in Abu Dhabi and Alex Frezza, founder of L’Antiquario in Naples.
Throughout the event they will share the stories behind some of their signature cocktails, discuss the creative thinking and research that shaped them, and explore the business models that have helped make their bars internationally recognised and commercially sustainable.
Coqtail – for fine drinkers at Roma Bar Show 2026
As an official media partner, Coqtail – for fine drinkers will be present throughout the two-day event with a dedicated stand on Level -1 of La Nuvola. Visitors can find the latest issues of the magazine at Stand B18, where the editorial team will also host a series of interviews with many of the event’s leading bartenders, producers and industry figures. Roma Bar Show 2026 promises to showcase the evolution of cocktail culture and also to highlight the skills, ideas and business strategies shaping the future of hospitality.
In partnership with Roma Bar Show
Images courtesy of Roma Bar Show
