popeating

Florence Cocktail Week – april 16-22 – Florence

Testo di , News
Florence Cocktail Week – april 16-22 – Florence
The mixology festival returns from April 16 to 22 with 55 selected bars, guest shifts, masterclasses, and a historic contest to celebrate its tenth anniversary.
Condividi:
Iscriviti alla newsletter per essere sempre aggiornato:
Tempo di lettura:5 minuti

Florence is gearing up to host the ninth edition of Florence Cocktail Week, scheduled from April 16 to 22, 2026. This year’s event holds a special symbolic value: the festival, conceived and directed by Paola Mencarelli, celebrates ten years since its debut in 2016, when it all began with just 13 participating cocktail bars. Today, FCW boasts over 70 Selected Bars and Event Partners—a testament to a growth that has tangibly contributed to the visibility and professionalization of the Italian mixology scene.

Theme: Italian Talent

The central theme of the 2026 edition is a celebration of Italian talent, both at home and abroad. In a deliberate move, every guest shift scheduled throughout the week will exclusively feature Italian bartenders. This includes those who have built successful careers overseas, bringing back the know-how and identity of "Made in Italy" mixology.

The Exclusive Drink List

Each of the 55 Selected Cocktail Bars will offer an FCW26 Drink List featuring three creations: a creative Signature Cocktail, a low-ABV or alcohol-free Wellness Cocktail, and a Classic Cocktail. The inclusion of the latter is a clear cultural statement: in an era dominated by molecular techniques and hyper-complex drinks, a return to the basics serves as a reminder that innovation without roots creates trends, but fails to honor history.

Must-Attend Events

The week kicks off on Thursday, April 16, with several simultaneous events. Martini® debuts its MARTINI Social Club program at Locale Firenze (7:30 PM), featuring six of Italy’s most influential bartenders—Flavio Angiolillo, Patrick Pistolesi, Benjamin Cavagna, Riccardo Rossi, Alexander Frezza, and Abi El Attaoui—showcasing classic cocktails and contemporary twists focused on the Spritz and the Italian aperitivo.

Also on April 16, Gucci Giardino launches a series of brunches hosted by Martina Bonci and her team, featuring exclusively Italian guests. The series opens with a brunch by Polot 1882, with the cocktail list curated by Moebius Milano.

One of the most anticipated moments is the return of the Historic Contest, a hallmark of the very first 2016 edition that had been set aside over the years. It will take place on Thursday, April 16, at 2:30 PM at Locale Firenze, featuring FCW’s veteran bartenders and the return of the original jury: Patrick Pistolesi, Stefano Nincevich, and Luca Pirola.

The Historic Café Tour also returns in collaboration with Ricomincio da Firenze, concluding at the legendary Caffè Gilli 1733 with a tasting of the Negroni.

Barkeeper and Young Guest Bartenders

The Barkeeper initiative, launched in 2025, is back to spotlight the resident bartenders of participating venues. At specific times, guests can meet them behind the bar to discover the stories behind the FCW26 cocktails and enjoy a more intimate connection with the soul of the bar. Participating spots range from BULLI&BALENE to Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar, and from Rasputin to L'Angolino, including hotel bars like Binomio at Hotel Indigo and Il Magnifico Cafè at the Tornabuoni Hotel.

The next generation also takes center stage with Young Guest Bartender: 31 bartenders under 25, coordinated by Antonia Lo Casto, will rotate daily behind the bars of seven FCW26 cocktail bars.

Two New Florentine Distilleries

FCW26 will also celebrate the opening of two new local production facilities. On Saturday, April 18, in Bagno a Ripoli, a grand opening party will be held for Fermenthinks' new production headquarters, featuring cocktail bars from Tuscany and Florence Cocktail Week, alongside a food program curated by three master Florentine pizza chefs: Giovanni Santarpia, Vincenzo Mansi, and Mario Cipriano. On Sunday, April 19, the final of the Boulevard to Florentis Competition will take place at a secret location to be revealed on the day of the event.

The Ten-Year Anniversary Book

To mark the decade, FCW is publishing "Cocktails in Florence," a bilingual (Italian and English) guide to the city's best cocktail bars, created in collaboration with Gruppo Editoriale. Fifty-nine venues selected by Paola Mencarelli are featured, each with their iconic drinks and recipes, accompanied by bartender portraits by photographer Veronica Gaido and shots of the venues and cocktails by Michele Tamasco.

Wellness and Awareness

The theme of responsible and mindful drinking remains central: all FCW26 Cocktail Lists will display the alcohol content. Furthermore, a partnership with the Mindful Drink Week project reinforces the message that a drink's value is measured by the quality of the experience it creates, not its ABV.

Florence Cocktail Week 2026 confirms its status not just as a week of great cocktails, but as a true cultural ecosystem centering on people, community, and the history of a city that, over the last ten years, has become one of Europe's capitals for quality mixology.

Participating Cocktail Bars at Florence Cocktail Week 2026

SELECTED BAR - COCKTAIL BAR 

SELECTED BAR - BAR D’HOTEL 

EVENT PARTNER - (more to come)

Condividi:
Altri articoli su:firenze
Florence Cocktail Week
Various Location, Florence
Dal 16 aprile 2026 al 22 aprile 2026
Sito web: www.florencecocktailweek.it
Ultimo aggiornamento: 10 ottobre 2026 11:00
Qualcosa di simile:
Florence Cocktail Week 2025 – 7-13 aprile – Firenze

Florence Cocktail Week 2025 – 7-13 aprile – Firenze

26 novembre 2024

Florence Cocktail Week – 16-22 aprile – Firenze

Florence Cocktail Week – 16-22 aprile – Firenze

29 marzo 2026

Florence Cocktail Week – a Firenze dal 7 al 13 aprile 2025

Florence Cocktail Week – a Firenze dal 7 al 13 aprile 2025

27 marzo 2025

Venice Cocktail Week – 21-25 ottobre – Venezia

Venice Cocktail Week – 21-25 ottobre – Venezia

24 settembre 2026