Florence Cocktail Week 2026: In Florence, mixology celebrates 10 years of talent and responsible drinking
From April 16 to 22, the latest edition of the festival created by Paola Mencarelli, featuring over 70 participating cocktail bars and numerous events throughout the city
Ten years after its inaugural edition, Florence Cocktail Week returns to Florence with a special and highly symbolic edition. Launched in 2016 based on an idea by Paola Mencarelli, the event is now one of the most significant gatherings for the world of mixology in Italy.
From April 16 to 22, the city transforms into a vast, widespread stage, involving over 70 venues, including cocktail bars and hotel bars, with 55 Selected Bars taking center stage at the event. In ten years, what began as an experimental project with just 13 venues has become a structured network, also giving rise to the Italian Cocktail Weeks circuit, which includes formats such as Tuscany, Venice, Amalfi Coast, and Cortina.
“Florence Cocktail Week 2026 celebrates its tenth anniversary with extraordinary numbers: 55 Selected Bars and numerous Event Partners. This growth represents the tangible contribution the event itself has made to the growth and global visibility of Italian mixology,” says Paola Mencarelli. "The secret to this journey lies in the value of human relationships and continuity. For the 2026 edition, the focus returns to its origins and to Italy, celebrating the people who first believed in this vision. We have built an ecosystem where talent is valued and the bartender community can finally feel like the protagonists."
Florence Cocktail WeekThe program for Florence Cocktail Week 2026 features a rich and diverse lineup, designed for enthusiasts, industry professionals, and newcomers alike.
Highlights include:
Guest shifts featuring Italian bartenders from around the world
Masterclasses and tasting experiences
Brunch, aperitifs, and pop-up bars
Cultural events and themed tours
The Tour of Historic Cafés is also back, with a final stop at the famous Caffè Gilli 1733, a symbol of Florentine tradition.
Florence Cocktail WeekThe star of the show is the FCW26 Cocktail List, available at every Selected Bar and featuring three exclusive drinks:
Signature Cocktail – a creative expression by the bartender
Wellness Cocktail – low ABV or alcohol-free
Classic Cocktail – a tribute to tradition
The introduction of the Classic Cocktail represents a deliberate cultural choice: in an era dominated by advanced techniques and experimentation, Florence Cocktail Week invites guests to rediscover the roots of mixology. A balance between innovation and tradition that reflects the evolution of contemporary drinking, with a focus on sustainability and responsible consumption.
Paola Mencarelli The central theme of the 2026 edition is the celebration of Italian talent. All participating guest bartenders will be Italian, whether they are based in Italy or abroad. This choice reinforces the event’s identity and highlights a generation of professionals capable of engaging with the international scene without losing sight of their roots. It is a collective narrative that focuses on the people, their stories, and their professional journeys.
Book: Cocktails in Florence
To celebrate the event’s tenth anniversary, Cocktails in Florence has been created—much more than a simple guide: a true editorial project that captures the contemporary identity of Florentine mixology. Produced in collaboration with the Publishing Group and strongly championed by Paola Mencarelli, the book presents a collective and multi-layered portrait of the city, viewed through the lens of its most iconic cocktail bars. Inside, 59 selected venues become stops on a journey that spans different styles, neighborhoods, and perspectives, offering an authentic and up-to-date snapshot of Florence as one of Italy’s capitals of quality mixed drinks. This is not merely a collection of addresses: each venue is profiled through its iconic drinks, recipes, and creative choices, offering readers a unique insight into the work of bartenders and the evolution of contemporary taste. What makes the project even more compelling is its visual component, featuring photographs by Michele Tamasco and portraits by Veronica Gaido. The result is an elegant and immersive volume, designed for both international and local audiences: a guide to consult, but also to collect, capable of accompanying the reader on a journey through tradition, creativity, and hospitality.
Must-see events: guest shifts, brunch, and exclusive formats
The beating heart of Florence Cocktail Week 2026 is a calendar of widespread events that transform Florence into an international capital of mixology. These are not just events, but truly immersive experiences where the cocktail becomes a cultural language, a story of identity, and an opportunity to connect.
Alchimie al Tramonto: a signature aperitif with Nonino on the terrace
On April 17, the terrace of Cosimo Restaurant becomes the stage for Alchimie al Tramonto, an experience that combines mixology, music, and exceptional hospitality. The star of the evening is Nonino, a historic Friulian brand that has been redefining the standards of distillation for over 125 years and revolutionized the world of grappa with the introduction of Monovitigno in 1973. Starting at 6:00 PM, a special aperitif on the terrace comes to life, accompanied by a live DJ set and a special cocktail menu curated by Nonino (available to the public for €28). The drinks, served alongside refined gourmet finger food, strike a balance between tradition and innovation in an elegant and contemporary setting. This event is also open to the general public, with no reservation required, designed to let you experience Florence in one of its most evocative moments: sunset.
Alchimie al Tramonto da CosimoFlorence Meets London at the Atrium Bar
A gathering of excellence in the heart of Florence on Thursday, April 16 for Florence Cocktail Week 2026, where the elegance of the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze meets international mixology. Florence meets London celebrates the dialogue between two capitals of taste with an exceptional guest shift by Agostino Perrone, creative director of the renowned Connaught Bar, for an evening dedicated to the fine art of the cocktail at the Atrium Bar.
Sentaku takes over Berni at Bar Berni
Tuesday, April 21 marks an evening of fusion and technique as part of Florence Cocktail Week 2026, in the elegant spaces of the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. Bar Berni will host Sentaku takes over Berni, a guest shift led by the Sentaku team from Bologna, featuring contemporary and experimental drink and food pairings.
Gucci Giardino 25: A Signature Brunch Blending Mixology and Lifestyle
Completely different yet equally sophisticated atmospheres at Gucci Giardino 25, where mixology meets lifestyle in a series of exclusive brunches curated by Martina Bonci and her team. Kicking off the week on Thursday, April 16, from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM will be the Polot 1882 signature brunch, featuring Moebius Milano, who will curate a dedicated cocktail list. A format that combines haute cuisine, contemporary hospitality, and signature mixology, transforming brunch into a complete sensory experience, blending creative influences and international perspectives.
Drinking at Cibrèo
On April 18, Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar joins Florence Cocktail Week with Bere alla Cibrèo, an event celebrating the union of cuisine and mixology in the spirit of the renowned Cibreismo: conviviality, quality ingredients, and the memory of taste. The star of the evening is the legendary Bullshot, presented by Luisanna Messeri alongside guests and special contributions, including Yurt Vodka and Peperita Chili. Also on offer will be finger food inspired by broth and the restaurant’s iconic cocktails, for an experiential aperitif celebrating the union of food and drink. Paola Mencarelli will host the evening, for an event that blends tradition, creativity, and celebration. Aperitif with tasting for €25.
The Spirit of Art by Ginarte: When Gin Becomes an Artistic Expression
On April 20, the Winter Garden Bar will host The Spirit of Art, an event celebrating the intersection of mixology and art. At the heart of the experience is Ginarte, a Florentine brand that has transformed gin into a creative project, successfully blending aesthetics, local heritage, and innovation. For the occasion, a cocktail list featuring four signature drinks will be presented, each paired with gourmet finger food, in a sensory journey designed to enhance aromas, textures, and visual appeal. Rounding out the atmosphere is a live DJ set that accompanies the evening, making it dynamic and immersive.
The Spirit of Art by Ginarte at Winter Garden BarMARTINI Social Club: il rito dell’aperitivo italiano in chiave contemporanea
Tra i momenti più attesi, spicca il ritorno del MARTINI Social Club, uno dei format più iconici legati alla cultura dell’aperitivo italiano. L’appuntamento è fissato per giovedì 16 aprile presso Locale Firenze, dove sei tra i bartender più influenti della scena italiana — tra cui Flavio Angiolillo e Patrick Pistolesi — daranno vita a una guest shift d’eccezione. In scena, una selezione di cocktail classici e reinterpretazioni contemporanee pensate per valorizzare la versatilità dei prodotti MARTINI®, con un focus particolare sullo Spritz e sull’evoluzione del rito dell’aperitivo. Un evento che non è solo degustazione, ma riflessione sullo stile italiano del bere.
Baldoria Dinner: When American Cuisine Meets Vermouth
Among the week’s most original events, the Baldoria Dinner on April 16 at Djària American Bar offers a journey through American cuisine and cocktail culture. A pairing dinner designed as a dialogue between dishes inspired by American tradition and a selection of classic cocktails and contemporary twists made with Baldoria vermouth. The result is a cohesive and engaging narrative, where botanicals, aromas, and mixing techniques intertwine with the world of gastronomy, creating an immersive and highly narrative experience.
The complete list of participating venues will be available on florencecocktailweek.it, in the section dedicated to food & mixology experiences. Meanwhile, the FCW25 Event Calendar will be available online starting in April on the event’s official website.
