Gulf Bar Show 2026 in Dubai

Gulf Bar Show 2026 in Dubai is a two-day trade show for the bar and beverage industry at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference and Events Centre, running on Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December from 12pm to 9pm each day. This year’s theme is The Bar Craft, and the show promises the global trends, techniques and flavours shaping the modern drinks industry, with more than 175 international exhibitors across 4,000 square metres.

It is a professional event first and foremost, aimed at people who work in bars, hospitality and drinks brands, and it is strictly for visitors aged 21 and over.

A young show with big ambitions

The Gulf Bar Show launched in April 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah, founded by Hugo Goncalves and Sebouh Tato and billed by its organisers as the first dedicated bar and beverage trade show in the Middle East and North Africa. That first edition set out to celebrate the region’s bar culture, connect professionals with brands and put the Gulf on the map of the global drinks industry, with themed areas ranging from a cigar terrace to a low and no-alcohol zone and a hall for regional brands.

The 2026 edition, the show’s second, was moved to late November, and returns to the same venue. The organisers expect more than 3,000 visitors from across the MENA region, the CIS, and South and East Asia.

What is on across the two days

Seminars, masterclasses and workshops

More than 20 seminars, masterclasses and workshops run across the show, led by what the organisers call legendary speakers. They take place in dedicated knowledge rooms set up for talks and panels, covering the products, techniques and ideas behind the Bar Craft theme. Registration for these sessions is handled through the show’s own app, so book early for the ones you care about most.

Tastings and live demos

More than 12 curated tasting sessions are led by industry professionals, and two tasting bars host interactive tastings and live craftsmanship demos, so you can watch techniques in action as well as hear about them.

Exhibitors and bar pop-ups

The exhibitor showcase is spread across a main hall, an experimental hall, exhibition halls and a social terrace, with bar pop-ups throughout the venue and a networking lounge for meetings. Every pass includes the whole venue, all tasting rooms, all exhibitor stands and all bar pop-ups.

Planning your visit

For the first time, the show has its own GBS App, and all attendees are asked to download it. It is where you register for seminars and tasting sessions and plan your route around the halls, and since the organisers note that the schedule, speakers and activities can change, it is also the place to check for updates on the day.

There are two passes: the Essential pass for one day of full access, and the Explorer pass for both days. If you are coming mainly for a specific seminar or tasting, one day may be enough; if you want to work the exhibitor floor properly, two days gives you time to do both.

• Age and ID: 21 and over only, with valid government-issued ID required for entry and no exceptions.
• Tickets are non-transferable and can only be used by the original purchaser, and are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.
• Security checks apply on entry.
• Media: attendees may be photographed or filmed for promotion; tell staff on entry if you prefer not to be.

Sustainability and responsible drinking

As a trade show featuring alcohol, the event asks everyone to drink responsibly, and it backs that up with two partners. Diageo’s DRINKiQ programme is on hand with facts, tools and support to help attendees make informed choices. On the sustainability side, the show has partnered with Evertreen to plant a tree in Madagascar in the name of every ticket holder, which you can then track on the Evertreen platform.

The venue and getting there

The Madinat Jumeirah Conference and Events Centre sits within the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Al Sufouh, close to Burj Al Arab. By car, head south-west on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), take exit 39 for Umm Suqeim Street (D63) and continue onto Jumeira Street (D94), then make a U-turn and follow the signs; GPS is recommended. By bus, take the 81 to the Burj Al Arab Hotel 2 stop, about a nine-minute walk, or the 88 to the Burj Al Arab Hotel 1 stop, about four minutes away. With tastings on the programme, a taxi or ride-hailing app is the sensible way home.

The Gulf Bar Show suits bartenders, bar owners and managers, hospitality and F&B teams, brand ambassadors, distributors and anyone building a career in drinks. For more industry events, see our business and networking listings, workshops, what is on in November and more things to do in Dubai.