Lagos Cocktail Week 2026 brought together bartenders, mixologists, hospitality professionals and cocktail enthusiasts from across Africa for eight days of competitions, international collaborations and industry discussions in Lagos, Nigeria.
Held from October 16 to 23 under the theme “Africa Pours into Lagos”, the 12th edition of the festival highlighted the growing connections between African cocktail communities, with participating talent from Lagos, Accra and Abidjan contributing to a programme that combined professional development, cultural exchange and entertainment.
This year’s edition placed particular emphasis on collaboration between African cities, giving bartenders opportunities to introduce their signature creations to new audiences while exploring influences from different cocktail traditions. The programme also included international participation, with the Italian Trade Agency bringing Italian aperitif culture into the festival.
One of the early highlights was the Italian Cocktail Experience, held on October 18 at Mr Panther in Victoria Island. Organised by the Italian Trade Agency, the invitation-only event introduced guests to Italian wines, spirits and the traditions behind some of the country’s best-known cocktails.
Maurizio Ferri, Director of the Italian Trade Agency, spoke about the initiative’s role in promoting Italian wines and spirits, including brands such as Campari, Aperol and Martini.
The masterclass was hosted by Lara Rawa, founder of Lagos Cocktail Week, who guided participants through five Italian classics: the Negroni, Americano, Bellini, Aperol Spritz and Garibaldi. The session explored the Italian aperitif tradition, the ingredients behind the drinks and how individual tastes influence cocktail preferences.
Guests also had opportunities to sample Italian wines and cocktails, network with hospitality professionals and meet visiting bartenders from Ghana and Abidjan. Chef Gibbs attended the event, while DJ Exclusive provided the music for an evening that brought together cocktail education and cultural exchange.
Another major feature of the 2026 programme was the introduction of the Lagos Bar Show, a new initiative that took the festival into established bars across the city. Rather than keeping all the activities within one venue, the programme created opportunities for visiting bartenders to work alongside local teams and introduce their cocktail styles to Lagos audiences.
On October 20, Sora Lagos hosted the first guest shift, welcoming the team from Bissa in Abidjan. The collaboration featured Dodo Plantain Infused Rum, bringing an African ingredient-inspired approach to the bar experience.
The following evening, Praia Lagos welcomed bartenders from two Accra establishments, Front/Back and No. 19 Bar & Restaurant, for another cross-border collaboration. This time, Audry Cognac was at the centre of the guest shift, with the visiting teams developing signature cocktails around the spirit.
Front/Back presented the Mantse and Ashanti, while No. 19 Bar & Restaurant introduced the Akwaaba, meaning “welcome”, and Nkabom, meaning “togetherness”. Praia Lagos’ own bartenders also contributed to the programme with the Audry Passion Sour and Audry Old Fashioned.
The event attracted bartenders, mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts interested in the work of the visiting teams. It also gave Ghanaian bartenders an opportunity to showcase their creativity in Lagos, strengthening the professional links between the two countries’ hospitality communities.
Lagos Cocktail Week also devoted attention to the business and professional development side of the industry. On October 22, the festival held its industry conference at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. The gathering brought together hospitality entrepreneurs, beverage professionals, brand representatives and other industry stakeholders to discuss the future of hospitality in Nigeria.
Under the theme “Shaping the Future of Hospitality”, the conference examined issues affecting the beverage and hospitality sectors, including the business of running a bar, beverage service at Nigerian events, gastro mixology, wine pairings and modern cocktail techniques.
Among the speakers were Jeremiah George, founder of Liquids by Zen; Emem Udom, founder of Apotheca Mixology; Folakemi Alli-Balogun, founder of The Wine Club Lagos; Benedicta Ogar, CEO of Cavodah and founder of SAHA Africa; Olawuyi Babatunde Abinibi, creative director of Abinibi Events Cottage; and Captain Gibbs, chef and founder of the Nigerian Food Summit.
The discussions provided a professional platform for participants to exchange ideas, examine emerging opportunities and consider how the industry could improve hospitality standards and develop its local talent.
The festival’s public celebrations reached their peak with the Cocktail Village, held on October 22 and 23 at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. The two-day gathering brought together cocktail brands, entertainment, music and interactive experiences for festival visitors.
Guests had access to unlimited cocktails, brand activations, live performances and opportunities to explore different drinks and connect with participating brands. The Cocktail Village also hosted the festival’s popular Bar Battle, where mixologists competed in three brand-sponsored challenges, putting their technical ability, creativity and presentation skills to the test.
The Absolut Challenge saw Onaghise Kingsley Osagie take first place, receiving a prize of N1 million. Samuel Olubunmi Ayodele finished second and received N500,000.
In the MONIN Challenge, Valentine Justin claimed the top position and won N500,000. Benjamin Terna placed second with N300,000, while Aghama Gabriel finished third with N200,000.
The Johnnie Walker Challenge produced another major winner, with Victoria Chiamaka emerging as Lagos Cocktail Champion and receiving N1 million. Aghama Gabriel took second place with N200,000, while Victor Ceasar received N100,000 for his entry. Other finalists were awarded N200,000 voucher cards redeemable at Legend Supermarket.
The competitions gave participating bartenders an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of ingredients, cocktail preparation and presentation while competing for cash prizes and industry recognition.
The festival concluded on October 23 with the Cocktail Village Grand Finale. Partner activations and entertainment continued throughout the evening, with musical performances by Wanni X Handi providing one of the final highlights of the eight-day programme.
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Beyond the events and competitions, Lagos Cocktail Week 2026 offered a platform for African bartenders and hospitality professionals to meet, exchange ideas and introduce their work to new markets. The participation of teams from Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, alongside Nigerian professionals and the Italian Trade Agency, reflected the festival’s focus on international connections and the exchange of cocktail traditions.
The 12th edition was supported by Absolut, Casamigos Tequila, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s, Tanqueray, Lord’s Gin, Natterjack Irish Whiskey, Smirnoff X1, Gold Bar Whiskey, Schweppes, Nestle Pure Life, West Cork Distillers, Orijin, MONIN, Cutty Sark, Bolt, Eventi Cocktails, Sip Pass, Ocean5 Riviera and Balmoral.
Institutional partners included the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture and the Italian Trade Agency. Media partners included Pulse NG, 21 Mag, Silverbird TV, TVC, Media Room Hub, Thisday Style and Max FM.
Check all photos in the gallery below.
