Exploring the art of drinking

Created to promote a culture of quality, conscious, and responsible drinking, the festival’s main goal is to highlight and celebrate the professional figures of the city’s bar world, strengthening their connections within the community. It also offers newcomers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas on current and future trends in mixology. It’s a unique project that engages cities collectively, developing a new way of experiencing the drink.

The fourth edition brings many new features, reworking elements from past years to create an event that’s both connected to previous editions and distinct in its own right. Among the highlights: the new five-day format (down from seven), the introduction of Barkeeper VCW25, designed to spotlight the resident bartenders of each participating venue, and the debut of ICW Pop-Up Bars, aimed at strengthening and promoting the local and national heritage of Italy’s bar industry.

Events will also take place at 13 Event Partners — hotel bars and cocktail bars that do not feature the VCW25 Cocktail List but will host cultural and recreational happenings, along with other exclusive venues. Venice Cocktail Week 2025 thus follows its well-tested format: showcasing the city’s leading cocktail bars through exclusive Cocktail Lists — 28 of Venice’s top venues, including 9 new entries this year — while highlighting the role of the resident bartender through the new Barkeeper initiative. Giving visibility to the distinctive qualities and talent of the local community is the common thread connecting more than 100 events across the city: masterclasses and product tastings, Pop-Up Bars, presentations, and guest shifts featuring both Italian and international guests. It’s a journey of sharing and discovery, from timeless classics to cocktails created especially for the occasion.

All VCW events are open to the public. Educational and cultural activities are free upon reservation, while other events may require a ticket or invitation.

For the full and up-to-date calendar of events and participating venues: VCW25 Calendario Eventi