Two days, ten thousand square meters, three floors of stands, seminars and tastings: the Roma Bar Show returns on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 May 2025 at the Palazzo dei Congressi dell’Eur, confirming itself as the only Italian fair dedicated entirely to the world of beverage and mixology. Born in 2019, the event earned a permanent place in the sector calendar, both for those who work behind the counter and for those who attend the curious customer. Professionals, companies, distributors and bartenders meet to feel the wrist of industry and, in the meantime, tell – and tell each other – between one shaker and another.
The numbers of the 2025 edition give a measure of the flow rate: over 2,500 brands represented, more than 170 exhibitors, dozens of training events, and an audience expected in the order of thousands. The daily ticket costs 45 euros, the subscription for both days 70, with an Open open from 47 euros for those who have not yet decided when to go. Access is allowed until 17.30, while tastings close at 18.30.
The format is tested, with some news. The spaces of the Palazzo dei Congressi will be divided between the different thematic areas, starting from the 800 -seater auditorium on the ground floor, which will host the masterclasses of the well -known names in the sector. Here, among others, Tristan Stephenson will alternate with “The Curious Bartender Live”, Marian Bake with a lesson on Neuro-Mixology and Dave Arnold with an intervention with an eloquent title: “The Modernist Toolbox”.
On the first floor there will be the stage of the RBS Academy, designed for those looking for technical insights: for example, a lesson on the “Freezing for Flavour” by Iin McPherson and an intervention by Domenico Carella on Pairing. Always on the first floor, in the Tasting Room, tastings led by Brand Ambassador, producers and distributors will take place. The entrance to all these activities is free for owners of the entrance ticket, subject to exhaustion.
The Blueblazer Talk Arena is also back, dedicated to educational content, between conferences and discussions on international best practices. And as always, a large space for the most interactive part of the event, between competitions and product presentations. The final of the Tassoni Mocktail Competition and the appointment dedicated to the Botanical Mixology of the Pollino Park is worth mentioning.
One of the most anticipated moments will be the delivery of the Rome Bar Show Awards, scheduled for the afternoon of Monday 26 May. The categories in the race range from the “Best Italian Cocktail Bar” to the “Best Social Media Presence”, up to the novelty of this year: the “Best Coffee & Historical Bar” Award. The traditional career award will also be awarded, tribute to a historical face of Italian hospitality. The first three classified for each category will be present at the final, which will take place on the auditorium stage.
The event is designed for professionals, but not only. In fact, more and more, the Roma Bar Show also intercepts the curious audience, attentive consumers, tourists looking for alternative experiences to the guided tour. The tone is professional, but not replying. And the offer ranges from the pure technique to the cultural story of drinking.
Finally, it should be noted that, as in previous editions, the ticket allows you to enter and exit the day in the day, provided that the stamp supplied at the exit. Some “out of time” events are only by invitation, but the whole main program is accessible with the standard entrance, without the need for booking. The advice, for those who want to participate, is to arrive early and choose in advance the activities to assist. Places are limited and the row for certain meetings can be long.
Moreover, the growing success of the event shows that the interest in the culture of drinking is far from niche.
More than a fair, a bar in maxi format. But with a dense agenda and the gaze aimed at the evolution of a sector that, under the surface of the fun, moves fast. It is increasingly global.