Cocktail culture is strong in Canada and we have a yearly cocktail week in Vancouver to celebrate this fact. I attended the Black & White Gala this year and it was quite fun with many different cocktails to try. I’ve included pictures of my attendance this past year.
Here is a press release about the Vancouver Cocktail Week that will occur March 1- 8, 2026.
Vancouver, BC (November 26, 2025) — Raise your glasses! Vancouver Cocktail Week (VCW), presented by The Alchemist magazine, is thrilled to announce its fifth annual citywide celebration taking place from March 1- 8, 2026. This highly anticipated festival culminates in the spectacular Gala of Cocktails, the week’s main, must-attend event.
Tickets for all VCW Signature Events, including the opening cocktail-paired brunch, neighbourhood cocktail crawls and the Gala of Cocktails, will be available starting December 1: thealchemistmagazine.ca/vcw.
Note: Take advantage of ‘early bird’ special ticket pricing, perfect for the holiday gift-giving season — Gala of Cocktails tickets are $20 off until December 31!
The week is also filled with daily seminars, master classes, Cinq à Sept happy hours, tasting events, cocktail-paired dinners, guest shifts, and spectacular parties. These bar- and brand-led activations will be added to the schedule from December 1 onward as they come to life. Expect the full schedule to be complete by mid-January, so keep an eye on our website and social media or sign up for our newsletter for event drop information as it happens. Featuring dozens of leading brands pouring their finest products, the festival spotlights your favourite local bartenders alongside top talent from across Canada and around the world.
“We are proud to support and promote Vancouver’s incredible cocktail community and culture. The success of Vancouver Cocktail Week is made possible through the collaboration of everyone in the industry including bartenders, venues, brands, consumers, and the supporting media,” says Gail Nugent, publisher of The Alchemist magazine and event producer for VCW.
VCW Signature Events are beloved by festival-goers. The must-attend event of the week is the magnificent Gala of Cocktails, taking place on March 7, 2026 at the luxurious Rosewood Hotel Georgia. This glamorous night features hot tunes, bar bites, and more than two dozen cocktail stations hosted by local and international bartenders.
The Signature Events lineup also includes the festive Cocktail-Paired Brunch at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar on March 1, and the popular Neighbourhood Cocktail Crawl Series, which will run throughout the week.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Tickets for all VCW Signature Events go on sale December 1, 2025. Demand is high, and tickets — especially for the Gala of Cocktails — are expected to sell out. We encourage purchasing early to secure your spot. Watch the website, sign up for the VCW newsletter or follow along on social for more events being added through the winter.
For tickets or to browse the Vancouver Cocktail Week program, visit thealchemistmagazine.ca/vcw.
