Added the Japanese Craft Whisky Festival (held in March)
January 2026
Added the Kyushu Distillery Festival SAGA 2026 (held in May)
Added the Ricaman Whisky Messe (held in August)
March 2026
Added the Whisky Festival in Osaka (held in June)
June 2026
Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 Grand Tasting Event (held in September)
Toyama Whisky Fest (held in October)
Shimoda Whisky Fest (held in October)
Nagahama Fest (held in October)
Anytime Whisky (held in November)
Added the Tokyo Whisky Festival (held in November)
Okinawa Whisky & Spirits Festival (held in November)
Information on whiskey events and festivals taking place in 2026.
We’ll keep this list updated and present it here.
Please check the official websites linked for each event for exhibitor and ticket information.
- Whiskey Lovers Nagoya 2026 January 25 (Sun)
- Chichibu Whisky Festival 2026 February 15 (Sun)
- Japanese Craft Whisky Festa 2026 March 15 (Sun)
- Japanese Whisky Stories Fukuoka Sunday, April 5, 2026
- Whiskey Station Hamamatsu 2026 Sunday, April 12
- Whiskey Harbor Kobe April 19 (Sun)
- Whiskey & Spirits Festival 2026 in Yokohama April 25–26 (Sat–Sun)
- Tokyo International Bar Show May 9 and May 10 (Sat & Sun)
- Kyushu Distillery Festival SAGA 2026 May 31 (Sun)
- Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2026 June 14 (Sun)
- Whiskey Festival in Osaka 2026 June 26 (Fri) and 27 (Sat), 2026
- Hokkaido WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST Sunday, July 19
- Rikaman Whisky Messe August 22 (Sat)
- Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 Grand Tasting Event September 13 (Sun)
- Hachioji Whisky Street September 19 (Sat)
- Nagahama Fest October 10 (Sat)
- Toyama Whisky Festival October 11 (Sun)
- SHIMODA WHISKY FESTIVAL 2026 October 24 (Sat) and 25 (Sun)
- AnytimeWhisky2026 November 7 (Sat) and 8 (Sun)
- Whiskey Festival 2026 in Tokyo November 6 (Fri) and 7 (Sat)
- Okinawa Whiskey & Spirits Festival Sunday, November 29
- Distillery Information from Across Japan
Whiskey Lovers Nagoya 2026
January 25 (Sun)
Held every January, this is a major whiskey event that kicks off the year.
Ticket sales have already been announced and will begin on Saturday, November 1, at 10:00 a.m.
The bottles exclusive to this Nagoya event are extremely popular every year, leading to a scramble to get them.
Chichibu Whisky Festival 2026
February 15 (Sun)
The Chichibu Whisky Festival is held every year around February. Centered around Chichibu Shrine and spread across several areas, it is a very large-scale event. Whisky enjoyed in the cold weather is also something special.
In addition, the “Chichibu Stamp Rally Bottle” event is currently underway, where participants visit the Organizing Committee’s BAR to collect stamps (stickers) and enter the raffle.
Tickets typically go on sale around December each year, but they often sell out immediately, so be sure to plan ahead.
Japanese Craft Whisky Festa 2026
March 15 (Sun)
An event focused exclusively on craft whiskey, organized by the “Whiskey Culture Promotion Association”—a separate organization from the Whiskey Culture Research Institute headed by Mamoru Tsuchiya. It features whiskeys, new make, and new born spirits from distilleries across Japan.
This event focuses on craft whiskies rather than those from major distillers. Many new distilleries also participate.
Japanese Whisky Stories Fukuoka
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Established with the aim of allowing visitors to enjoy the charm of Japanese whiskey and its distilleries.
The event features free open seminars and a blind tasting contest open to up to 20 participants.
Whiskey Station Hamamatsu 2026
Sunday, April 12
An event organized by the Hamamatsu Bartenders Club in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Bars and restaurants from the prefecture, as well as distilleries from both within and outside the prefecture, are participating. Last year, approximately 1,000 people attended the indoor event, and the event is expected to continue growing. This year, it is scheduled to be held outdoors, allowing visitors to enjoy whiskey and cocktails during pleasant weather.
Whiskey Harbor Kobe
April 19 (Sun)
WHISKY HARBOUR KOBE is a large-scale whiskey event held annually in April in Kobe.
Importers, manufacturers, and producers from Japan and abroad participate, offering tastings and seminars at their booths.
Whiskey & Spirits Festival 2026 in Yokohama
April 25–26 (Sat–Sun)
One of Japan’s largest tasting events, bringing together distilled spirits from around the world, including whiskey, gin, shochu, and awamori.
It features a wide variety of distilled spirits, and many booths allow visitors to purchase bottles directly.
Tickets go on sale February 10
Tokyo International Bar Show
May 9 and May 10 (Sat & Sun)
Japan’s largest bar event, held every May.
Featuring not only whiskey and spirits but also a wide variety of original cocktails, flair competitions, female bartender competitions, and talk shows, this is a large-scale, vibrant event
Kyushu Distillery Festival SAGA 2026
May 31 (Sun)
In addition to whiskey and gin from Kyushu distilleries, you can enjoy a variety of booths.
After thoroughly enjoying the whiskey at the event, an after-party will also be held.
Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2026
June 14 (Sun)
This is one of the largest whiskey events in Kyushu, a region that is now home to numerous whiskey distilleries.
While the seminars and limited-edition bottles are extremely popular, the event has also gained a following for its “Yatai Bar”—a Fukuoka-style feature where blenders and ambassadors from each distillery stand inside food stalls to serve drinks, creating an intimate experience where attendees can interact closely with the producers.
Whiskey Festival in Osaka 2026
June 26 (Fri) and 27 (Sat), 2026
One of the major annual events held in the Kansai region.
While the event is typically held over a weekend with four sessions, this year it will feature three sessions on Friday under the name “Premium Night.”
Hokkaido WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST
Sunday, July 19
Hokkaido’s largest whiskey festival, held in Hokkaido during the summer.
The number of booths and attendees has been increasing year by year, and the event is highly popular for its masterclass seminars and limited-edition bottles.
Rikaman Whisky Messe
August 22 (Sat)
The largest event in the Kansai region, attracting over 3,000 visitors in a single day.
In addition to a wide variety of activities—including on-site sales, lucky bags, and ticket giveaway campaigns—
purchasing a VIP ticket grants access to an exclusive lounge and the chance to sample discontinued whiskeys.
Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 Grand Tasting Event
September 13 (Sun)
An event where you can sample the TWSC award-winning products announced in May. In addition to domestic and international whiskies and spirits, Japanese distilled spirits such as shochu will also be served. This year’s event will be held in two sessions with a complete turnover between them.
https://tokyowhiskyspiritscompetition.jp/
Hachioji Whisky Street
September 19 (Sat)
This has become an annual event held in September. While the event takes place indoors, food trucks line the area outside the venue, offering food to enjoy alongside the whiskey and spirits. The venue is Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe. Ticket sales are scheduled to begin on July 1.
Nagahama Fest
October 10 (Sat)
An event organized by Nagahama Shōroman Beer. Held at a facility directly connected to the station, it features a variety of activities, including a brewing experience, beer seminars, events at the distillery, and a tour of Chikubushima Island, home to the aging cellar.
Toyama Whisky Festival
October 11 (Sun)
Toyama Prefecture’s first full-scale whiskey event, launched primarily by local bartenders and members of the liquor industry.
Distilleries, importers, manufacturers, and bars from Japan and abroad will gather, offering tastings of a wide variety of whiskies. There will also be plenty of food trucks and food booths. Visitors can also enjoy the festivities in nearby parks and other locations.
Since its inaugural event in September 2023, the venue has changed; this year’s event will be held at the newly renovated YKK AP Arena, formerly the Toyama City General Gymnasium. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on August 1.
SHIMODA WHISKY FESTIVAL 2026
October 24 (Sat) and 25 (Sun)
Shimoda is the place where whisky was first enjoyed in Japan. While it may not be a large-scale event, it’s a great value at just 2,000 yen admission. Sushi was served at the venue booths.
AnytimeWhisky2026
November 7 (Sat) and 8 (Sun)
An event where you can enjoy whiskey outdoors. For just 2,500 yen, you can sample a wide variety of whiskeys for free.
“Let’s drink whiskey in the middle of the day, under the blue sky, right in the heart of Sakae!”
Whiskey Festival 2026 in Tokyo
November 6 (Fri) and 7 (Sat)
This annual end-of-year event has undergone a major revamp.
It will now be held in November, featuring an irregular three-session format on Friday and Saturday. The venue has also been moved from Takadanobaba to the International Forum.
Okinawa Whiskey & Spirits Festival
Sunday, November 29
Okinawa’s largest whiskey, spirits, and cocktail event.
In addition to whiskey and spirits such as gin, over 70 companies will participate, featuring awamori and cocktail booths. Last year, the event attracted over 1,500 visitors, making it a major event. Ticket sales have already begun.
Distillery Information from Across Japan
