Looking for the best events in Toronto this October? Mark your calendar for the first-ever Toronto Cocktail Festival, happening October 22–26, 2025.
Toronto is about to raise its glass in a whole new way. From October 22 to 26, 2025, the first annual Toronto Cocktail Festival will take over the city with a week of spirited seminars, tastings, and experiences that highlight the artistry, innovation, and community behind the city’s cocktail culture. Tickets are now on sale, with more programming to be announced in the weeks ahead.
Presented by The Alchemist magazine, this five-day city-wide celebration of cocktails, culture and culinary creativity unites Toronto’s top bartenders, chefs, and visiting talent from the global bar scene.
Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just looking for unique things to do in Toronto this fall, this can’t-miss drinks festival is filled with cocktail tasting events, bartender-led seminars, neighbourhood bar crawls and cocktail experiences that highlight the artistry, innovation, and community behind the city’s cocktail culture.
Toronto Cocktail Festival Signature Events
These curated experiences and events in Toronto this October are designed to offer something for everyone, from casual drinkers to seasoned pros:.
Gala of Cocktails
On October 24, Waterworks will host the Gala of Cocktails, an elegant evening featuring more than two dozen cocktail stations, gourmet bites, and a curated soundtrack spun by a live DJ. Expect Toronto’s top bartenders and global brand ambassadors behind the bar, shaking, stirring, and serving up their best.
Great for: Cocktail lovers, industry networking, date night
Neighbourhood Cocktail Crawl Series
The Neighbourhood Cocktail Crawl series invites guests to explore Toronto’s vibrant bar scene one district at a time. Each guided crawl features a single neighbourhood, with three standout bars on the route. At every stop, a brand ambassador will introduce a signature cocktail paired with a curated bite—a sip-and-stroll experience that captures the city’s cocktail creativity at street level.
Great for: Local exploration, group outings, food & drink enthusiasts
Closing Brunch at Reign (Fairmont Royal York)
The festival concludes in style on October 26 with the Closing Cocktail-paired Brunch at Reign Restaurant & Bar in the Fairmont Royal York. This five-course finale brings inventive brunch cocktails together with celebratory fare in one last toast to the week.
Great for: Brunch lovers, guests visiting from out-of-town, final toast
Cocktail workshops & mixology seminars
For those who want to learn more about cocktail-making, the festival’s seminar series gathers some of the industry’s most engaging voices.
The World of Liquid Transformations: Massimo Zitti, 2022 World Class Canada Bartender of the Year and founder of Mother Cocktail Bar, explores fermentation and its role in sustainable cocktail programs.
The New Wave of Baijiu: Alex Black leads a rare tasting of the world’s oldest spirit at Hong Shing, reframed for modern bartenders and drinkers.
Classic Martini Seminar: Sponsored by Tanqueray and led by the charismatic H at Bar XXX, this playful session invites guests to sip three different martinis (each paired with a whimsical amuse bouche) while discovering the martini’s many personalities.
Beyond these highlights, the lineup also includes experiences like Understanding Umeshu at No Vacancy. Hosted by CHOYA’s Shotaro Ozawa and No Vacancy’s Beverage Director Troy Gilchrist, this seminar will explore the fascinating story of umeshu, its versatility in cocktails and the art of pairing it with food.
Supporting mental health in hospitality
The Toronto Cocktail Festival isn’t only about celebrating cocktails—it’s also about supporting the people who make them. A portion of proceeds will go to Mind The Bar, the Canadian non-profit focused on improving mental health in the hospitality industry.
Looking for Toronto’s next great food and drink experience? The Toronto Cocktail Festival is your passport to the city’s vibrant bar scene. Combining glamour, education, and exploration, it brings together Toronto’s top bartenders and global mixology talent for five unforgettable days. Whether you’re a pro, a cocktail lover, or just curious, consider this your invitation to sip, savour, and celebrate.
Tickets and full program details at thealchemistmagazine.ca/tcf
