For three days, Berlin became the place to be for the bar and beverage industry.
Attracting over 15,000 visitors and 500 exhibitors and partners, Bar Convent Berlin (BCB) once again drew in an international crowd to gain exclusive insights into innovative products, deepen business relationships and benefit from a wide-ranging education programme.
Networking between manufacturers, bar owners, bartenders and distributors took centre stage. A separate Matchmaking Lounge was set up for this purpose, accompanied by a tool that facilitated networking and appointment planning on site.
Exhibitors and visitors were able to search for suitable contacts ahead of the trade show and arrange meetings at the event itself. As a result, a total of 1566 meetings were confirmed over the three days of the trade show.
“Important business is conducted in the industry at BCB every year. This year, we were able to take this aspect of our trade show to the next level thanks to Matchmaking,” explains Petra Lassahn, Director of BCB. “We’re delighted it went down so well and that it made us even more able to help our exhibitors and visitors forge ideal business contacts on site.”
In addition, experts offered keynote speeches, panel discussions, tastings and practical workshops. In particular, the Workshop Stage with its interactive sessions and full focus on practical tips proved a magnet for visitors, especially when American content creator and drinks photographer Jordan Hughes took to the stage.
“We took a close look at the industry and saw what it needs. Bartending isn’t just theory. And so the new Workshop Stage has delivered countless hands-on elements – from garnishing and carbonation to working flair. The Education Programme has once again cemented BCB’s role as the must-visit event of the year,” adds Angus Winchester, BCB Director of Education.
Once again this year, numerous exhibitors used BCB to showcase their new products and innovations. The trade show offered a comprehensive overview of the current developments and trends that will shape the bar world in the coming years.
One thing is quite clear: the agave theme is far from over. There were some 100 tequila and mezcal products to sample at this year’s BCB, with exhibitors welcomed at the Mexican Embassy on the eve of BCB.
Another highlight at BCB was the Low & No bar, which established itself as a hotspot for innovative, low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks. Vegan product alternatives were also a growing trend.
Elsewhere, the Wine Workshop Area in the Palais of Messe Berlin put the topic of wine at the forefront at BCB for the first time. Workshops organised by Kalk & Kegel and Johannes Schellhorn were fully booked down to the last spot.
“With the Wine Workshop Area, we were able to offer bartenders great added value that was not yet available in this form at BCB. The strong interest and positive response show there’s definitely a need for further training in this area and that the bar world is open to wine, especially natural wines”, says Michael Pöcheim-Pech, wine expert and publisher at Kalk & Kegel.
At the BCB Whisky Embassy pop-up bar, the Collab Bar team from Hamburg led by Chloé Merz also demonstrated all the creative and modern cocktails that can be conjured up with the traditional spirit, proving all the more that whisky is for everyone.
In a Main Stage Session, participants highlighted the inequalities that still exist between the genders. Despite the increasing presence of women in management positions in the bar scene, they still receive far less than their male colleagues in negotiations, resulting in lower wages, fewer promotions as well as missed opportunities for advancement.
“There’s definitely still a lot to do, but we’re already seeing positive developments for women in the industry. However, there needs to be better cooperation to address the existing problems. That’s why raising awareness on this topic is still extremely important”, summarises Maren Meyer, Chairwoman of the Deutsche Barkeeper-Union e.V.
From 6 to 8 October 2025, Bar Convent Berlin will once again attract trade visitors from throughout the world to Berlin to get together and shape the future of the bar and beverage industry.
