{"id":60405,"date":"2025-10-22T10:00:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/post\/a-guide-to-uk-whisky-and-rum-festivals\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T11:09:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T11:09:43","slug":"a-guide-to-uk-whisky-and-rum-festivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.masterofmalt.com\/blog\/post\/a-guide-to-uk-whisky-and-rum-festivals\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide To UK Whisky and Rum Festivals"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the definitive guide to UK whisky and rum festivals<\/strong> for the rest of 2025 and into 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

The drinks festival is where spirits come alive. From masterclasses and music to mingling with makers, the calendar is absolutely heaving with whisky<\/a> and rum<\/a> events across the UK.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These whisky events and rum gatherings style themselves on camaraderie, conversation, and copious amounts of good spirit(s). <\/span>Whether you\u2019re after rare drams, new discoveries, or simply an excuse to call several days of drinking \u201cresearch\u201d, this list will see you through the busy schedule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A guide to UK whisky and rum festivals<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dornoch Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>24\u201326 October 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Dornoch, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A Highland<\/a> gem that may be small but punches well above its weight. Expect big drams, bigger personalities, and a famously friendly atmosphere. The perfect whisky tasting festival if you prefer substance over spectacle.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Whisky Lounge: York Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>25 October 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> York, England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A lively regional whisky festival returning bigger and better. Expect fun, flair, and a few surprises.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scottish National Whisky Festival: Edinburgh Edition<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 25 October 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Edinburgh, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>The capital\u2019s flagship whisky event brings together hundreds of drams, masterclasses, and live music. Think Glencairns<\/a> clinking to the sound of guitars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Stands

The Whisky Show has just been and gone. What’s your favourite whisky festival?<\/p><\/div>\n

Wales Whisky Fest<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 31 October \u2013 2 November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> St George\u2019s Hotel, Llandudno, Wales.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>Proof that great whisky events aren\u2019t limited to Scotland. Wales Whisky Fest returns for its second year with more distilleries, more tastings, and that famous seaside hospitality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glasgow\u2019s Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 8 November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Glasgow, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A celebration of the city\u2019s whisky scene, its distilleries, and the independent bottlers who keep things exciting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The World Whisky Experience<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 14\u201315 November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Christ Church, Spitalfields, London.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A global gathering of distilleries from New Zealand to Romania. Expect breadth, depth, and a touch of luxury.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The

Have you ever been to a whisky festival?<\/p><\/div>\n

The Whisky Lounge: Manchester Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>21\u201322 November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Manchester, England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> The north knows how to do a whisky festival. Expect the full range from cult favourites to household names, plus the usual Lounge brand of friendly chaos.<\/span><\/p>\n

English Whisky Festival 2025<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>22 November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> The Bond, Digbeth, Birmingham.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>England\u2019s whisky scene is thriving, and this festival proves it. Small producers, experimental casks, and plenty of conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

TB Watson Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>25 November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Dumfries, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> Nearly 40 stands and 800 guests, plus rums, brandies<\/a>, and other spirits alongside the main whisky focus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Revellers

Fife Whisky Festival is a favourite newcomer of whisky lovers<\/p><\/div>\n

Kendal Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>5\u20136 December 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Kendal, England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>Friendly, inclusive, and full of character. A warm Cumbrian welcome for beginners and aficionados alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scottish National Whisky Festival: Glasgow Edition<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 24 January 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Glasgow, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A fixture in the Scottish whisky calendar. Expect a huge variety of drams, masterclasses, and live acts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fife Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 27 February \u2013 1 March 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Cupar, Fife.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>Over 30 distilleries and independent bottlers descend on Fife for a weekend of whisky appreciation. Don\u2019t miss the Friday opening dinner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Scenes

A snapshot of Whisky Live &\u202fFine\u202fSpirits London 2025<\/p><\/div>\n

The Whisky Lounge: Newcastle Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>28 March 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Newcastle, England.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> Geordie charm, international whiskies, and a cracking atmosphere. Expect smiles, stories, and drams from as far afield as Japan and India.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whisky Live &\u202fFine\u202fSpirits London<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 27\u201328 March 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>The Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works, London, UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> One of the UK\u2019s premier whisky events and the perfect excuse to \u201cnetwork\u201d with distillers, brand ambassadors, and anyone holding a pourer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 29 April \u2013 4 May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Speyside<\/a>, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> Hundreds of events, distillery open days, and whisky school sessions across Scotland\u2019s most prolific region. It\u2019s like Glastonbury, but for people who prefer their spirits aged in oak rather than enjoyed in a paper cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Reverly

Scenes from F\u00e8is \u00ccle 2025<\/p><\/div>\n

F\u00e8is \u00ccle \u2013 Islay Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>23\u201331 May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Islay<\/a>, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>The big one. A pilgrimage for peat lovers, a social event for locals, and a yearly reminder that the ferry to Islay should\u2019ve been booked months ago. Distillery open days, music, and more smoky drams than you can shake a brick of peat at.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clackmannanshire Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 9 May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Clackmannanshire, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>A newer addition to the whisky map, founded with heart and charity in mind. Expect friendly faces, community spirit, and fantastic local whisky.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Whisky Event<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>10 May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> UK (Venue TBA).<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A premium evening of whisky discovery featuring global whiskies, expert-led sessions, and a buffet that\u2019s worth the ticket alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Summerton

Are you looking forward to the Summerton Whisky Festival?<\/p><\/div>\n

Summerton Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 16 May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Lower Red Lion, St Albans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights: <\/b>Expect small brands, big flavours, and the kind of camaraderie that makes this one a perennial favourite.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dundee\u2019s Whisky Festival<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/b>13 June 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Dundee, Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> A growing city festival with a focus on accessibility and education. Expect distilleries, indie bottlers, and street food with flair.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Date:<\/b> 2\u20134 October 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Old Billingsgate, London, United Kingdom\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/b> The UK\u2019s largest whisky bonanza, featuring over 1,000 whiskies and spirits, masterclasses, and exclusive tastings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n