Ahead of its Dubai return, co-founder Hugo Goncalves talks regional talent, useful connections and ideas worth taking back to the bar with STACK.
Gulf Bar Show returns to Dubai with a focus on practical learning, regional talent and connections between bar teams, operators and suppliers.
Returning to Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre on 30 November and 1 December 2026, the show brings bartenders, operators, hotel groups, brands and distributors into the same room. Co-founder Hugo Goncalves describes it as the meeting point the regional scene had been missing, with education and professional connections central to its purpose.
The First Edition: 2025
The first edition, held on 7 and 8 April 2025, drew more than 3,000 attendees and 115 exhibitors, according to the organisers.
“People didn’t come for a party but for substance,” he says of the first edition. His takeaway was industry professionals with an appetite for education, access to the right people and greater recognition for the regional industry.
Giving Regional Talent the Floor
For Goncalves, the GCC’s bar teams deserve more attention. He believes their work does not always receive the international recognition it merits; at the show, regional talent will appear on stage and behind the bars alongside international names.
The programme combines panels, masterclasses, workshops and guided tastings, with discussions on the MENA market and regional talent development.
Arrive with a question
“We’re focused on making the show more useful, not just bigger,” says Goncalves. A new GBS app lets visitors plan ahead and book sessions before arriving.
His advice for a one-day visit is straightforward: reserve a guided tasting and a talk, then approach the floor knowing whom you want to meet, what you want to taste and which problem you want to solve. Leave some room for chance encounters, too.
The Work After the Show
Goncalves sees the potential returns as practical skills, fresh thinking on menus and service, and relationships that remain useful throughout the year. Brands can explore exhibiting or partnerships, while venues can get involved through guest shifts and city activations.
He recommends bringing colleagues who can make decisions and follow up promptly, so supplier contacts, skills and service ideas can be put to use.
Plan your Visit
Gulf Bar Show takes place on 30 November and 1 December 2026, from noon to 9pm daily, at Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Events Centre, Dubai.
One-day Essential and two-day Explorer passes are available through Platinumlist, with tickets currently advertised from AED 195.
Download the GBS app to register for seminars and tastings.
Entry is for ages 21 and over; bring valid government-issued ID.
