When Alice Bown and Hannes Desmedt created the Brussels Bar Show, they were hoping to draw about 300 attendees. Two editions in, attendance has easily surpassed those early expectations, and the numbers speak for themselves.

Held March 29–30 at SILO Brussels, the show had 63 booths (up from 41 in 2025) and 275 brands on the floor (up from 125 last year). Attendance was strong too: as the event wrapped up, ticket sales were on track to reach 3,000, compared with 2,200 at the inaugural edition.

Another standout this year was the surge in nonalcoholic options: 25% of exhibitors offered them, up from just 5% in 2025. That fivefold jump shows just how much momentum the nonalcoholic segment has right now, and the Brussels Bar Show has clearly tapped into it.

As for programming, the show had two stages this year (up from one in 2025). Jigger Daily was there on Monday and sat in on a masterclass with Gregory Buda (Bisou Bisou, Montreal). The Dead Rabbit (New York) alum talked about consistency behind the bar and shared plenty of practical tips, on a topic that sounds simple, but is actually fascinating. We’ll be diving into it in a dedicated article. (Subscribe to make sure you don't miss it!)

All in all, after only two editions, the Brussels Bar Show has already become a go-to platform for education, networking, and innovation in Belgium’s bar scene, and beyond. Now we can’t wait to see what the co-founders have in store for 2027.