NZ Bar Con, New Zealand’s first and only dedicated bar week, returns from 3rd to 5th August 2025 with a bold and expanded program of international bar takeovers, hands-on masterclasses, and high-energy brand parties. The three-day event will once again take over Auckland, aiming to educate, inspire, and connect the country’s fast-rising bar and hospitality community.
Founded in 2024 by Andrea Marseglia and Sarah Dawn Marseglia, NZ Bar Con quickly proved that the New Zealand bar scene is not only ready for this type of gathering, but hungry for it. The vision behind the platform was to build a more resilient industry by focusing on quality education, inspiration, and a renewed sense of joy among hospitality professionals. The strong turnout and support from global brands in its debut year confirmed what the organizers knew all along: New Zealand is ready to take its place on the global stage.
This year’s Inspire series will see takeovers from 28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore), The Waratah (Australia), and Mirror Bar, which takes over Auckland’s newest venue Truth or Dare on Sunday night. Joining the lineup are Simone Rossi from Hong Kong and Igor from Svitlo, London. Bar Bellamy is tentatively listed, though it may be replaced by Melbourne favorite Above Board.
Education continues to be the foundation of the event. The Bartenders Summit returns with TED-style seminars alongside a boutique trade show, giving brands and hospitality professionals a chance to engage face-to-face. Key highlights include the Toki Highball Masterclass, the Jim Beam Seven Senses Long Lunch, and a fermentation- and honey-focused workshop titled “Nature as the Maker” led by Giacomo Franceschi. Simone Rossi will also present a dedicated Ratafia Rossi Masterclass, while Kelmarna Gardens will host a sustainability session for those exploring farm-to-bar practices.
Once again, NZ Bar Con will balance learning with celebration. Brand-led events include the Canadian Club Bad Sweater Party, a Jameson Party, and an Italian-style Aperitivo Party by Prodotti — all designed to reconnect the industry and bring people together.
Beyond the programming, NZ Bar Con represents a growing movement. It gives the bar industry in New Zealand the chance to be seen and taken seriously — not just locally, but globally. It also gives suppliers of all sizes the opportunity to connect meaningfully with their audience. As Sarah Dawn Marseglia explains, “We proved there is a real desire for a NZ Bar Con. People here have the same drive and excitement about hospitality as anywhere else in the world. It’s time to put New Zealand on the map.”
Her co-founder Andrea Marseglia adds, “We want the world to know we can do big things from our little country. NZ has always produced incredible hospitality talent—people like Jacob Briars and Jack Sotti—and now it’s about showing the next generation that the industry here has global potential.”
With support from global brands and the local bar community, NZ Bar Con 2025 is shaping up to be a defining moment in the Southern Hemisphere’s hospitality calendar.
