AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival in Joburg: All You Need to Know

The AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival, Africa’s leading cocktail and spirits festival, is back in Joburg once again, connecting top global and local bars in extraordinary pop-ups and masterclasses from 7 to 10 March 2026. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival?

Born from the Swahili word meaning miracle or something wondrous, AJABU continues to redefine Africa’s position on the global drinks stage, both through its world-class events and by building pathways for education, equity, and representation across the industry.

AJABU has evolved into a global movement that champions creativity, community, and connection. Each festival edition brings together leading local and international bars to collaborate on exclusive seminars, workshops, experiences and AJABU Mashups; unique one-night pop-ups designed to Celebrate the Art of the Cocktail through African ingredients, stories, and style.

Bar hop till you drop with AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival’s Bar Mashups

Bar Mashups are where world-class bartenders from leading international bars, collaborate with South Africa’s finest bartenders to create once-in-a-lifetime cocktail experiences.

Across the city, you’ll find unique pop-ups, collaborations, and consumer events, all celebrating African ingredients, creativity and hospitality.

This season, guests are invited to explore select bars across Johannesburg, each offering a signature half-price crafted cocktail (R86) as part of the festival menu.

Celebrating collaboration and creativity, globally recognised local distillers, makers, and bar owners as well as international brands have joined forces to curate a series of inspired menus that showcase the very best of Johannesburg’s bars, brands and cocktail culture.

Discover the bars, bartenders, local brands and more information by following our social media platforms for updates. Plus, enthusiasts and professionals alike get to attend workshops, tastings, and masterclasses.

AJABU's Colin Asare-Appiah and Mark Talbot Holmes — Co-Founders, Colin Asare-Appiah and Mark Talbot Holmes

The minds behind AJABU

Co-founded by Colin Asare-Appiah (Bar World 100 Most Influential Figures 2023, Co-Author Black Mixcellence, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s 2024 Visionary Award Recipient) and Mark Talbot Holmes (Founder of U’Luvka Vodka), AJABU – meaning ‘wondrous’ or ‘miraculous’ – is Africa’s largest, bi-annual cocktail and spirits festival.

AJABU not only shines a light on Africa’s hospitality industry but also fosters connections across the continent’s bar industry, while building an international community of bars and beverage professional through collaborations between global and local bars.

How to book tickets

Get a free ticket on Quicket, then join the fun at ‘bar mashups’ at participating bars. Note that space is limited, so act fast. Present your QR code at the AJABU Welcome Desks (via printed or digital ticket), and you’ll receive an event wristband that gives you access to any of the mashups at the participating bars.

Drinks are for your own account. Collect stamps in your AJABU Passport as you follow the AJABU Cocktail Festival.

Cost: Free entry. Registration is required via Quicket due to limited capacity.