Key Point:
New Vertical | Spirits, Wine, Craft Beer | Immersive Experience | Buyer Access | Business Opportunities
SHANGHAI, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the beverage and bar industry in Asia rebounds with renewed growth, driven by rising premiumization, younger consumer demand, and the expansion of experiential drinking culture, HOTELEX Shanghai 2026 will debut The Bar & Drinks Shanghai. This high-impact, scenario-driven platform connects global spirits, wine, and craft beer brands with Asia's most influential bar and hospitality buyers, providing immersive experiences, direct engagement, and unparalleled commercial opportunities across China and the region. The new vertical transforms traditional exhibition into a practical business environment for market entry and expansion, enabling brands to engage buyers, showcase products, and build lasting partnerships in a rapidly recovering market.
Scheduled for March 30 to April 2, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, HOTELEX Shanghai 2026 will once again operate at unmatched scale, welcoming over 300,000 professional visitors across 400,000 square meters, with more than 3,800 exhibitors and 12,000 overseas buyers.
Developed under the official incubation of HOTELEX, The Bar & Drinks Shanghai is purpose-built for exhibitors targeting the bar and beverage channel. Unlike conventional display areas, the platform features immersive, scenario-based exhibits that replicate real-world bar environments, allowing brands to present products through experience, storytelling, and direct interaction.
The exhibition focuses on three high-growth categories: Spirits, catering to premiumization and younger consumers; Wine, aligned with China's shift toward lighter, experience-driven consumption; and Craft Beer, where quality, individuality, and cultural identity increasingly influence purchasing decisions. Exhibitors gain direct access to bar owners, hospitality groups, distributors, importers, and lifestyle-driven buyers, creating unparalleled opportunities for market entry and business growth.
To enhance commercial outcomes, The Bar & Drinks Shanghai integrates mixology showcases, bartender competitions, bar design and equipment solutions, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and sustainable packaging, providing multiple touchpoints for brand visibility, lead generation, and partnership development.
As a strategic upgrade within HOTELEX Shanghai 2026, The Bar & Drinks Shanghai offers beverage brands a focused, high-impact gateway to Asia's fast-evolving bar and hospitality market, combining immersive experiences, targeted buyer access, and scenario-driven engagement to help international brands enter and grow in China and wider Asia.
Contact Us
Booth Inquiry:
Alex Ni
Tel: +86 21 3339 2242
Alex.Ni@imsinoexpo.com
Media & Visitor Consulting:
Lizzy Chen
Tel: +86 21 3339 2566
Lizzy.chen@imsinoexpo.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
From Spirits to Craft Beer: HOTELEX Shanghai 2026 Opens New Gateway to Asia's Bar Market
MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The fourth edition of Gateway Gulf, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), concluded with USD 22.3 billion in announcements, partnerships and deals. More than 110 announcements were made over two days across a diverse range of sectors, including financial services, technology, logistics, manufacturing, tourism, aviation, energy and water, healthcare, education, and other high-growth sectors.
From the main Plenary Stage to the Manama Circle signing stage, Gateway Gulf 2026 was marked by a steady flow of landmark deals, strategic partnerships, and major investment announcements, reflecting the depth and diversity of opportunity across the Kingdom of Bahrain and the wider region. The momentum reinforced Bahrain's position as a trusted destination for global capital and a strategic platform for businesses seeking to access opportunities across the Gulf and high-growth markets worldwide.
Over 75 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed over the two days of the event, underscoring its focus on turning dialogue into action and highlighting the breadth of partnerships advanced through Gateway Gulf 2026. Four large-scale projects, with a cumulative value of USD 3.89 billion, were awarded Bahrain's Golden License. These projects reinforce the island nation's standing as a strategic regional hub and its ability to attract high-value investments that consistently advance connectivity, innovation, and economic diversification.
Bahrain's position as a gateway to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is supported by its highly connected, business-friendly ecosystem and diversified economy, with non-oil sectors contributing around 86% to GDP. These strengths position the Kingdom as a compelling base for businesses and investors seeking to scale and pursue long-term opportunities across the region. With a combined economy exceeding USD 2.38 trillion, the GCC is a hub for capital, talent and innovation, with sustained investment in infrastructure, regional integration and economic diversification continuing to underpin its resilience.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay on 1–2 November under the theme "Reimagining Global Partnerships, Powering Sustainable Growth", the flagship investment forum brought together ministers, investors and global C-suite executives to forge new partnerships, mobilise cross-border capital and advance investment across high-growth sectors. The fourth edition reinforced Bahrain's role as a platform for regional and international partnership, translating its competitive strengths into tangible investment, stronger trade links, and opportunities for sustainable growth. With a clear focus on converting dialogue into action and opportunity into investment, Gateway Gulf continues to deliver partnerships with lasting economic impact for Bahrain, the region, and markets beyond.
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Bahrain's Gateway Gulf 2026 Unveils USD 22.3 Billion in Strategic Announcements, Partnerships, and Deals
