Maritime Spirits Festival

A celebration of regional and internaltional spirits & the art of the cocktail

Feb 20 and Feb 21, 2026

Two cocktails with cherries on a pink table, surrounded by orange slices, crumpled napkins, and scattered toothpicks, with a metallic jester hat in the background.

Cocktail Week

Feb 13 to Feb 20

Before the big festival even begins, get your taste buds ready for Spirit Week, running from February 13th to February 21st, 2026! We've teamed up with over a dozen of the Greater Moncton area's best bars and restaurants for a city-wide cocktail adventure. Each participating spot will feature a unique, limited-time cocktail crafted exclusively with amazing spirits from our talented Maritime distilleries. It's the perfect way to discover your new favorite local hangout while sipping on some seriously creative, regional drinks!

Think of it as a delicious treasure hunt! Grab our physical map and check out the full list of participating establishments and their showcase cocktails on our website. You can follow the trail from location to location, sampling fantastic new flavors along the way. Plus, we're giving you a chance to win free tickets to the main Maritime Spirit Festival! Just snap a photo of your Spirit Week cocktail, post it on social media, and tag us to enter the draw. Get out there, support local bars and distilleries, and make your way around the city, one incredible cocktail at a time!

A white bowl of limes, a yellow kiwano horned melon, a halved lime, a martini glass with green cocktail garnished with slices of cucumber, a pile of cucumber slices, a bunch of mint, a citrus juicer, and a kitchen towel on a tiled counter.

Coktail Competion

Get ready for the most spirited attraction at Moncton SpiritFest: a high-octane cocktail competition featuring six of the Maritimes' finest bartenders! This isn't just about watching—it's about cheering, tasting, and maybe even judging. You'll witness incredible creativity as competitors invent signature drinks using premium sponsor spirits in the Judges' Choice round. Then, brace yourself for the Speed Round, where technique meets adrenaline as bartenders race the clock to craft perfect classic cocktails. It’s fast, thrilling, and a must-see showcase of professional skill!

But the best part? You get to be the judge! Grab a VIP bracelet or upgrade your ticket to participate in the People's Choice Tasting. You'll sample mini-versions of the competitors' creations and cast your vote for the ultimate crowd favorite. This is your chance to decide who wins the coveted People's Choice Award and directly influence the competition's outcome. Come join the excitement, discover new cocktails, and help us crown Moncton’s newest champion!

Upcoming events

  • Grand Testing Gala Friday

    Fri Feb 20 7:00-10:00PM

    All inclusive event with over 20 vendors and a cocktail competion organized by Aaron Malley (Mix It Up Mixology)

  • Grand Testing Gala Saturday

    Sat Feb 21 7:00-10:00PM

    All inclusive event with over 20 vendors