Nuremberg – Over 230 exhibitors from 16 countries presented their rarities, special bottlings and unique products at the Whisk(e)y Trade Fair in Nuremberg: around 3,000 whisk(e)ys and more than 300 r(h)ums were on offer at THE VILLAGE and PUEBLO DEL RON. The fair also impressed visitors with a wide range of food and drinks as well as corresponding lifestyle products.
The managing directors of trade fair organiser AFAG, Henning and Thilo Könicke, are very satisfied with this year's event: "The Nuremberg Whisk(e)y Trade Fair was once again THE European meeting place for the whisk(e)y scene, and we are delighted that all the major suppliers and brands were represented. Some well-known names are also back again. With such a large selection of whisk(e)ys, responsible enjoyment is paramount. We have further improved the basis for this through various measures: numerous water dispensers within the fair, more food options and a more spacious layout have created a relaxed atmosphere on site. In addition, THE VILLAGE ticket included free travel to and from the fair on public transport in the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association (VGN) for the first time, which was used by many visitors.“
Special theme of THE VILLAGE and PUEBLO DEL RON 2026 was Pan America, so there was a focus on American whisk(e)ys and r(h)ums. Next year, the focus will be on Europe, and European whisk(e)ys and r(h)ums will take centre stage.
Michael Gradl, owner of whiskyfaessla.de and expert partner of THE VILLAGE, is extremely satisfied with this year's fair: "The Whisk(e)y Trade Fair Nuremberg 2026 was once again a great success. With the enlarged area and wider aisles, everyone was able to enjoy a very pleasant visit to the fair. Everyone involved in THE VILLAGE is motivated and in good spirits, which creates a great atmosphere at the fair. The new wide range of food and beers was great, but the focus was of course on the whisk(e)ys: THE VILLAGE has a whisk(e)y selection that is second to none: from the big brands to the small family-run distilleries and everything in between was represented here. This rightly makes THE VILLAGE the leading trade fair in Europe.“
THE VILLAGE's redesigned event and catering area gave visitors more opportunities to take a relaxing break away from the hustle and bustle of the trade fair. For the first time, various breweries were present, many of which also produce their own whisky. Gradl's Flüsterbar, a bourbon bar, offered a new opportunity to introduce whisky novices in particular to the spirit and get them excited about whisky.
Master classes, specialist lectures and basic seminars
THE VILLAGE's trade fair offering was expanded to include 40 master classes and specialist lectures, as well as daily basic seminars. Many visitors took advantage of the opportunity to delve deeper into the subject of whisky away from the hustle and bustle of the trade fair. Special bottlings and rarities were presented during the tastings, with a total of 11,500 drams served in the master classes.
Outlook for THE VILLAGE 2027
The next edition of THE VILLAGE whisk(e)y trade fair in Nuremberg will take place on 20 and 21 February 2027 (pre-opening on 19 February) at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. The focus in 2027 will be on European whisk(e)ys. In addition, the project team is already considering new highlights for the next edition of THE VILLAGE. A few special surprises are planned for the pre-opening on the eve of the trade fair.
Admission to THE VILLAGE whisk(e)y trade fair is restricted to persons aged 18 and over. THE VILLAGE whisky fair and the PUEBLO DEL RON rum fair are organised by the Nuremberg-based trade fair organiser AFAG.
Exhibitor comments on the Whisk(e)y Trade Fair in Nuremberg:
Moët Hennessy Deutschland, Janice Schauer:
We are very happy with this year's THE VILLAGE. This was our second time participating in a long while, and everything went really well. The visitors to our stand were very interested and enthusiastic.
Hanseatische Weinhandelsgesellschaft Bremen, Björn Dobrick und Sebastian Büssing
THE VILLAGE 2026 was outstanding! We really appreciated having so much space. Visitors were well distributed throughout the exhibition, and at the same time we had a large number of interested visitors at our stand who knew what they would find there.
Schlumberger Vertriebsgesellschaft, Andrea Caminneci:
The enlargement of the hall meant there was more space and less crowding. Overall, the atmosphere at THE VILLAGE 2026 was even better than last time. In terms of purchasing behaviour, we observed a trend towards buying special, limited-edition bottlings rather than the cheaper basics. Visitors to the Whisk(e)y Fair in Nuremberg are really looking for that special drop. There was also good demand for rum, sherry and port wines, with very interested visitors regularly coming to our stand to find out more and broaden their horizons.
Elch-Whisky, Georg Kugler:
We are very satisfied; once again, there was a lot going on at THE VILLAGE 2026. The audience here is great, and it goes without saying that we always enjoy participating in the Whisk(e)y Fair Nuremberg, which takes place practically on our doorstep.
Diageo, Markus Mai-Le Carpentier and Martin Günes:
We had very interested customers at our stand and overall the trade fair went well for us. The audience in Nuremberg is very relaxed and very interested. We were very well positioned with our stand and the wider aisles were very good.