The organisers of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival have launched a preview of its 2026 festival, which will feature more than 600 events.

Now in its 27th year, the annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink has become one of the largest events of its kind in the world, attracting thousands of visitors to Speyside since its inception in 1999.

Contributing more than £2.2 million annually to the local economy, this year’s festival will offer a diverse programme of events, kicking off on Wednesday, April 29th and running through to the first May Bank Holiday weekend.

Renowned for drawing visitors keen to deepen their knowledge of whisky, the festival takes place in a region boasting the greatest concentration of iconic brands. Speyside is home to 51 working distilleries — more than a third of Scotland’s total — dotted across towns including Elgin, Forres, Keith, Aberlour, Dufftown and Rothes. The festival continues to build on its reputation as a globally recognised event, delivering high-quality and memorable experiences.

Attendees can enjoy immersive tours and tastings, coopering masterclasses, and whisky-paired dinners created by leading chefs. There is also the opportunity to meet Master Blenders and gain access behind the closed doors of traditional dunnage warehouses, where festival-goers can draw samples directly from the cask. Visitors might savour a fireside dram or sip whisky on Findhorn beach. The popular Dram Tram also returns, offering passengers the chance to soak up the scenery in the Gold Carriage as they travel from Dufftown to Keith, enjoying a specially selected whisky en route.

For those wishing to explore the craft in greater depth, the four-day Whisky School returns for its 10th year. Led by a panel of distinguished industry experts, it provides exceptional insight into whisky production and begins just a few days before the festival opens.

The festival will launch with almost 80 events on its opening day, Wednesday 29 April, including an industry dinner co-hosted for the first time by Craigellachie Distillery as part of its 135th anniversary celebrations.

Commenting on the announcement, Henry Angus, Chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said: “The festival is the perfect way to launch World Whisky Month and to showcase the very best this region has to offer. While the scale of the programme is impressive, it is the quality of the events that truly stands out. It’s fantastic to see the whole Speyside community supporting what has become a key date in the calendar. We have experienced significant growth in visitor numbers and ticket sales in recent years, reinforcing the festival’s status as a major international event and its importance to the area.”

Preview ticket sales go live at 12 noon on February 18th, with general ticket sales launching at 12 noon on February 24th. For more information, visit spiritofspeyside.com