Top 5 Cocktail Trends to Impress Your Guests in 2026

We love a good cocktail party here at Canvas House, and not just because they let us show off just how versatile our bar kitchen can be. Creating signature cocktails is a great way to immediately elevate parties and events, building what can almost be described as a unique culture surrounding your celebration, and fostering a level of togetherness that really makes for the warmest of evenings.

That being said, creating your own drinks menu is indeed an art form in and of itself, so it definitely pays to have access to not only master mixologists, but also great commercial kitchen facilities so that these magicians can get right to work at prepping a full library of cocktail ingredients to accommodate even the most ambitious cocktail menus.

The only question left is what kind of cocktails can you expect to serve up across your events calendar in the new year? What’s new in the realm of mixology?

Today, our expert event planners here at Canvas House will be leaning on our expansive network of hospitality caterers including bartender extraordinaires to answer this question. Below, we’ll be outlining the top 5 cocktail trends that our mixology monsieurs et madames are expecting to shape 2026.

Top 5 Cocktail Trends to Impress Your Guests in 2026

One of the strongest event planning tips we give to all of our clients looking to host a gala dinner or other type of culinary event, is to get your food and drink menus finalised as promptly as possible to leave more time for sourcing quality caterers, and even gathering ingredients if needed.

So as you read through these cocktail trends for Melbourne events in 2026, think about how you may be able to incorporate these ideas into your own food and drink planning for your next event.

1. Day-Drinking is the New Pink

In Resy’s 2025 retrospective report, they noticed that more of their app users made restaurant bookings between 5pm to 6pm than across the entire three hours spanning from 8pm to 11pm. There were also more bookings at 4pm than at 9pm all throughout the year, which points to post-pandemic early dining habits that seem to be sticking around for the long haul.

Here in Australia, we’re noticing similar trends, with Gen Z partygoers consistently swapping out boozy weekend nights for Sunday afternoon drag brunches or at most, 6pm drinks on a rooftop bar so they can still wake up early enough to make it to pilates in the morning.

As a result of this cultural shift to having a tipple under the afternoon sun, we’re seeing more party ideas come our way that seek to take advantage of daytime venue bookings. We’re also seeing more cocktail menus feature daytime-friendly drinks like light spritzes, mojitos, G&Ts, and even some alcoholic iced teas. So the next time you set out to plan a corporate dinner event, ask yourself if lunch or brunch may actually end up being a better vibe!

2. Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Experimentations with Adaptogens

Gen Zs aren’t just drinking earlier – they’re also drinking less?! As one of the most famously health-conscious generations, we’re seeing more Gen Z partygoers swap out beer cans for some more purposefully non-alcoholic beverages. This makes mocktails a must-add for any cocktail menu in 2026.

The shift towards mocktails also demands innovation from mixologists. Instead of relying on the naturally strong flavours of spirits to add edge to signature cocktails, mixologists are now experimenting with botanical syrups (like elderflower cordials, for instance), spices, and other gastronomical elements to create dynamic cocktail experiences – that are low-alcoholic or even totally alcohol-free.

Alongside the rise of the artisanal mocktail, we can also expect to see more cocktails in 2026 that naturally include adaptogens (aka, ingredients rich in antioxidants and other cortisol-controlling substances) like ashwagandha, ginseng, chamomile, and licorice root – just to name a few. As botanical flavours are also on the rise, 2026 is the perfect time to experiment with organic-inspired cocktails and mocktails that actually nourish the body.

3. Local Liquid Experiences

This isn’t to say that beers are totally off the menu in 2026. In fact, we can expect more Aussies drinking beer in the new year, except instead of drinking your standard Coronas and Heinekens, we’re likely to see more Pirate Life, Moon Dog, and other local brews from local breweries.

This is great news for event planners like us who love to partner with other local hospitality businesses to create showstopping events. And for hosts who are looking to book some food trucks for their event catering, you can all but guarantee that those local flavours will pair perfectly with Melbourne brewed beers and ciders.

4. Maximalism Meets Mixology

The 2010s were definitely an era of stripped back cocktail menus, with cocktail fans looking for drinks that activated the natural flavours in their spirits. Following the pandemic, however, it seems as though bartenders have had their cup of minimalist mixology courses that involved just doing whatever you could with whatever they had. Today, it’s all about experimenting with bold new flavours, and finding combinations that titillate the taste buds.

This transition from minimalism to maximalism in mixology may even be credited to the resurgence of 1920s opulence and the revival of Great Gatsby-themed parties now a century onwards from the original era. If you’re looking to host business events with bold design schemes, chances are that a cocktail bar with all the workings from some opulent, maximalist, and dare we say Gatsby-inspired beverages, is sure to thrill and delight.

5. The Age of Crafted Ice & Functional Garnishes

Finally, in 2026 we’re definitely waving goodbye to watered down cocktails. This means no more ice cubes taking up half the glass. In fact, instead of standard ice cubes or even fancy ice spheres, we can expect to see more cocktails using crafted ice.

Craft ice includes a few different variations on traditional ice cubes. For example, your craft ice may simply be clearer ice that melts slower so it doesn’t naturally dilute drinks as fast as regular ice cubes. Or craft ice can be pre-made ice cubes that include specific flavours – think frozen blueberries, grapes, or watermelon so that when your ice cubes melt, they actually add to the flavours of your drink.

In this regard, we’re seeing more craft ice mimic the same fun qualities of cocktail accessories like functional garnishes. In much the same way that an olive dipped in a martini enhances the taste of that drink, so too do garnishes like candied orange peels, maraschino cherries, and even chillis or peppers in spicy margaritas. So if you’ve got some ideas for fun ice cubes or garnishes, write them all down to try out at your next event in 2026.

Use these Cocktail Trends to Elevate your Events in 2026

Want to create cocktail menus that will leave your guests in awe? Then be sure to follow these top 5 cocktail trends for 2026 that we’ve outlined above the next time you partner with some master mixologists. And if you enjoyed this guide, then be sure to check out our blog for even more tips and tricks to help elevate your events in the new year.

Keen to book Canvas House for your events in 2026? Then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to get the ball rolling on all your party planning must-dos. Our event planners are here to help curate the perfect evening for you and your guests, and can offer our expert support at every phase of your planning and hosting process, from connecting you up with caterers, bartenders and other event staff, to prepping the perfect itinerary for the day.