Tequila Festivals in Hawaii — 2026 Guide
Hawaii has long been ground zero for tropical cocktails — but 2026 is the year tequila and agave spirits get the dedicated festival they deserve. Here's what tequila festivals in Hawaii look like in 2026, and why the Aloha Tequila & Arts Festival is the one to circle on your calendar.
The 1st Annual Aloha Tequila & Arts Festival — June 20, 2026
The marquee tequila event in Hawaii this year. Held at International Market Place in Waikiki on Saturday, June 20 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the festival features 80+ premium tequilas, mezcals and agave spirits — including brands like Kapena, Codigo, El Tesoro, Tequila Ocho, Fortaleza, G4, 3 Tres, Cuervo, La Familia, Dobel, Herradura, Corralejo, Cascahuín, Espolón and more to come. Curated tasting sections cover Big Name Brands, Additive-Free Alliance, Mezcal/Sotol/Bacanora, Mixto cocktails, and RTD tequilas.
What's a tequila festival actually like?
A tequila festival is part tasting event, part food festival, part live music. You get a wristband (21+ only), a tasting glass, and you walk between brand booths sampling 1/2-oz pours, comparing flights, and chatting with brand reps and master distillers. At Aloha Tequila Fest, you also get full street-food access from top Oahu restaurants, live mariachi and DJs, live painting, and a flea market. Plan for 4 hours, drink water, eat tacos.
Tequila vs. mezcal vs. agave spirits — what to try
Tequila must be made from blue Weber agave grown in specific Mexican regions. Mezcal can be made from 30+ agave varietals, often roasted in earthen pits for that smoky character. Sotol and Bacanora are agave-adjacent spirits from northern Mexico — earthier, wilder, less common in the US. At a festival like Aloha Tequila Fest, sample one of each: a Blanco tequila to taste the agave, a small-batch additive-free Reposado, and a smoky Mezcal to expand your palate.
Why Hawaii is the perfect tequila festival setting
Hawaii's climate — warm, breezy, dry-cool evenings — is exactly the kind of weather that flatters agave spirits and citrus-forward cocktails. International Market Place is open-air, walkable from every Waikiki hotel, and surrounded by Oahu's best food. You sip a paloma under palm trees with the sound of live music and the trade winds rolling in. You don't get that experience at a tequila festival in Vegas or LA.
A fundraiser, not just a party
Partial proceeds from the Aloha Tequila & Arts Festival benefit the Aloha Cancer Project (alohacancerproject.org), a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) supporting cancer patients and families across Hawaii. Every ticket helps fund patient services, fellowship events, and community outreach.
See you at the festival
Tickets are on sale now via TicketSpice. June 20, 2026 — don't miss it.
