The TFWA World Exhibition & Conference returns to Cannes from 28 September to 2 October, once again transforming the city’s Palais des Festivals exhibition area and La Croisette seafront into the beating heart of the global travel retail community.
Last year, at the 40th anniversary of the show, the attendee total came in just behind the highest recorded six years ago. With 7,456 visitors travelling to France for the five-day event, last year’s show was bigger than 2023, which recorded 7,385. Despite the 1% increase, the record set in 2019 of 7,531 visitors remains in place.
This year’s programme reflects TFWA’s ambition to keep the event both business-focused and socially engaging, by “creating meaningful connections in unforgettable settings”. Proceedings begin with the ‘Yes We Cannes’ parasport initiative, culminating in a 500km charity bike ride arriving in Cannes on the opening weekend, before delegates gather for the traditional Carlton Beach Opening Cocktail.
The ever-popular TFWA Lounge follows on Monday and Tuesday, offering relaxed after-work and late-night sessions, while Wednesday sees the beach transformed into the Phenomena Club, with headline DJ Martin Solveig providing the soundtrack.
Alongside the social calendar, ‘Innovation Square’, a new hub for research and forward-thinking dialogue, makes its Cannes debut. Early-morning workshops will probe topics ranging from geopolitical disruption to the future of airport retail, equipping attendees with fresh perspectives before the exhibition doors open each day. Complementing this, the One2One meeting service provides targeted introductions between brands, buyers and operators.
Against this backdrop, here’s a selection of the must-see beverage alcohol stands at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference.
Bottega – Stand A11 Blue Village
Sparkling wine group Bottega will unveil the top tier of its Prosecco Premium Vintage Collection at this year’s show – Stardust Gold and Stardust Black (above), both Extra Brut vintage 2021 releases. Produced with extended fermentation to enhance complexity and longevity, the wines represent over a decade of research and refinement by Bottega’s winemakers.
Stardust Gold, retailing at EUR250 (US$292), is adorned with 5,000 hand-applied crystals, while Stardust Black, priced at EUR119, features 3,000 black crystals for a striking finish. Both highlight the collection’s distinctive approach: hand-harvested glera grapes from Unesco heritage hills, sustainable cultivation and ageing in innovative horizontal autoclaves.
Positioned for fine-dining pairings and luxury gifting, these wines underline Bottega’s ambition to elevate prosecco’s image to rival the prestige of champagne.
Caffo – Stand J54 Green Village
Caffo will present its new global brand platform, ‘Capo That Moment’ – an initiative designed to highlight the emotional shift that transforms social occasions into meaningful connections. Central to the showcase is Vecchio Amaro del Capo (above), Italy’s “top-selling amaro”, which will feature across three consumption moments: digestive, aperitivo and cocktail.
The company’s stand will also spotlight the brand’s signature Ice-Cold Ritual. “Del Capo – not for demographics, but for moments that matter,” the company notes.
Casa Redondo – Stand K22 Red Village
Casa Redondo will return to TFWA Cannes on the back of strong double-digit sales growth in global travel retail this year. The family-owned Portuguese company, founded in 1929, is best known for Licor Beirão (above), the country’s leading spirit, alongside brands such as Amarguinha almond liqueur, FoxTale Gin and Per Se Aperitivo.
More recently, Redondo has added Safari, a fruit-flavoured liqueur acquired from Diageo last year. There’s also Sheridan’s, another liqueur also bought from Diageo earlier this month. With GTR now accounting for around 30% of its business, Casa Redondo will spotlight both its core range and upcoming packaging innovations, while teasing “surprises” designed to reinforce its expanding global footprint.
Diageo – Majestic Beach 1
Diageo Global Travel will return to Cannes this month with a refreshed take on its ‘Future of Travel Retail’ concept. The platform will explore how brands connect with consumers across the traveller journey, underlining how Diageo’s portfolio is aligned with evolving category trends.
Guests will be welcomed into an immersive ‘Departures Lounge’ featuring activations such as ‘The Gifting Lab’, ‘The Explore Lounge’, ‘The Launchpad’ and ‘The Mixology Carousel’. These experiences highlight opportunities across airports, airlines and cruise lines, while showcasing how brands including Johnnie Walker (Black Ruby extension, above), Don Julio and The Singleton are delivering more exclusive, memorable encounters in global travel retail.
Hayman Distillers – Stand L39 Green Village
Hayman’s The Original Gin (above) makes its debut at Cannes this year, presenting its full range of London gins to exhibition attendees. Distilled in London since 1863, Hayman’s remains the last family-owned producer of the city’s original style of gin, widely regarded as the benchmark for the category.
Today, the brand is enjoyed in over 70 countries and has recently launched in UK duty free. “Gin continues to be a healthy category and demand for the original style remains strong, so we are looking forward to Hayman’s first time at TFWA in Cannes,” says co-owner James Hayman.
Heaven Hill International – Stand K59 Green Village
Heaven Hill will highlight exclusive GTR formats for its Tequila Ocho and Elijah Craig Bourbon marks at Cannes. Visitors can also explore the group’s premium traveller activations, including Elijah Craig’s New York airport showcase celebrating the brand’s Ryder Cup partnership at Bethpage Black.
Tequila Ocho, which is the world’s first single-field tequila, and Elijah Craig (above), credited with pioneering bourbon’s use of charred oak barrels, embody the craftsmanship and heritage that are central to Heaven Hill’s offering.
Henkell Freixenet – Stand F11 Blue Village
Henkell Freixenet will return to Cannes with an expanded sparkling wine portfolio, bolstered by a clear growth agenda across Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. At its redesigned stand in Blue Village F11, the company will spotlight “global icons” Mionetto and Freixenet alongside innovations in prosecco, alcohol-free wine and crémant.
Highlights include the Freixenet alcohol-free diamond range, designed for both on-shelf and in-flight listings, and the new Cordon Negro 0.0%, which, according to Henkell Freixenet, has been shortlisted for a travel retail award. With increasing visibility at airports, Mionetto (above), alongside its Aperitivo Kit and Orange Spritz activations supported by exclusive GTR packs, continues to drive momentum in the aperitivo segment and will also take centre stage on Stand F11.
Ian Macleod Distillers – Bay 3 Bay Village
Ian Macleod Distillers will showcase a diverse portfolio of whiskies and gin this year, highlighting both heritage and innovation.
Headlining the stand will be Tamdhu Cuatro Reserva 12-year-old, a new core GTR expression, alongside the rare Rosebank Vintage Release III — a 1991, 33-year-old bottling limited to just 350 units. Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt also joins the company’s GTR portfolio for the first time, while Edinburgh Gin will debut its Elevated Editions (above), a channel-exclusive liqueur range inspired by the brand’s early foundations.
Guests are also invited to join the company for its daily terrace happy hours overlooking Cannes harbour.
Italian Wine Brands – Stand L56 Green Village
Italian Wine Brands will spotlight its Voga Italia brand (above), bringing the Italian aperitivo spirit to GTR. At its stand, visitors can sample two distinctive varietals: Voga Prosecco DOC Brut, celebratory and effervescent, and Voga Prosecco DOC Still, light and refreshing.
With its striking design and lifestyle positioning, Voga Italia aims to “turn everyday moments into stylish occasions for travellers worldwide”. Supported by the playful ‘How do you prosecco?’ marketing campaign, Italian Wine Brands will showcase activations, tastings and in-store concepts that highlight Italy’s vibrant wine culture as well as the brand’s growing presence in GTR.
La Martiniquaise-Bardinet – Stand AA4 Blue Village
La Martiniquaise-Bardinet will present a strong line-up of launches at this year’s exhibition, led by the new Label 5 communication campaign and the exclusive GTR unveiling of Label 5 Bourbon Barrel at 43% ABV. The portfolio expansion continues with the addition of renowned Venezuelan rum brand Cacique (above), part of the group’s international offering following its acquisition from Diageo at the start of this year.
Saint James Rum will also celebrate its 260th anniversary with the debut of a special commemorative cuvée, while Beehive Brandy introduces its Gold Edition. Together, these highlights showcase LMB’s breadth of innovation across whisky, rum and brandy in GTR.
Mont Blanc Vodka – Stand J67 Green Village
Making its first appearance in Cannes, Mont Blanc Vodka (above) brings a distinctly French identity to the premium vodka category. Crafted with crystal-clear water from Angeac-Champagne and Picardy wheat from northern France, the spirit offers a smooth, rounded profile with a subtle velvety finish. The brand draws inspiration from its namesake mountain, with a bottle design echoing Mont Blanc’s silhouette in striking purple tones.
Positioned to appeal to consumers seeking provenance and refinement, Mont Blanc Vodka will showcase how local terroir and high-quality ingredients can deliver a vodka with both character and standout presence in global travel retail.
Nemiroff – Stand E30 Yellow Village
Nemiroff will spotlight its full spirits portfolio, from its namesake vodka’s classic De Luxe iteration to the repositioned Reserve and the ultra-premium Lex by Nemiroff (above). The bold Inked Collection adds a modern edge, appealing to adventurous drinkers.
This year’s focus is on reinforcing the brand’s position in global travel retail while strengthening relationships with key partners. With premiumisation firmly on the agenda, Nemiroff is set to underline its ambitions with high-impact activations designed to build awareness of the Lex expression in luxury segments.
The showcase reflects a wider strategy to capture demand for elevated spirits experiences across duty-free markets.
Noblewood Group – Stand L36 Green Village
Noblewood Group intends to make a strong showing at TFWA Cannes, led by its flagship Beluga Vodka portfolio. Centre stage will be Beluga Gold Line (above), the ultra-premium expression renowned for its filtration process, 90-day resting period and signature wax-sealed bottle. Each individually numbered bottle is presented in a leather box and opened through a unique ritual using a custom hammer and brush — a mark of the brand’s exclusivity.
Alongside Beluga, Noblewood will also debut Oyster Fine de Claire Adriatic Gin, its first gin venture, which is available in two expressions: Gin Adriatic and Wild Citrus.
Osborne Group – Stand D3 Blue Village
Osborne Group will present a refreshed line-up at Cannes. Among the highlights are a new-look Carlos I, the brand’s flagship Brandy de Jerez, a ready-to-drink Veterano & Cola, a Gold 999.9 miniature gin and the latest limited-edition Nordés Gin (above), inspired by the Atlantic Ocean.
An entirely new whisky launch is also in development, marking another step in the company’s broadening portfolio.
The stand will underline Osborne’s commitment to growing its premium Spanish spirits brands in global travel retail through exclusivity, limited editions and refreshed visibility for some of its most established names.
Proximo Spirits – Stand SUD Harbour Village
Proximo Spirits will use Cannes to preview major global launches across its premium portfolio. Bushmills will extend its GTR-exclusive ‘World Wood Series’ 18-year-old single malt (above) beyond Asia, with a new marketing campaign that aligns brand messaging for partners worldwide ahead of a January 2026 roll-out.
The campaign will be showcased at Proximo’s SUD yacht in Harbour Village, where visitors can experience the series alongside other prestige expressions.
Proximo will also debut 1800 Tequila Triple Cask, the brand’s first channel-exclusive edition. Bottled at 40% ABV in a 1-litre format, the new expression will launch globally in the channel next year.
Radico Khaitan – Stand L71 Green Village
Radico Khaitan will bring the spirit of India to the south of France with a showcase from Rampur Distillery, Asia’s largest and oldest.
From the award-winning Rampur Indian Single Malt range to Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, the portfolio (above) reflects a legacy of innovation shaped by the Himalayan climate. Visitors to the stand can also discover the much-anticipated Kohinoor Reserve Indian Dark Rum, inspired by the famed diamond and matured across three casks.
The stand will further unveil Rampur Jugalbandi No.7 and No.8, completing Rampur’s acclaimed series of dual-cask single malts.
The Shed Distillery – Stand J35 Green Village
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin will take centre stage for The Shed Distillery with a colourful line-up led by the brand’s newly launched Italian Fig & Laurel expression (above). Already showing strong momentum in the US, the extension’s striking purple bottling joins Drumshanbo’s growing collection of flavour-led editions.
Visitors will also discover the tropical Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin with Brazilian Pineapple, the Sardinian Citrus variant and the original Gunpowder expression, including its travel retail-exclusive ceramic edition.
The showcase reflects The Shed Distillery’s continued success in expanding Gunpowder Gin’s global footprint through distinctive flavours and standout presentation.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka – Stand M71 Green Village
Tito’s Handmade Vodka returns to TFWA Cannes this year, showcasing its versatile range of pack sizes tailored to the GTR channel. From large-format 1.75-litre bottles to convenient 20cl and 5cl formats designed for gifting or impulse purchases, Tito’s line-up demonstrates the brand’s flexibility across shopper occasions.
A highlight of the stand will be the debut of the 2025 limited-edition ‘Ugly Sweater’ holiday pack, a collectable that has become a seasonal favourite for both retailers and consumers, underlining Tito’s strong gifting credentials and playful brand spirit in GTR.
Vinarchy – Stand D26 Yellow Village
Debuting at TFWA Cannes, Vinarchy will showcase its expanded portfolio following the integration earlier this year of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard’s wine businesses in Australia, New Zealand and Spain. Now one of the world’s largest specialist wine companies, Vinarchy brings together leading brands such as Hardys, Jacob’s Creek, Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and St Hugo under a single global identity.
The company will reveal a refreshed stand design and outline its ambitions for travel retail, positioning itself as a dedicated wine supplier with a portfolio spanning everyday favourites to fine wines with international acclaim.
William Grant & Sons – Stand GO2 Golden Village
William Grant & Sons’ TFWA Cannes stand has been designed around its The Balvenie and Glenfiddich shop-in-shop concepts in duty free. The space will feature the GTR-exclusive Glenfiddich 19-year-old limited edition (above), created in collaboration with the Aston Martin Formula One team, while Silent Pool Gin takes over the terrace with cocktails celebrating its Royal Ascot partnership.
Malt master Brian Kinsman will lead private tastings, and daily cocktail hours will showcase Monkey Shoulder, Hendrick’s and Silent Pool. The programme highlights the company’s mix of heritage scotch whiskies and contemporary premium spirits.
