National Spritz Day
August 1
About National Spritz Day
National Spritz Day is celebrated every year on 1 August, toasting one of the world’s most popular summer cocktails. The day encourages people to mix, sip, and share the bright, refreshing spritz with friends. It is a recent addition to the drinks calendar, created in 2023 on the back of the cocktail’s surging global popularity.
How to Celebrate National Spritz Day
The spritz is all about ease and enjoyment, so celebrating is wonderfully simple. Here are plenty of ways to raise a glass.
- Mix a classic Aperol Spritz – Combine three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, and a splash of soda water over ice, then garnish with a slice of orange. It is the recipe that made the drink famous.
- Try a Campari Spritz – Swap the Aperol for Campari if you prefer a more bitter, grown-up edge. The deeper red colour looks striking in the glass.
- Go alcohol-free – Use a non-alcoholic aperitif or a mix of blood orange soda and sparkling water so everyone can join the toast.
- Host a spritz garden party – The spritz is the ultimate outdoor drink. Set up a small bar with prosecco, a few liqueurs, soda, and bowls of citrus and let guests build their own.
- Experiment with the base – Try a Limoncello Spritz, an Elderflower Spritz, or a Select Spritz, the Venetian original, for something a little different.
- Get the garnish right – A spritz lives and dies on its garnish. A fat wedge of orange, a sprig of mint, or a few olives can lift the whole drink.
- Pair with Italian snacks – Serve your spritz with olives, crisps, salted nuts, or small bites in the spirit of the Italian aperitivo hour.
- Toast at golden hour – The spritz is traditionally an aperitivo drink, enjoyed in the early evening before dinner, so time your celebration for late afternoon sunshine.
What is National Spritz Day?
National Spritz Day is an annual celebration of the spritz, a light, bubbly cocktail typically made with prosecco, a bitter liqueur such as Aperol or Campari, and a splash of soda water. The day appeals to cocktail lovers and casual drinkers alike, and it captures the relaxed, sociable spirit of the Italian aperitivo. Like many drinks holidays, it has no formal governing body, but it is widely promoted by bars, brands, and drinks enthusiasts.
When is National Spritz Day?
National Spritz Day falls on Saturday, 1 August 2026. It is celebrated on 1 August every year, placing it perfectly in the height of summer when a chilled, refreshing drink is most welcome.
The History of National Spritz Day
The spritz cocktail has roots stretching back to 19th-century Italy. When the Veneto region was under the control of the Austrian Empire, Austrian soldiers found the local wines stronger than the beer they were used to, and took to diluting them with a splash of water. The name is thought to derive from the German word “spritzen”, meaning to splash, a reference to that addition of soda water.
The drink evolved significantly in the 20th century. In 1919, brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri created Aperol, a vibrant orange aperitif that would become inseparable from the modern spritz. The cocktail gained international momentum from the 1950s onwards and exploded in popularity during the 2010s, becoming a fixture of summer terraces around the world. If you enjoy sparkling celebrations, you might also like National Prosecco Day, which honours the very wine at the heart of most spritz recipes.
The national day itself is a recent creation, established in 2023 to capitalise on the cocktail’s enormous rise in popularity. It now serves as an annual prompt to enjoy the drink and to explore its many variations.
Fun Facts About National Spritz Day
- The word “spritz” comes from the German “spritzen”, meaning to splash, a nod to the soda water added to the original wine-based drink.
- Aperol, the most famous spritz ingredient, was created in 1919 but only became a worldwide phenomenon decades later.
- The Aperol Spritz is often served in a large wine glass rather than a tumbler, allowing room for plenty of ice and a generous orange garnish.
- The Select Spritz, made with Select liqueur, is considered the original Venetian spritz and predates the Aperol version.
- The spritz is traditionally an “aperitivo”, a drink enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite.
- The classic Aperol Spritz follows a simple 3-2-1 ratio: three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, one part soda.
Why National Spritz Day Matters
Beyond the fun of a refreshing drink, National Spritz Day celebrates a piece of Italian culture and the relaxed sociability of the aperitivo tradition. It is an excuse to slow down, gather friends, and enjoy a moment together, and it supports the bars, restaurants, and drinks makers who keep the tradition alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Spritz Day?
It is an annual celebration of the spritz cocktail, typically made with prosecco, a bitter liqueur such as Aperol, and soda water. People mark it by mixing and sharing spritzes.
When is National Spritz Day in 2026?
National Spritz Day takes place on Saturday, 1 August 2026, and on 1 August every year.
What is the classic Aperol Spritz recipe?
Combine three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one part soda water over ice, then garnish with a slice of orange.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best spritz photos on social media with #NationalSpritzDay and #NationalSpritzDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to mix their own!
Related Awareness Days
- National Prosecco Day – Honours the sparkling wine that forms the base of most spritz cocktails.
- International Gin and Tonic Day – Another refreshing, fizzy favourite for cocktail lovers.
- National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day – A fruity summer drinks celebration earlier in the season.
Links
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