World Gin Day
June 13
About World Gin Day
World Gin Day is a global celebration of gin held on the second Saturday of June each year. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, 13 June. The day brings together distillers, bars, and gin lovers across more than 30 countries to raise a glass to the juniper-led spirit, from classic London dry to modern craft expressions.
How to Celebrate World Gin Day
World Gin Day is built around getting people to actually drink, mix, and enjoy gin, so the best way to mark it is to pour one. Here are eight ways to get involved:
- Mix a classic gin and tonic – Pour a generous measure of gin over ice, top with quality tonic water, and garnish with a wedge of lime or a slice of cucumber. It is the drink that made gin a household staple and the easiest place to start.
- Shake up a Martini or Negroni – Try a dry gin Martini with a twist of lemon, or an equal-parts Negroni of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Both put the spirit’s botanicals centre stage rather than hiding them behind mixers.
- Host a gin tasting at home – Line up three or four different gins, from a traditional London dry to a citrus-forward or floral craft bottling, and taste them side by side to notice how the botanicals change the character of each.
- Visit a local distillery – Many distilleries run tours and tasting sessions around World Gin Day. Seeing the copper stills and smelling the raw botanicals gives you a real sense of how the spirit is made.
- Book into a gin bar or order a flight – Plenty of bars build special menus, flights, and serves for the day. Ask the bartender to recommend something outside your usual order.
- Experiment with garnishes – Swap the standard lemon for grapefruit peel, fresh rosemary, juniper berries, or a few peppercorns. Small changes to the garnish can transform the same gin into a different drink.
- Try a non-alcoholic gin alternative – The growing range of zero-proof gin substitutes means anyone can join in. Mix one with tonic for a botanical, grown-up drink without the alcohol.
- Share your serve online – Post a photo of your glass, tag the makers, and use the official hashtag to connect with the worldwide community of gin fans marking the same day.
What is World Gin Day?
World Gin Day is an annual, informal celebration that encourages people everywhere to come together over a glass of gin. It is deliberately open and uncommercial in spirit: there is no single owner brand, and anyone, whether a global distillery, a tiny bar, or a group of friends at home, is welcome to host or join an event. The day champions gin in all its forms and the community that has grown up around it, from cocktail enthusiasts to craft distillers.
When is World Gin Day?
World Gin Day takes place on the second Saturday of June every year. In 2026, that falls on Saturday, 13 June. Because the date is tied to a weekday rather than a fixed calendar date, it shifts slightly from year to year. The table below shows the dates for the next five years.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 13 June |
| 2027 | Saturday, 12 June |
| 2028 | Saturday, 10 June |
| 2029 | Saturday, 9 June |
| 2030 | Saturday, 8 June |
The History of World Gin Day
World Gin Day began in 2009 as a modest get-together organised by gin enthusiast Neil Houston in Birmingham, England. What started as an excuse for friends to gather and drink gin quickly caught on, and the idea of a dedicated day for the spirit spread beyond that first group.
In 2010 the celebration reached London, and from 2013 the running of World Gin Day passed to Emma Stokes, the writer and gin expert known as Gin Monkey and author of The Periodic Table of Cocktails. Under her stewardship the day grew from a local gathering into a genuinely global event, with bars, distilleries, and drinkers in dozens of countries taking part each June.
Gin itself has a far longer story. It traces back to genever, a juniper-flavoured spirit from the Low Countries originally used for medicinal purposes, with juniper valued for its supposed healing properties from the 14th century. Dutch genever crossed to England in the 17th century and evolved into gin, fuelling the notorious “Gin Craze” of 18th-century London before maturing into the refined London dry style and, more recently, the craft gin boom that has put hundreds of new distilleries on the map. If you enjoy spirited food and drink celebrations, you might also like National Iced Tea Day, which falls just days earlier in June.
Fun Facts About World Gin Day
- The very first World Gin Day was held in 2009 in Birmingham, the brainchild of gin lover Neil Houston.
- By law, every gin must be flavoured predominantly with juniper berries, the botanical that gives the spirit its distinctive piney character.
- “London dry gin” is a style, not a place: it can be made anywhere in the world, provided it meets strict production standards with no added sweeteners or artificial flavourings.
- Beyond juniper, common gin botanicals include coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, liquorice, citrus peel, and cassia bark.
- The word “gin” comes from genièvre and jenever, the French and Dutch words for juniper.
- World Gin Day is celebrated in more than 30 countries, making it one of the most widely observed drinks days on the calendar.
Why World Gin Day Matters
Beyond the obvious excuse to enjoy a good drink, World Gin Day supports a thriving community of independent distillers and bars, many of them small businesses that have helped drive the craft gin revival. It also celebrates a spirit with centuries of history and an extraordinary range of flavours, and gives friends and strangers alike a shared, sociable reason to come together every June.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is World Gin Day?
World Gin Day is a global, informal celebration that encourages people to come together and enjoy gin in all its forms. Anyone can host or take part, from major distilleries to friends at home.
When is World Gin Day in 2026?
World Gin Day falls on Saturday, 13 June 2026. It is always held on the second Saturday of June, so the date changes each year.
Who started World Gin Day?
It was created in 2009 by gin enthusiast Neil Houston in Birmingham. Since 2013 it has been run by Emma Stokes, known as Gin Monkey, who turned it into a worldwide event.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best gin serve on social media with #WorldGinDay and #WorldGinDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to mix something new!
Related Awareness Days
- National Iced Tea Day – A refreshing June drinks day for those who prefer their glass without the gin.
- National Cheese Day – A natural pairing partner, since a good gin and a cheese board go hand in hand.
- International Falafel Day – Another global food and drink celebration that lands in the same week of June.
Links
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