Summer Drinks Trends Set To Be Big In 2026

Summer has arrived in the UK which calls for pub gardens, BBQs and picnics aplenty. But what will we all be drinking this season? We tapped up the experts to predict the big drinks trends for summer 2026 – from the day drinking renaissance to tequila cocktails and mid-strength wine.

What To Drink This Summer, According To Experts

The Rise Of The Daycap

Forget nightcaps, this summer it’s all about daytime drinks. The 2026 Bacardi Cocktail Trends report highlights how the happy hour is being reimagined as an afternoon treat, marking ‘a shift toward micro-celebrations that fit modern routines.’ Joe McCanta, Grey Goose’s Global Head of Brand Experience, notes ‘the rise of earlier, lighter and more intentional drinking moments, from long lunches to golden hour drinks.’ 

This is in line with dining trends, with Open Table noting that early dinner bookings are on the rise – according to hospitality tech service Zonal, the new national average dining time is 6.12pm. Early socialising is particularly popular among young people, with research from Bacardi finding around 34 percent of Gen Z consumers saying they prefer drinking early in the evening over late-night occasions – no doubt largely a bid to boost wellbeing.

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Tequila

For a long time, a chilled G&T has been the go-to summer drink for Brits, but new data suggests tequila has overtaken gin as the spirit du jour. The Marks & Spencer summer trends report reads: ‘Tequila is having a major glow-up, with sales soaring 50 percent year on year and margarita sales jumping a huge 75 percent, making it one of the hottest spirits of the summer.’ Spicy margaritas – a mix of tequila, triple sec, lime and chilli – in particular have soared in popularity in recent years, with UK Google searches for ‘simple spicy margarita recipe’ climbing by 350 percent between May 2024 and May 2026. 

This is something bartenders are noticing, too. ‘Tequila is definitely having a moment,’ says Joe Rozier, a bartender at The Mariners Public House in Rock. ‘At The Mariners, our Spicy Yuzu Margarita is currently our top-selling cocktail by some distance – in March alone, we sold more than double the number of Spicy Yuzu Margaritas as Elderflower Gin Fizzes. We’re also seeing strong demand for simple tequila serves like tequila, lime and soda, and tequila with lime and ginger beer. And we’re only early in the year – as we head into summer, I’d expect those numbers to climb!’ 

(c) Aperol Spritz

Canned Drinks

As you head to al fresco gatherings and festivals this summer, expect to see everyone sipping canned drinks. Waitrose’s ready-to-drink category is up by 11 percent, with canned sparkling wine sales up by 70 percent and canned rosé wine up by 23 percent – which the supermarket is billing as the ‘tinification’ trend. Sarah Holland, Waitrose’s ready-to-drink buyer, says: ‘We’re seeing a huge trend of customers picking up canned cocktails for that ultimate summer convenience. Whether it’s for a sunny picnic or a weekend festival, you can enjoy a top-tier drink without having to play bartender!’ Cocktail-wise, the MOTH Passionfruit Martini is proving particularly popular right now. And no doubt Aperol Spritz’s new grab-and-go can, retailing at just £3 for 250ml, will be everywhere over the next few months.

This chimes with another report from Kingsland Drinks from earlier in the year, which highlighted canned drinks as one of the key trends for 2026 – citing convenience, recyclability and sustainability as big drivers.

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Hojicha and Ube

Matcha isn’t going anywhere, but other Japanese teas are gaining traction. Hojicha, a type of roasted green tea which originated in Kyoto, is set to be big this summer – with Google Trends showing interest is up by 54.6 percent since early 2025. Ube, too, is one of 2026’s buzziest ingredients: a vibrant purple yam vegetable which is increasingly popping up in drinks. More and more cafes are expanding their menus to include hojicha and ube – London favourite Farmer J recently added a hojicha and maple iced latte to its menu, while big names like Blank Street and Starbucks now serve ube-based drinks. ‘At Rude Health, we’ve definitely seen a growing curiosity around more unexpected flavours in coffee, and ube fits perfectly into that shift,’ says Liam Maddin, barista lead at Rude Health. ‘It taps into what people are looking for right now – something visually appealing, slightly indulgent, but still rooted in quality ingredients.’ 

Frozen Cocktails

With the Met Office predicting more heatwaves across the UK this summer, bartenders will be jumping on the frozen cocktails hype. ‘Frozen cocktails are definitely having a moment, especially when the sun’s out,’ says restaurateur James Robson of Fallow Group. ‘At Fallow we’ve been serving Frozen Margaritas since our very first pop-up and they’re still one of the most ordered drinks on the menu. The biggest mistake people make is thinking freezing a cocktail means the ingredients matter less – it’s actually the opposite. Use good tequila, fresh lime and keep it strong. Simple.’

Mid-Strength Wines

As the low and no category continues to thrive (with the IWSN predicting the market to grow to over $4bn by 2028), mid-strength wine is having a moment. A report from KAM Insights recently found 50 percent of us would rather have two mid-strength drinks than one when ‘just going to the pub for one – citing reasons like moderating for a healthier liver, weight loss and better mental health. So mid-strength wine – which has roughly five to nine percent ABV – is becoming an increasingly popular option. Hot brands right now include 6Percent and Future Chateau, while Wednesday’s Domaine recently expanded into the mid-strength category.

Martinis

The martini craze is going nowhere this summer, with more and more bars launching dedicated menus. As McCanta points out, ‘Dante Mayfair at Claridge’s, the new permanent London home from the team behind New York’s Dante, is serving a dedicated martini cocktail feature menu rooted in Dante’s signature aperitivo culture. Alongside elevated summer twists like the Champagne Martini cocktail appearing across the Soho House group, it points to a growing appetite for the martini cocktail to flex across setting, season and occasion.’ Meanwhile hotspots like Rita’s and The Beaumont are tapping into New York’s martinis and fries trend, and others such as cult favourite Nina’s are offering mini martinis.