CAPE TOWN Cocktail Week, set to run from 7–13 December 2026, is launching a new education programme, with Kurt Schlechter, founder of Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen, appointed Director of Education.
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, will host the programme in its conference facilities, where seminars, panels and masterclasses led by local and international speakers will open the festival.
The global bar community is invited to submit presentation proposals, while brands interested in supporting the programme are encouraged to make contact. Schlechter will work with festival founder Leah van Deventer on final curation.
Between them, the pair have made nine appearances in Drinks International’s Bar World 100 list, recognising individuals making meaningful impact in their communities. Van Deventer is also the current Mentor of the Year at South Africa’s Bar & Beverage Awards, while Schlechter holds the title of Industry Icon at the same.
“Education only works when it’s embedded in the industry it’s meant to serve,” says Schlechter. “Cape Town Cocktail Week, a home-grown festival designed to promote cocktail culture in the city, offers exactly the right ecosystem.”
“The education programme is a natural extension of what Cape Town Cocktail Week stands for, and with nearly 30 years spearheading education across the continent, Kurt is the right person to lead it,” says Van Deventer. “We’re Capetonians building something for Cape Town that can take its place on the global industry calendar.”
Set beneath Table Mountain, Mount Nelson brings heritage and hospitality credentials that align with the programme’s ambitions. It’s also the home of Planet Bar, one of the city’s pioneering cocktail venues, and the first to make it into the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars list, in 2009.
Schlechter and Van Deventer previously collaborated on Bar Unity, a four-week training programme supporting participants from one of Cape Town’s most under-resourced communities. One graduate, Keenan Williams, now works at Planet Bar.
Submit a seminar proposal
Deadline: 5 June 2026
Apply here.
Brand partnerships
kurt@capetowncocktailweek.com
leah@capetowncocktailweek.com
