London, ON — December 18, 2025: The Western Fair District is proud to introduce Taste Experience (Taste Ex): a bold reimagining of the long-running London Wine & Food Show and a new national destination for culinary and beverage discovery. Making its debut January 9–10, 2026, Taste Ex will feature Canada’s largest curated bar and beverage showcase, offering guests access to more drinks, more flavours, and more first-time tasting opportunities than any other event in the country.
With a fully curated menu featuring approximately 800 selections of beer, wine, cider, hard seltzers, cocktails, spirits, kombucha, coffee, tea, and an expanded range of non-alcoholic options, Taste Ex marks a major evolution in how Canadians explore and sample beverages. Unlike traditional vendor-led tasting events, Taste Ex selects the products directly, ensuring attendees discover rare finds, new releases, and producers from across the country they may never have encountered otherwise.
A 280 ft Bar Showcasing Beverages Across Canada at “The Great Canadian Bar”
At the heart of the event is an unprecedented bar build:
- A 120 ft two-sided bar, with 20 ft on each end, totaling 280 ft of bar space
- Sample drinks from 244 different producers across 12 provinces and 107 cities
- Approx 400 beers, 100 spirits and 180 wines to sample at the ‘Great Canadian Bar’.
- A 20 ft cocktail & spirits bar by Scotch & Ponder on one end of the bar, and a 20 ft tea and expresso bar by Locomotive Expresso on the other end.
- Expanded non-alcoholic options with 33 non-alcoholic options available, 9 Kombuchas, and 15 teas and coffees.
This approach positions Taste Ex as the largest beverage showcase in Canada, with a range unlike anything offered at similar events.
A Reimagined Experience of Discovery
Taste Ex was developed after extensive engagement with vendors, sponsors, and past attendees seeking fresher, more diverse beverage experiences.
Key innovations include:
- A fully curated beverage list, replacing the traditional vendor-supplied format, selected by Canada’s first Master Sommelier, John Szabo and Brewmaster, Beer Sommelier and Certified Cicerone, Stephen Rich.
- Small-batch, unlisted, and hard-to-find Canadian products, hand-selected by the Taste Ex curation team
- More inclusive offerings, featuring significantly more non-alcoholic beverages and diverse food options
- Modern, elevated branding and guest experiences designed to appeal to today’s culinary explorers
“Attendees told us they wanted to taste something new—and Taste Ex delivers exactly that,” says show manager Rob Lumsden. “This is a show built for discovery. You won’t just find your favourite drinks; you’ll find your next favourite.”
A New Chapter in Canada’s Culinary Scene
For 18 years, the London Wine & Food Show has been a beloved local tradition. Now, Taste Experience expands that legacy into a bigger, bolder, more immersive experience for a new generation of food and beverage explorers.
Taste Ex promises to become Canada’s must-attend flavour event—a place where the country’s most exciting producers meet passionate enthusiasts eager to sip, savour, and discover something truly unforgettable.
Event Details
Taste Ex: The London Food & Drink Experience
January 9–10, 2026
J-AAR Expo Centre, Western Fair District
London, Ontario
Tickets available at: TasteWFD.com/tickets
Media Contact
Angela Hawkins
Marketing Director
Western Fair District
ahawkins@westernfairdistrict,com
519-281-4809
