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Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2026 Announces Sponsors and Featured Distillery: New Riff
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival has announced its returning sponsors and named New Riff Distilling as the featured distillery for the festival’s milestone 35th anniversary, taking place September 10–13, 2026 in Bardstown, Kentucky. Read on for all the details!
Press Release: Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2026
Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2026 continues to expand ahead of 35th anniversary
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (March 5, 2026) — The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is preparing to celebrate its milestone 35th anniversary this year, bringing bourbon enthusiasts from all over the globe to celebrate the spirited history and craft of bourbon during National Bourbon Heritage Month. Alongside the celebration, the festival has announced its renewed sponsors and featured distillery. For more information, visit www.kybourbonfestival.com.
“The success of the festival in the past five years is thanks to the dedication of all the staff, board, distilleries, sponsors and volunteers who have worked diligently to create what is now widely considered the preeminent whiskey event in the world,” said Randy Prasse, president and COO of the festival. “The festival brings together more than 60 of the top bourbon brands, plus enthusiasts from across the globe.”
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Returning Sponsors
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival announced the return of several valued sponsors. The festival is presented by long-term sponsor The Koetter Group, a third generation-owned family business specializing in construction, real estate, building services and K-Rax premium spirits barrel storage systems.
Joseph & Joseph Architects will serve as the presenting partner of the VIP Penthouse, KPFF Consulting Engineers will return as the presenting partner of the Great Tent, and Oris, one of the few remaining independent Swiss luxury manufacturers of mechanical watches, is the official timepiece of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and sponsor of the Oris President’s Club.
2026 Featured Distillery
This year’s featured distillery is New Riff Distilling, an independently-owned distillery in Northern Kentucky — the gateway to bourbon country. The award-winning distillery is known for its bourbon, rye, single malt whiskey and gin, available nationwide.
“The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is one of our cornerstone events each year,” said New Riff President Mollie Lewis. “We love having that face-to-face time to meet fans of the distillery — and make new ones! — in a setting unlike any other. We’re thrilled to be the featured distillery this year and can’t wait to celebrate KBF’s milestone anniversary with everyone in September.”
2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Dates
The 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival will take place September 10–13, 2026, in Bardstown, Kentucky. An on-sale date for 2026 tickets will be announced in the future. Subscribers to the KBF e-newsletter receive advance notice of ticket sales, special events and other festival news.
About the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival (Sept. 10–13, 2026) is a celebration of Kentucky Bourbon and the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky. What began as a Bourbon tasting dinner has grown into a truly authentic experience that brings together bourbon enthusiasts from all over the world. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is one of the Commonwealth’s leading cultural festivals. For more information, visit kybourbonfestival.com.
Are you planning on attending the Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2026? Next, read these related articles: 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Survival Guide and Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2024: A Spirited Celebration.
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About the author: Ed Escott is truly "Bourbon Obsessed". He is the founder of Bourbon Obsessed, LLC, and an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave and Thief Society. In addition, he has authored and edited over 600 bourbon and other whiskey reviews, over 50 in-depth distillery write-ups, and many other related articles. He is on the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Influencers and a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society and the Bourbon Capital Guild. Last, but not least, Ed has attended many bourbon-related educational sessions, visited countless distilleries, and is on a never-ending quest to try every bourbon.
Prior to focusing solely on Bourbon Obsessed, Ed practiced in academic medicine for three decades. He most recently was a Professor at the University of Kentucky and served as Chief of the Division of Neuroradiology and Vice Chair For Faculty Mentoring, Development & Wellness of the Department of Radiology. He has extensive editorial experience in academic medical publication, and brings that same academic mindset to Bourbon Obsessed, which is a unique approach for a spirit-focused media company.
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