Atlanta's agave spirits scene is about to get a whole lot bigger for one night, as the Arte Agave festival rolls into town with more than 100 varieties of tequila and mezcal to sample alongside live music, folkloric dancers and food from local chefs. Organizers describe the gathering as an immersive celebration of Mexican culinary traditions and agave spirits, bringing together distillers, regional chefs and cultural performers under one roof, according to Atlanta News First.
According to the festival's own event page, Arte Agave Atlanta 2026 is set for the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel at 374 East Paces Ferry Road NE in Buckhead. That listing describes it as a one-night-only celebration packed with rare pours, live music, folkloric performances and a vibrant artisan marketplace. Atlanta News First's report, however, places the event on September 25 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Fairmont, 1429 Fairmont Ave. NW — a different venue and address than the one listed on the festival's official page, and the discrepancy between the two accounts has not been resolved.
Whichever address turns out to be correct, the lineup promises plenty for agave enthusiasts. The event page lists food from local chefs including empanadas, birria tacos, pulled brisket tacos, short rib tacos and pizza, while Atlanta News First reports the festival features cocktail demonstrations and food pairings from ten Atlanta-area restaurant partners.
Mariachi, Dancers and DJs Round Out the Night
Entertainment at the festival includes traditional mariachi music from Mariachi Alex Sifuentes, Alma Mexicana Danza Folklórica dancers, and sets from DJ Lunee and DJ Remy, per the arteagave.com listing. Atlanta News First's report similarly describes live musical and dance performances woven throughout the evening, alongside the festival's tastings and food offerings.
Behind the scenes, Atlanta News First reports that Walter Eastbrook founded Arte Agave and that Sommer Hyatt serves as the Georgia brand ambassador for Tequila Leyenda de México, an artisan producer based in Jalisco with a women-led distillery team that uses traditional small-batch techniques. The outlet reports that Eastbrook and Hyatt discussed traditional distilling methods, sensory tasting notes and the event lineup, with the festival highlighting roasting, fermentation and barrel aging as part of that conversation.
Masterclasses Dig Into the Craft
Beyond the tastings, the festival offers hands-on sessions for guests who want to go deeper into the craft. A Pedro Furtivo masterclass walks attendees through cocktail ingredients and techniques, including making a saline solution to use in blanco cocktails and take home, according to the event page. A separate LALO Tequila masterclass offers a side-by-side tasting of LALO Blanco and High Proof, guiding participants through aroma, texture, flavor and finish.
Shoppers can also browse an artisan marketplace featuring vendors such as B.M. Franklin & Co., El Matchiu Crafts, O2 Cigars, Smoke & Serve, Spanglish Boutique and West + Peak, per the same event listing. A related listing from mostotequila.com promotes the 2026 event around tasting more than 100 premium agave spirits alongside craft cocktails, live music and folkloric performances in Buckhead, and notes that Arte Agave Atlanta sells out every year.
Tickets and How the Festival Has Grown
Atlanta News First reports that Arte Agave Atlanta offers general admission and VIP tasting packages, with the outlet's ATL Live section providing a 10% discount on tickets. The event website, arteagave.com, has ticketing details for those looking to attend.
The festival isn't new to Atlanta. A prior edition took place on September 26, 2025, at the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel, according to mezcalculture.com, which described a night filled with tequila and mezcal tastings, live music and vibrant art displays. That 2025 event also featured more than 100 varieties of tequila and mezcal, plus traditional mariachi music, folkloric dancers and live pop-up entertainment, mirroring much of what organizers are promising for this year's gathering.
An Eventbrite listing separately describes an Atlanta Arte Agave festival scheduled for a Saturday, September 26, running from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring more than 100 agave spirits, craft cocktails, live music and chefs. For Atlanta drinkers looking to extend the celebration, ATL Tequila Week has advertised a six-day program of tastings, dinners and mixology classes across the city, while a Midtown Atlanta mezcal class has offered a $55 tasting experience featuring five heritage agave spirits and Mexican bites.
