The Australian Sake Festival is coming back to Melbourne in 2025. This year’s event will take place at a new venue, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), bringing a fresh and exciting experience for sake lovers and newcomers alike.
Across two days, on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, visitors will be able to explore more than 80 stalls and enjoy the tastings on offer, with over 400 types of sake and Japanese beverages available to try. The festival offers a rich mix of tasting experiences, delicious food, cultural delights and educational seminars.
What to expect
Sake tastings
More than 400 varieties of sake, fruit liqueurs and spirits will be available to taste. Attendees will have the chance to meet sake brewers visiting from Japan as well as local importers and distributors. Beverage tastings are included with the general admission ticket for all guests aged 18 and over.
Food and food products
A wide range of Japanese inspired foods and food products will be on offer, including dishes from Melbourne-based restaurants and producers. From traditional favourites to unique modern creations, the food line-up will cater to a wide variety of tastes.
Seminars and pairing experiences
The 2025 Melbourne event features a stronger seminar line-up than ever before, offering sake education and tasting experiences to everyone from beginners to more experienced sake enthusiasts..
Simone Maynard, Melbourne-based Sake Educator and recognised Sake Samurai, will host several free sessions tailored for beginners as well as ticketed sessions for the more experienced sake drinker. Her seminars will provide tips on sake selection, tasting and food pairing.
Marie Chiba, the Tokyo-based sake sommelier and owner of EUREKA! bar, will host a special premium seminar featuring a curated sake and food pairing. The food for this session will be overseen by Katsuji Yoshino, head chef of Ishizuka, one of Melbourne’s most respected Japanese restaurants. This seminar is a paid add-on and spaces are limited.
Event information
Venue
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf VIC 3006
Dates and session times
Saturday 5 July 2025
Session 1: 10:00am to 2:30pm (last drink at 2:00pm)
Session 2: 3:30pm to 8:00pm (last drink at 7:30pm)
Sunday 6 July 2025
Session 1: 10:00am to 2:30pm (last drink at 2:00pm)
Session 2: 4:30pm to 9:00pm (last drink at 8:30pm)
Tickets
General Admission: $69
Group of 4: $260
Children under 18 may enter for free (ID may be required. Must be accompanied by ticket-holding adult)
General Admission includes
- Tasting sake cup to take home
- Sake brewers from Japan and local wholesalers to meet
- 400+ sake to taste for free (for 18+ ticketed patrons)
- A variety of Fruit liquors and Spirits to taste (for 18+ ticketed patrons)
- Sake available for purchase on site (for takeaway only)
- Diverse and delicious food and food products from local restaurants and producers available for purchase
- Exquisite Japanese Products available for take home purchase
- Access to a variety of seminars and food pairing sessions
Please see the full list of exhibitors below.
Beverage Stalls
- Altitude Attitude Beverage
- AUSAKE
- Black Market Sake
- Cerbaco Distribution
- CHOYA
- DASSAI
- FUKUCHO
- FUNASAKA Sake Brewery
- Gojin Enterprise Pty Ltd
- Hakkaisan Brewery
- HOKKAIDO ABIRA
- IKEDA Brewery
- Intasect Communications, Inc.
- IPPIN SAKE BREWERY
- JQWS
- Jun Pacific
- KAMOTSURU SAKE BREWING
- KIKU-MASAMUNE SAKE BREWERY
- KIKUNOTSUKASA SAKE BREWERY
- KIZAKURA
- Koji Spirits by Reed & Co.
- Maruichiokada Co., Ltd.
- Matsui Sake Brewery
- MINATO51
- MIYOSHIKIKU & SAKENET
- Mt.Fuji Sake AMACHI HOSHI SORA
- Municipal Sake/ Melbourne Sake
- Niigata Micro Distillery
- Nomu Saketen
- NTC Wismettac Australia
- Oishii World
- Sachihime
- Sake Honda
- Sake Online
- sakelier
- SakeMeta
- SEA SALT YUZUSHU
- SHICHIKEN
- Stellar Vin
- Takara Shuzo
- The Kokoro World
- Utsunomiya Shuzo Co., Ltd.
- YoiYoi
- Zenkuro
Food & Food Product Stalls
- Enokido Miso
- Jimoto Foods
- Shiro Matcha
- Soy sauce & Nico maco
- JAPANESE ARTISAN & CO PTY.LTD.
- Ken-Chan Curry
- Kin & Gin
- Mamé Cocoa & Kōri Ice Cream
- Matsuyama
- Teppanyaki Noodles
- Tokyo Yokocho
- WAGYU BLACKS
Product Stalls
- HARIO
- HASHITOU-HONTEN CO.,LTD
- Maki’s Art & String and Wire
- MARUMO TAKAGI Co.,Ltd
- MEBAE
- Natsu Jewelry Brisbane
- The Zen Concept
- Togei Studio
Tourism Stalls
- G’Day Japan! Travel Information
- Japan Airlines (JAL)
- Visit Japan(JNTO)
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Please note ticket sales will end as soon as we reach capacity.
Be sure to purchase a ticket before they are sold out!
