The Beverage Forum, the beverage industry's premier executive conference, will return April 28-29 at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach in Manhattan Beach, Calif., bringing together top-tier industry leaders including founders, retailers, suppliers and investors driving the next era of beverage innovation.

The conference follows a milestone 2025 program that featured groundbreaking conversations with cultural and industry leaders including Jay Shetty, Lewis Hamilton and Tom Holland, reflecting the growing intersection of beverage, culture and entertainment.

Now in its 31st year, The Beverage Forum has become one of the industry's most influential gatherings, attracting the leaders behind many of today’s fastest-growing and category-defining beverage brands.

Through keynote conversations, executive panels and interactive workshops, this year’s program will explore the forces transforming the beverage landscape, from evolving consumer behavior and retail strategy to the expanding role of capital, culture, and celebrity in building the next generation of beverage brands, it says.

The following are highlights of The Beverage Forum 2026:

•    Keynote conversations with celebrities, retailers, founders, executives and investors driving beverage category growth

•    Insights from major retail leaders, including Brian Salmon, vice president of beverage at Walmart; Don Clark, chief merchant at Sprouts Farmers Market; and Shawn Darmody, vice president of merchandising, snacks, beverages, candy and impulse at Target

•    A featured conversation with NFL champion and Garage Beer co-owner Jason Kelce

•    A panel on protein with Actor and Producer Chris Pratt and Jocko Willink, partners behind Jocko Fuel and Warrior Kid

•    Strategic discussions on the evolving intersection of CPG, culture, capital and consumer behavior

The event continues to be guided by Danny Stepper, CEO and co-founder of L.A. Libations. Through L.A. Libations, Stepper has helped forge strategic partnerships with Molson Coors, The Coca-Cola Co., and Keurig Dr Pepper while helping launch high-profile beverage brands including BERO (Tom Holland), HAPPY (Robert Downey Jr.), PLEZI (Michelle Obama and Stephen Curry), and ZOA (Dwayne Johnson).

“We are excited to continue building on the incredible legacy of The Beverage Forum,” Stepper said in a statement. “The beverage industry is evolving faster than ever, and this gathering creates a unique environment where founders, retailers, investors and innovators can come together to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and help shape what comes next.”