Think you’ve got what it takes to be Australia’s next Bartender of the Year? The industry’s toughest competition is back for 2026, with Spirits Platform’s Spirits Academy sponsoring the search for the country’s best all-round bartender.
Designed to test far more than cocktail-making ability, the Bartender of the Year competition puts entrants through a series of challenges assessing technical knowledge, palate, creativity and performance under pressure.
It starts with a one-hour written exam covering spirits, cocktails, technique and broader industry knowledge. Competitors are encouraged to brush up on the latest issues of Australian Bartender and revisit last year’s exam as part of their prep.
All competitors then face the tasting round, where aroma recognition and flavour identification put their palates to the test.
The top eight then move to the Randomised Challenge. Each contestant is randomly assigned one Cointreau cocktail and one Highland Park cocktail from a set list, and must recreate both to a high standard – testing recall, technique, consistency and how well they engage the audience and judges under pressure.
From there, the field narrows to three finalists. In the final challenge, competitors have 10 minutes to prepare two cocktails, including one featuring Cointreau, and one featuring Highland Park, both with a minimum 30ml pour. All additional ingredients and equipment must be supplied by the finalists themselves – once the clock stops, drinks go straight to the judges.
The 2026 Bartender of the Year winner will be announced at the Australian Bar Awards on Wednesday, 16 September at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, in front of the country’s leading bartenders and hospitality professionals.
The 3 finalists will all receive a complimentary ticket to the awards.
Rounds 1-3: 12-5PM Tuesday 15th September
Final round: Hosted that evening during the Top 100 Most Influential Party from 6PM
Entries are still open. To enter, view the competition format and find out more, head to sydneybarweek.com.au