What a day, and what a night.
Two of Sydney Bar Week’s biggest events came together on Tuesday 15 September, with the 2026 Bartender of the Year competition followed by the reveal of the Top 100 Most Influential, and now the full gallery is live.
The action kicked off at Razz Room with some of the country’s best bartenders putting their knowledge, palate, creativity, and performance to the test in the annual Bartender of the Year competition, proudly sponsored by Spirits Academy.
After a full day of competition, Callum Marra was crowned the 2026 Bartender of the Year, taking out the title after finishing runner-up in 2025.
Then it was time to change gears.
Later that evening, the industry packed back into Razz Room for one of Sydney Bar Week’s most anticipated parties, the reveal of the 2026 Top 20 Most Influential, also proudly sponsored by Spirits Academy.
Bartenders, operators, venue owners, brand leaders and some of the biggest names in Australian hospitality filled the room as the countdown worked its way towards number one.
Taking out the top spot for 2026 was Dre Walters of Old Mate’s Group, capping off a huge night celebrating the people helping shape Australia’s bar industry right now.
From the tension of the Bartender of the Year competition to the celebrations that followed at the Top 100 party, it was one of those Sydney Bar Week days that had just about everything.
And if you were there, there’s a good chance we caught you on camera.
The Bartender of the Year and Top 100 Most Influential gallery is now live.
