The countdown to Sydney Bar Week 2026 is officially on, with the full timetable now available to view ahead of five huge days celebrating Australia’s bar industry from 12–16 September.
Bringing together bartenders, operators, brands and hospitality professionals from across Australia and beyond, this year’s program is packed with visiting bartenders, bar takeovers, guest shifts, brand activations, tastings, masterclasses, parties, pop-ups, and plenty more happening across Sydney.
At the centre of the week are three of the Australian bar industry’s biggest events – the Bartender of the Year competition, the Australian Bartender Top 100 Most Influential List and the 25th Annual Australian Bar Awards.
The Bartender of the Year competition will once again put some of the country’s best bartenders to the test across a series of challenges designed to assess their knowledge, palate, creativity and ability to perform under pressure.
Sydney Bar Week will also see the reveal of the 2026 Australian Bartender Top 100 Most Influential List, recognising the people making an impact on Australia’s bar industry and helping shape where it goes next.
The week will then culminate with the 25th Annual Australian Bar Awards on Wednesday, 16 September at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, bringing the industry together to celebrate the bars, bartenders, operators, brands and suppliers that have made their mark over the past year.
Beyond the flagship events, the Sydney Bar Week timetable is stacked with events taking place across the city, offering plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, catch visiting bartenders behind the stick and, of course, have a drink or two along the way.
With the full timetable now live, you can start planning your Sydney Bar Week. We’ll also be dropping further details on each event daily over the coming weeks, including everything you need to know about who’s involved, where to be and how to get involved.
Sydney Bar Week runs from 12–16 September 2026.
