The world of international mixology is preparing to make a stop in Italy. For the first time in the history of the event, Milan has been chosen as the official venue for the awards ceremony of The World's 50 Best Bars 2026. The event, sponsored by Perrier, will be held at the beginning of October and promises to transform the city into a global hub of cocktail culture.
Milan: the new home of the global "Bar Community"
After years of touring the world's major cities, the industry's most prestigious annual event returns to Europe, and the choice of Milan is no coincidence.
Rikki Tidball, general manager for events The World's 50 Best Bars, underlines: “"Milan is the perfect backdrop for The World's 50 Best Bars 2026, a city known for its rich cocktail tradition and vibrant bar scene. Home to some of the industry's most celebrated and innovative talent, it represents the ideal venue to bring together the international bar community and celebrate the creativity, excellence, and achievements of the world's top bars and bartenders, sparking the curiosity of cocktail enthusiasts around the world.".
The Milanese event will be much more than a simple ranking; it will be a tribute to the places and professionals who have shaped the evolution of mixed drinks.
How the ranking was born: the role of the Academy and Deloitte
The transparency and authority of the The World's 50 Best Bars 2026 are based on a rigorous voting system:
- The Academy: a jury composed of over 800 professionals, including journalists, experts and bartenders, selected by 29 Academy Chairs.
- Gender balance: the jury is structured to ensure fair and balanced representation.
- Secret ballot: the results are the result of preferences expressed in complete confidentiality.
- Independent supervision: to ensure the reliability of the procedure, the consultants of Deloitte They supervise and verify every stage of the counting.
Beyond the Top 50: special prizes and young talents
The October event in Milan will not only reveal the positions from 1 to 50. During the gala evening, prestigious special awards will be given:
- Michter's Art of Hospitality: dedicated to the place that offered the best hospitality experience.
- Altos Bartenders' Bartender: a unique award, voted on by bartenders themselves to honor a colleague who has pushed the boundaries of bartending art over the past 18 months.
- You are Misterios Best Cocktail Menu e Best Bar Design Award: two categories open to nominations from all bars in the world, with the winners being revealed in Milan.
Supporting the next generation: the 50 Best Bars Scholarship
A highlight of the 2026 edition is the 50 Best Bars Scholarship. This initiative offers a young emerging bartender the opportunity to train through two exceptional internships at the Line of Athens and the Three Monos of Buenos Aires. The winner will be announced during the official ceremony.
How to follow the event
The wait to find out who will succeed to the title of The World's Best Bar It's already very high. In addition to the reporters and industry insiders who will be attending the Milanese red carpet, fans around the world will be able to follow the countdown live on the channel 50 Best YouTube.
Photo credit: 50 Best Bars
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