The July issue of Australian Bartender has landed, headlined by the full reveal of the finalists for the 2026 Australian Bar Awards and a look ahead to what promises to be another huge Sydney Bar Week.
In this month’s Editor’s Note, editor Kim Berry reflects on the announcement of this year’s finalists, highlighting the growing presence of independent bars and regional venues across the awards. As Yaffa Media enters its second year presenting the Australian Bar Awards, the increasing diversity among finalists is a positive step for an industry built on creativity, individuality and community.
With the finalists now announced, attention turns to Sydney Bar Week, returning from 12–16 September with a packed program of events, concluding with the Australian Bar Awards on Wednesday, 16 September at Doltone House, Pyrmont.
The 2026 Bartender of the Year competition also returns during Sydney Bar Week, alongside the much-anticipated Australian Bartender Top 100 Most Influential List. Nominations remain open until the end of July, with the final list to be unveiled during the week’s celebrations.
Gracing the cover of the July issue is 2025 Australian Bar Awards Bar Manager of the Year, Alicia Clarke.
Inside, readers will find the complete list of this year’s Australian Bar Awards finalists, the latest bar openings from around the country, a deep dive into Spirits Academy’s innovative Grain Exchange program, and Tanguy Charbonnet’s latest Bartender of the Year column exploring the rise of mindful drinking.
The issue also features Claudio Bedini’s latest Bitter Tales column examining why not all amari are created equal, a venue profile on Brisbane favourite Savile Row, a profile on Silver’s Motel’s Tess Chaffey, Lauren Cassimatis’ latest Business of Bars column on the legal responsibilities of bar ownership, plus regular favourites including The Rail, Staffies and The Bar Exam.
The July issue of Australian Bartender is available now. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can subscribe today by clicking here.