The Australian Bartender Top 100 Most Influential List is back for 2026, recognising the people having an impact across Australia’s bar industry right now, with Spirits Academy joining as this year’s official sponsor.
Held every two years, the Top 100 brings together the bartenders, bar owners, operators, managers, brand ambassadors, and industry figures helping shape Australia’s bar scene and culture.
Earlier this year, we asked the industry to put forward the names of those they believe have made the biggest impact over the past two years, whether through opening and operating great bars, building teams, supporting the wider industry, pushing drinks culture forward or bringing new ideas to the table.
The nominations are in, and today we can reveal the 2026 Australian Bartender Top 100 Most Influential List.
There are plenty of familiar names alongside a strong group of new additions, reflecting an industry that continues to evolve across venues, brands and cities around the country.
For now, the Top 100 is presented in alphabetical order by first name and not ranked.
The countdown to number one will come later, when the 2026 Top 20 is revealed in numerical order during Sydney Bar Week.
Here is the 2026 Top 100 Most Influential list:
Proudly Sponsored by Spirits Academy
Aidan Bertie, Razz Room
Alessandro Nardini, Bar Crafts
Alex Dowd, Mucho Hospitality Group
Alex Gondzioulis, Bar Bellamy
Alexandra Percy, Santé Cocktail Bar
Ali Toghani, Hunter St Hospitality
Alice Newport, Suntory Global Spirits
Alicia Clarke, Double Deuce Lounge + Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern
Alissa Gabriel, Esper Group
Andy Chu, One or Two
Andy Tsai, Brown Forman
Anneliese Grazioli, Hanky Panky Lounge + Bar Kokomo
Bear Murphy, Super 44
Belinda Linton, Pendant Public Bar
Brooke Burns, Savannah PR
Campbell Nicol, Rude Boy
Carmen Hartwich, Cru Bar
Charlie Lehmann, Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern + Double Deuce Lounge
Chau Tran, Burrow Bar
Chris Wilson, The Koutetsu
Claudia Morgan, Bar DEMO
Claudio Bedini, Bar Allora + L’ora del Vermouth
Conor O’Brien, Deadwax + Otis + The Little Guy
Corby Small, The Gresham
Cynthia Litster, Pollen Hospitality
Daisy Tulley, Mucho Hospitality Group
Danielle Whitehart, Bar Bellamy
Dim Rtshiladze, Foxtrot Hospitality Group
Dre Walters, Old Mate’s Group
Dylan Howarth, Fortunate Son + Palomino Lounge
Eduardo Conde, Rhubi mistelle
Evan Stroeve, Rhubi Mistelle
Federico Malavenda, Fernet-Branca
George Curtis, Before + After
Hayden Lambert, Above Board
Jack Turner, Rude Boy + Punch & Ladle
Jackson Connor, Rosella’s
James Buntin, Global Whisky Ambassador
James Irvine, Merivale
James MacRae, William Grant & Sons
James Thorpe, Odd Culture Group
Jason Crawley, Crawley’s Bartender Syrups + The Drink Cabinet
Jason Williams, House Made Hospitality
Jenna Hemsworth, Real Good Drinks
Jeremy Blackmore, Mucho Hospitality Group
John Galiatsatos, Suntory Global Spirits
Josh Purcell, Nok Nok BNE
Kalisha Glover, Sakura House
Kate Burgess, Ezra Pound Bar
Kate McGraw, Diageo
Kayla Saito, Drink Tall Orders
Krystal Hart, Campari Australia
Leah Dunnigan, Savile Row
Loic Mouchelin, Santé Cocktail Bar
Loy Catada, Proximo Spirits
Luke Whearty, Byrdi
Marcus Motteram, Hains & Co
Marina Williams, Nok Nok BNE
Mark Hickey, Spirits Platform
Marnie Bugeja, The Black Pearl
Martin Lange, Cuatro Group
Matt Whiley, Apollo Group
Matthew Stirling, Fancy Free Group
Matty Opai, Icebergs
Michael Chiem, PS40 + Silver’s Motel
Michael Madrusan, The Everleigh Group + Bartender’s Choice Consultancy
Mikey Enright, Barrelhouse Group
Morgan McGlone, Bar Copains
Natalie Ng, Suntory Global Spirits
Nathan Sasi, Bar Copains
Nick Tesar, Four Pillars Gin + Marionette Liqueur
Oska Whitehart, Bar Bellamy
Pasan Wijesena, Earl’s Juke Joint + Jacoby’s Tiki Bar + The Magpie + Trocadero Room
Peter Hollands, Front Bar Group
Pippa Dowden, Mix Haus + Bar Love
Priscilla Leong, The Flowing Bowl
Rachael Paul, The Bat & Ball Hotel
Rebecca Lines, Odd Culture Group
Reuben Beasley-Palmer, Bar Ferdinand
Rusty Russell, Applejack Hospitality
Sali Sasi, Bar Copains
Sally Lewis, Liquid Ideas
Sam Overton, Lucky’s Lounge + Frankie Cadillac
Sarah Proietti, Merivale
Sean Baxter, Never Never Distilling Co.
Sebastian Cosmo Soto, Double Deuce Lounge + Ramblin Rascal Tavern
Shirley Yeung, Mixhaus
Simon Rose-Hopkins, Jolene’s Sydney
Stefano Catino, Maybe Group
Stephanie Rainbow, Spirits Platform
Stu Inger, Splinter Group
Stuart Gregor, Lark Distilling
Sven Almenning, Speakeasy Group
Tanguy Charbonnet, Jackalope Hotels
Tash Conte, Black Pearl
Tayla Kendall, Vic Distilled
Trish Brew, Spirits Platform
Yao Wong, The Elysian Whisky Bar
Zach Mynott, Campari
Zara Madrusan, LB’s Record Bar + The Everleigh Group + Bartender’s Choice Consultancy
The final countdown will be revealed during Sydney Bar Week on Tuesday, 15 September at Razz Room, where we’ll count down the Top 20 and reveal who takes out the number one spot for 2026.
Tickets will be reserved for Top 100 Most Influential finalists and the top three Bartender of the Year competitors, with remaining places available on a first come, first served basis.