With just four days left to cast votes, the Australian bar industry’s biggest peer-voted awards are gearing up for their 25th year, with voting now open for the annual Australian Bar Awards. Run by Australian Bartender, the awards spotlight the venues, operators, bartenders, and teams shaping how Australia drinks right now, with finalists and winners decided by hospitality industry peers.
Australian Bartender editor Kim Berry said the awards continue to focus on recognising the people driving the industry forward.
“It is time to celebrate all the legends in the industry,” Berry said. “We have tightened the nomination process this year for a more even playing field and to find out more about why a particular person, venue, operator, or supplier is your pick. But the core of the Australian Bar Awards remains – awards for the industry, voted for by the industry.”
Voting is open exclusively to hospitality professionals including bartenders, managers, operators and brand teams. In the first round, industry votes determine the top 10 finalists in each category before finalists rank their peers in round two, alongside sponsor votes and oversight from a panel of industry professionals.
Finalists will be announced in the July issue of Australian Bartender and online, with winners crowned on Wednesday 16 September at Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf during Sydney Bar Week, running from 12–16 September.
Voting closes at 11:59pm AEST on 17 May 2026, with organisers recommending desktop or laptop for the best voting experience. Bartender of the Year remains a separate process, with entrants required to register interest directly through the organisers.
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