Nominations are now officially open for Australian Bartender’s Top 100 Most Influential List, proudly sponsored by Spirits Platform’s Spirits Academy, with the industry-wide ranking returning in 2026 to spotlight the people shaping Australia’s bar industry.
Published every two years by Australian Bartender, the list recognises operators, bartenders, brand ambassadors, educators, venue owners, drinks professionals and industry figures making a significant impact across the Australian bar landscape.
Unlike traditional awards, the Top 100 Most Influential List focuses on overall influence within the industry – recognising the people driving conversations, building venues and brands, mentoring teams, shaping drinks culture, and pushing the industry forward both behind the bar and beyond it.
The list has become one of the industry’s most talked about rankings since launching, celebrating figures across every corner of hospitality, from cocktail bars and spirits brands through to advocacy, education, and business leadership.
Nominations are open now, with industry peers encouraged to put forward the people they believe are making the biggest impact on Australia’s hospitality scene in 2026.
The final Top 100 Most Influential List will be revealed at the Top 100 Most Influential party on Tuesday 15 September during Sydney Bar Week celebrations, with the industry gathering to celebrate the people shaping Australia’s bar scene.