Taking place from 24 February to 31 May 2026, the World Class Cocktail Festival 2026 is an island-wide showcase featuring some of the standout bartenders competing in the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore 2026.
As the World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore 2026 competition gets underway, World Class announces the launch of the World Class Cocktail Festival 2026, an island-wide showcase set to transform the fine drinking experience and cocktail culture in Singapore and beyond. Kicking off on World Bartender Day on February 24, 2026 and running through May 31, 2026, the festival will invite all to explore the city through a curated cocktail passport, with cocktails crafted with iconic brands: Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, The Singleton, Tanqueray, and Zacapa.
“The World Class Cocktail Festival shines a light on the people at the heart of hospitality, celebrating the skill and dedication behind every great bar,” says Alex Freri, General Manager, Strategic Partnerships & New Markets, SEA. “By bringing together tastemakers, rising bartending talent, and some of the world’s most iconic luxury spirits from Diageo’s portfolio, it invites guests to experience cocktails in a more intentional way. Each drink is a showcase of craft and character, inspiring people around the world to see how exceptional ingredients and thoughtful technique can turn a simple pour into something truly memorable.”
The World Class Cocktail Festival Passport Experience
The World Class Cocktail Festival brings together the standout bartenders competing for the chance to represent Singapore at the 2026 World Class Global Finals in Dubai, and presents limited-time menus that spotlight their creativity and craft. Across 21 bars, guests can discover five exceptional original cocktails at every stop—revealing the smoky, smooth depths of Johnnie Walker, sun-kissed boldness of Don Julio, the silkiness of The Singleton, Tanqueray’s crisp botanical edge, and Zacapa’s rich decadence. Each creation is crafted to embody precision and creativity with a storytelling flair. Designed to inspire guests to drink better, not more, the festival invites them to slow down, savour, and indulge in truly unforgettable experiences.
Also participating in the festival is Side Door, helmed by wife-and-husband duo Bannie Kang– World Class Bartender of the Year 2019 Global Champion, World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore 2019, and Global Talisker Mystery Box and Speed Challenge Winner–and Tryson Quek, World Class Bartender of the Year 2026 Singapore and Tanqueray Modern Icon Challenge winner. Side Door joins the festival as past champions, lending their star power and signature style to the celebrations.
Cocktail lovers looking to immerse themselves further in the World Class festivities can activelysupport their favourite World Class Cocktail Bar experience by casting their votes here, elevating the experience with an interactive layer.
Your Journey Begins: World Class Cocktail Passport
Guests who order a specially curated World Class cocktail at any participating venue will receive a World Class Cocktail Passport. A keepsake that captures and guides their journey through the festival, the passport encourages guests to explore from one venue to the next, meeting the contenders behind the bar and discovering their distinct talents. Guests can collect a unique stamp at each participating bar whenever they order a World Class cocktail, with prizes redeemable once certain milestones are reached.
Guests enjoy a complimentary bottle from one of the selected brands—Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, The Singleton, Zacapa and Tanqueray—each time they reach one of the three milestones, in addition to rewards unlocked at key stages of the journey.
Key Milestones Include:
● Visit 5 Bars: Receive a selection of merchandise from Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, The Singleton, Zacapa and Tanqueray. (Limited to 40 redemptions)
● Visit 10 Bars: Receive S$50 Nett World Class Cocktail voucher at Side Door. (Limited to 20 redemptions)
● Visit 15 Bars: Receive S$100 Nett World Class Cocktail voucher at Side Door. (Limited to 10 redemptions)
Additionally, the first person to collect stamps from all 21 bars and complete the passport will also receive the grand prize of a 2D1N Balcony Suite stay at QT Singapore worth $1,000, a choice of luxury spirit from Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Don Julio 1942, or Zacapa XO, a mix of spirit merchandises from Diageo, as well as an exclusive invitation for two to the World Class Bartender of the Year Finals in Singapore.
The World Class Cocktail Festival passport will be available from February 24 to May 31, 2026, issued with the first cocktail purchase from each bar’s dedicated World Class cocktail menu.
