BAR MASTERS 2026 launches with a new challenge and recognizes the best cocktail bars in Bulgaria

Registration for this year’s edition of the program is now open, while the new format places a special focus on the bars that are shaping contemporary cocktail culture in the country

BAR MASTERS returns in 2026 with a new edition, new opportunities for professional development, and an even stronger focus on the bartending community in Bulgaria. Registration for participation is now open at https://mybar.bg/barmasters/ and will continue until May 22. For another consecutive year, the program, organized by Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria, will provide a stage for talented bartenders from across the country to showcase their signature style, creativity, and skills behind the bar.

This year, the BAR MASTERS program will take place in four stages, the first of which is a Social Media Challenge on the theme “Modern Interpretation of a Classic Drink.” In this stage, participants will have to create an original drink inspired by the history of their chosen base spirit and present it on social media through content that tells the story behind the cocktail, its character, and its contemporary interpretation.

The next stage will be the pop-up bars, traditional for the program, where bartenders will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a real-life setting and present a complete concept for a cocktail experience. In September, participants will join the BAR MASTERS Bootcamp – a stage designed to further develop their knowledge, techniques, and professional approach through training sessions, practical workshops, and meetings with industry experts. The final stage will bring together the best participants at the end of September, when an international jury will recognize the winners of this year’s edition.

BAR MASTERS 2026 will recognize participants at every stage of the program. The grand prizes at the final are EUR 3,500 for first place, EUR 2,500 for second place, and EUR 1,500 for third place, as well as additional awards and gifts for participants. The best pop-up bar will give its creator the opportunity to represent Bulgaria at the global Finlandia semifinals in Rome during the Rome Bar Show.

A key highlight of this year’s edition is the creation of THE BARMASTERS SELECTION – Bulgaria’s Top 10 Best Cocktail Venues Selection. The ranking will include the venues represented by the bartenders who place in the program’s Top 10. In this way, BAR MASTERS will recognize not only the individual achievements of the participants, but also the cocktail bars behind their work, style, and professional development. THE BARMASTERS SELECTION will be active for a period of one year – until the next edition of the program – and will aim to guide consumers toward high-quality cocktail locations in Bulgaria. In this way, the initiative will provide additional visibility for the bars and support their positioning as part of the selection of the best cocktail venues in the country.

At the heart of BAR MASTERS remains the idea that the program is not just a competition, but a community. Created with the mission of supporting the bar community in Bulgaria, it brings together bartenders, mentors, partners, and cocktail culture enthusiasts in an environment for sharing knowledge, experience, and inspiration. Through practical training, challenges, and motivational meetings, BAR MASTERS develops participants’ knowledge and confidence and helps them build a new generation of professionals behind the bar.

Over the years, the initiative has established itself as one of the leading platforms for the development of the bartending scene in Bulgaria, with more than 800 bartenders from across the country having taken part so far. This year’s edition continues in this direction with an even clearer ambition – to develop the culture, support talent, and give visibility to the venues that are shaping the contemporary cocktail scene in Bulgaria.

BAR MASTERS 2026 features leading brands from Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria’s 24/7 portfolio, including Schweppes, Bacardi, Martini, Bombay Sapphire, Teeling Irish Whiskey, Finlandia, Gentleman Jack, El Jimador, Highland Park, Brugal 1888, Jägermeister, and Caffè Vergnano.

Consume responsibly!
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