50 Best, the organisation behind The World’s 50 Best Bars, launches brand-new list and awards programme in Europe for the first time.
50 Best will launch the inaugural list of Europe’s 50 Best Bars, establishing a new ranking honouring the continent’s most outstanding drinking destinations and celebrating the creativity and excellence shaping Europe’s bar culture.
Europe’s 50 Best Bars
The launch of Europe’s 50 Best Bars marks the first time that 50 Best has introduced a new bars list and awards programme since the launch of North America’s 50 Best Bars in 2022. Joining The World’s 50 Best Bars, North America’s 50 Best Bars and Asia’s 50 Best Bars, this new regional list will celebrate the continent’s finest drinking destinations and provide consumers with the most trusted, expert-curated guide to exceptional bar experiences. It represents another key milestone in 50 Best’s journey towards becoming the definitive global authority on the world’s best hospitality experiences.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Europe’s 50 Best Bars, says: “We couldn’t be more excited to launch our new bar awards programme in Europe. Following the growing success of our regional lists in Asia and North America, we’re confident this new addition will become a vital part of the regional bar landscape, shining a light on both established and, excitingly, emerging destinations across the continent. The result will be a list of the most memorable bars experiences from the region, celebrating its passion, talent and hard work and providing a credible and trustworthy guide for discerning drinkers.”
Following in the footsteps of North America’s 50 Best Bars and Asia’s 50 Best Bars, Europe’s 50 Best Bars will unfold over several days of celebrations, including the well-loved Bartenders’ Feast hosted on the eve of the ceremony to honour the talented individuals whose bars feature in this inaugural ranking. The hotly anticipated list of Europe’s 50 Best Bars will be unveiled at a grand awards ceremony, featuring red-carpet arrivals and a drinks reception ahead of the live countdown. The event will culminate in the reveal of a number of special awards for both individuals and establishments on the list, as well as the coveted title of The Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Perrier.
Elisa Gregori, Global CMO for Perrier, says: “We are thrilled that 50 Best is launching a new regional edition dedicated to Europe. This continent is home to some of the world’s most exceptional bars; places where creativity, culture and hospitality come together. Perrier is proud to support the upcoming celebration of Europe’s vibrant bar scene.”
The inaugural list of Europe’s Best Bars 2026 will be unveiled at a live awards ceremony later next year, the date and location of which will be announced in the coming months.
The countdown of the list of Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026, sponsored by Perrier, will also be broadcast live to a global audience. Bar and cocktail lovers are invited to join through 50 Best TV channel on YouTube.
How the Voting works
The inaugural ranking for Europe’s 50 Best Bars will reflect the best bars experiences based on the votes of 300 gender-balanced, anonymous European bar industry experts including bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and well-travelled cocktail connoisseurs from across the region. Members of the 50 Best organisation do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that bars cannot apply to be on the list and sponsors do not have any influence on the list.
The Academy Chairs will be publicly announced in due course, but they are not privy to, and have no knowledge of, the votes cast by the voters in their respective sub-regions; furthermore, they are not official spokespeople for the 50 Best brand.
Each voter casts votes for the bars where they have had their ‘best experiences’ during the last 18 months before the voting deadline. Voting is carried out individually and strictly confidentially on a secure site and remains confidential before the list announcement. The list is a simple consultation of votes by voters based in Europe for bars in Europe. All bars will be open as of June 2026, when the list is revealed.
Source: The World’s 50 Best Bars
