The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta Reveals Full 2026 Cebu Lineup
Bringing Bars and Bartenders from Across Asia to the Philippines
October 5, 2026, Philippines —
The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta has unveiled its full 2026 program, bringing
bars, bartenders, chefs, hospitality professionals, media, and cocktail
enthusiasts from across the Philippines and Asia to Cebu from November 13 to
15, with special industry events on November 12 and 16.
Supported by the Department of Tourism –
Central Visayas and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines,
the 2026 edition marks The Fiesta’s first year outside Metro Manila and the
beginning of its rotating host-city program. Nearly 40 venues across Cebu
City, Mandaue City, and Mactan will participate, alongside 25 guest
shifts and cocktail pairings, the festival’s first Bar Congress, and
Asia Icons: The Fiesta Closing Party, bringing nine award-winning bars
together at NUSTAR Resort Cebu, the Official Host Partner of The Philippine
Cocktail Fiesta 2026, for the festival’s final night.
For this edition, The Fiesta brings some
of Asia’s leading bar talent to the Philippines while putting Cebu’s own bars,
bartenders, chefs, food, and hospitality in front of visiting industry
professionals and media.
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Across the weekend, Cebu will welcome
visiting bars and bartenders from Beijing, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Hong
Kong, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, New Delhi, Singapore, Taichung,
and Tokyo, alongside talent from Manila and other Philippine destinations
including Davao, Dumaguete, La Union, Pampanga, San Juan, and Siargao. Cebu’s
own bars, bartenders, and chefs will also headline events and collaborate with
visiting talent throughout the festival, putting the host city’s food, drinks,
and hospitality at the center of the program.
“What started in Manila last year has
grown into something much bigger than a single-city festival,” says Tatum
Ancheta, Founder of DrinkCollectiv and Festival Director of The Philippine
Cocktail Fiesta. “Moving the Fiesta to a different city each year allows us to
introduce different Philippine destinations and their bar communities to people
from across the region. This year, we’ve also expanded through Fiesta Exchange,
which takes Filipino talent to leading bars across Asia for guest shifts and
collaborations, creating new opportunities for our bartenders and bars to build
relationships across the region.”
Barhop
Across Cebu
The bar-hopping program moves through Mactan
on November 13, followed by Cebu City and Mandaue City on November 14,
with guest bar shifts and cocktail pairing experiences taking place alongside
month-long Fiesta promotions at nearly 40 participating venues. Throughout
November, guests can discover venue-specific Fiesta cocktails, special menus,
discounts, buy-one-get-one offers, complimentary treats, and limited-edition
merchandise. A free Fiesta Passport, featuring participating Cebu bars
and offers, will also be available at participating venues and partner hotels.
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Buhi Cave Bar at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City,
Cebu; The Basement, 1 Floreimer, A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City; Nth
Lair, Amber Hotel, Don Julio Llorente Street, Cebu City
Among the international talent coming to
Cebu are KT Lam and Bright Panawit of Lennon’s Bangkok, ranked No. 7 and
recipient of the Highest New Entry Award at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, heading
to Cowrie Cove; Sean Halse, Beverage Manager of Hanoi’s The Hudson
Rooms, No. 46, at Tipsy Dog; Alvin Sung Jaya and Arya Priambudi of
Jakarta’s Carrots, No. 21, at Buhi; and Mark Lloyd, Director of Bars at
Macau’s Wing Lei Bar, at Spiaggia. Summer Chen, co-founder of Vender,
ranked No. 14 and named The Best Bar in Taiwan 2026, heads to The Vault Room,
while Kenta Aoyama, Senior Bartender at Punch Room Tokyo, takes over The
Lost Unicorn.
Bars from across the Philippines will
also be part of the weekend, including Apartment 5 Coffee & Cocktails
from Dumaguete, Bar Principal from Siargao, Blackfish from
Pampanga, Taste of Home Davao from Davao, and The Ugly Bar from
La Union. Manila will be represented by bars including The Curator Coffee
& Cocktails, Bar by East, Big Fuzz, BRB, Fat Cat, The Grasshopper Bar,
and Malagihay Cocktail Club.
Several shifts will put Cebu bartenders
alongside visiting talent. Fan Zhu, co-founder of Beijing’s Bar Long
Fong, No. 96 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 extended 51–100 list and organizer of
Beijing Cocktail Week, collaborates with Mott 32 Head Mixologist Jay
Natividad. Singapore’s MOGA, represented by Bar Supervisor Danica
Rubio, joins Cebu’s Gab Carlos of The Basement. The night also
features a collaborative shift with Fat Cat’s Ron Cruz, World Class
Philippines Bartender of the Year 2026, and Pet Pasumala of Luna Bar + Tapas.
Cebu Meets Asia Through
Cocktail Pairings
Four cocktail pairing experiences bring
visiting bartenders together with Cebuano chefs and restaurants, connecting
cocktails with each venue’s culinary identity.
On November 13, Maltail from
Kaohsiung, ranked No. 75 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and represented by
co-founder Tonic Liu, joins Chef Masahiro Kinoshita at AKA Mactan for
cocktails paired with contemporary Japanese cuisine at Crimson Resort and Spa
from 6pm to 9pm. Later that evening, Hong Kong’s Filipino bar Dara, represented
by Head Beverage Manager Jon Bunoan and bartender Jay Brodit, collaborates with
Chef Marcel Ramos at Davos from 7pm to 10pm, pairing Filipino-inspired
cocktails with Davos’ coastal Filipino cuisine.
On November 14, Manila’s The
Grasshopper Bar, led by Head Bartender Jonathan Matienzo, joins Chef Joanne
Sakai at Balai Brunch by Cafe Plus from 5pm to 8pm, where Filipino
comfort food meets ingredient-driven mixology.
That evening, one of the festival’s most
anticipated dining collaborations brings Sidecar from New Delhi to Anzani
Restaurant. Sidecar co-founder Yangdup Lama, recipient of the Industry Icon
Award at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, and Head Bartender Souvik Rana Lama will
work alongside Chef Chris Navarro from 7pm to 10pm, bringing Sidecar’s
contemporary Indian cocktail craft together with Anzani’s New Mediterranean
cuisine.
Nine Award-Winning Bars
Come Together for Asia Icons
The weekend culminates with Asia Icons:
The Fiesta Closing Party, bringing together nine award-winning bars and
bartenders from across Asia and the Philippines for one night at the Grand
Ballroom, NUSTAR Resort Cebu, from 7pm to 1am on Sunday, November 15. Tickets
are PHP 1,999, inclusive of unlimited drinks, with food available for purchase.
A Buy 10, Get 1 Free ticket offer is also available.
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Leading the international lineup is
Guangzhou’s Hope & Sesame, ranked No. 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 and
named The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in Mainland China 2026, represented
by Eagle Cheng and Geumseong Liu.
They are joined by Bangkok’s Bar Us, No.
6 and recipient of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2026, represented by Bar
Manager Beer Akarabunditsakul and bartender Noon Sitinatesakul; Hong Kong’s
Coa, No. 24 and three-time consecutive winner of The Best Bar in Asia from 2021
to 2023, represented by co-founder Jay Khan and Carmen Wong; Kuala Lumpur’s
Three X Co, No. 32 and The Best Bar in Malaysia 2026, represented by co-founder
Angeline Tan and Bar Manager Rachel Hor; and Singapore’s BOP (Bartenders of Pony),
No. 52 on the extended 51–100 list, from the Jigger & Pony Group, whose
namesake bar ranks No. 9 in Asia and was named The Best Bar in Singapore 2026.
BOP is represented by Creative Director Uno Jang, recipient of the World’s 50
Best Bars’ Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2025, and Senior Bartender Alexa Low.
Four Manila bars complete the lineup:
Problem Child, ranked No. 44 and named The Best Bar in the Philippines 2026,
represented by Head Bartender Xyrus Santos; The Spirits Library, No. 98 on the
extended list, represented by General Manager Mark Edward Reyes and Junior
Bartender Hengie Arboleda; Recraft, represented by co-founder Cedric Mendoza
and Clyde Ferrer; and Raion, represented by co-founder Kate Osmillo and Head
Bartender Ichi Itoh. Both Recraft and Raion are featured on 50 Best Discovery.
The Fiesta Introduces
the Bar Congress
On Sunday, November 15, the
industry comes together at NUSTAR Resort Cebu for the first Philippine
Cocktail Fiesta Bar Congress, a one-day program dedicated to the F&B
and hospitality industry.
Running from 10am to 4:30pm, with doors
opening at 9:30am, the Congress brings together bar owners, bartenders,
hoteliers, distillers, brand professionals, and industry leaders from across
Asia for panel discussions, masterclasses, and a showcase of Philippine-made
spirits. Admission is free with advance registration.
The Bar Congress panel program covers
topics including What’s In, What’s Out: Elevating Your Bar and Cocktail
Program; Philippine Artisan Products: Packaging Local Flavors for Global
Competitiveness; The Future of Asian Cocktail Culture; and Pouring
Forward: Leadership, Wellness & Sustainable Hospitality, featuring
industry heavyweights Yangdup Lama, Angeline Tan, Jay Khan, and Uno Jang.
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Running alongside the panels are four
masterclasses: Craft Without Limits: The Sustainable and Profitable Power of
Artisan Vodka; The Rum Cocktail Upgrade: Introducing Bonifacio
Rum’s Bold Profile to a Sweet-Saturated Market; Decolonize Your Backbar:
Authentic Craft, Local Terroir, and Better Margins; and Tanduay’s Craft
& Heritage: A Journey of Rum & Mixology.
The Congress also includes The
Philippine Craft Spirits Showcase, highlighting homegrown spirits and
producers.
Visit thecocktailfiesta.com
for the complete Bar Congress schedule, speakers, and registration details.
Building an Exchange
That Goes Beyond Cebu
The international participation in Cebu
is part of a wider network The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta has been building
throughout 2026 through Fiesta
Exchange, its Asia-wide program connecting
Filipino bartenders with leading bars around the region
Launched in May at Sidecar in New Delhi,
the program continued to MOGA in Singapore and Dara in Hong Kong before heading
to Beijing and Bangkok. Its most recent stop brought Cebu’s own bar scene to
Bangkok, with Gab Carlos, co-founder of The Basement, and John Park, owner of
The Lost Unicorn, taking over Lennon’s at Rosewood Bangkok.
Fiesta Exchange continues around the
Cebu festival with a series of international collaborations in Manila. Bar Long
Fong from Beijing heads to Raion on November 10, followed by Carrots from
Jakarta at Malagihay Cocktail Club on November 16 as part of Malagihay’s Dayo
Series Ep. 2. On December 12, The Hudson Rooms from Hanoi heads to BRB,
extending the exchange beyond the main festival weekend.
Behind the Cebu edition is a local
committee made up of bartenders, bar owners, and supporters who know the city
and its hospitality community firsthand: Gab Carlos, John Orozco, John Park,
Eugene Dy, Kevin Obach, Fred Obach, and Adrian Muntuerto.
For the organizers, much of the work
behind The Fiesta remains volunteer-driven, with sponsorship support directed
back into staging the festival and its programs.
“There are so many people contributing
their time, experience, and connections because they believe in what the Fiesta
can do for the Philippine bar industry,” adds Ancheta. “Beyond bringing great
bars and bartenders together, we want to create connections across the region
while giving more people the opportunity to discover the Philippines through
our bars, food, and hospitality.”
For the complete schedule, participating
venues, Bar Congress registration, and event information, visit
thecocktailfiesta.com, where you can explore the full program and save Fiesta
events directly to your calendar.
Follow @thecocktailfiesta on Instagram and Facebook, and visit thecocktailfiesta.com for updates.
OUR PARTNERS: Charlton Trade & Enterprise —
Astoria Wines, Vedrenne Liqueurs, and Artisan Vodka; Singha Soda PH; ARC
Archipelago Gin by Full Circle Craft Distillers Co.; Destileria Limtuaco
& Co., Inc. — Bonifacio Rum; Tanduay Distillers, Inc.; Tito’s Handmade
Vodka; Uy Masuy Wine Factory, Inc.; Drunk Barista; Cebu Mango Rum; Zing
Liqueur; Monin Asia Pacific; Loca Loka; Beam Suntory — Suntory Whisky, Roku
Japanese Craft Gin, and Maker’s Mark Whisky; Nativis Group; Evian OFFICIAL HOST PARTNER: NUSTAR Resort Cebu HOTEL PARTNERS: Tambuli Seaside Resort & Spa;
Chateau by The Sea; Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu; Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort;
Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan; Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan EVENT PARTNERS: Balai Brunch by Cafe Plus; Davos
(Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan); Breeze (Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu); 5
Cien (Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort); Lucid |
About The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta is a nationwide celebration of
Filipino cocktail culture, hospitality, and tourism. Launched in 2025, the
festival brings together bars, bartenders, hospitality professionals,
brands, media, and cocktail enthusiasts through guest shifts, cocktail
pairing dinners, industry talks, masterclasses, and city-wide events.
Beginning in 2026, The Fiesta will rotate among Philippine host cities while
connecting bar communities across the country and throughout Asia. The festival is spearheaded by DrinkCollectiv.com,
an Asia-focused drinks and hospitality platform with entities registered in
Hong Kong and Manila. It evolved from DrinkManila, the Philippines’ first
drink-focused publication, and now covers drinking culture across Asian
cities while celebrating the people shaping the region’s drinks and
hospitality industry. The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta is organized in
partnership with Drinks Be With You (DBWY), a community within the
Philippine bar scene that brings together bartenders and cocktail
enthusiasts through industry events, educational programs, and cocktail
competitions. For more information: Email us at mail@thecocktailfiesta.com
+63 962 842 9614 Kay Arias I Admin Manager, The Philippine Cocktail
Fiesta |
About
NUSTAR Resort Cebu NUSTAR
Resort Cebu, stylized as NUSTAR, is the first and only premier integrated
resort in the Visayas and Mindanao, redefining leisure and lifestyle in the
region through world-class entertainment, luxury accommodations, exceptional
dining, and curated retail experiences. Privately owned and operated by
Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (UHRI), NUSTAR is home to the region’s
largest gaming floor, The Mall, Fili Hotel, the ultra-luxury NUSTAR Hotel,
The Boardwalk, and the NUSTAR Skydeck, with the Grand Summit Hotel opening
soon. Learn more at nustar.ph or call (032) 888 8282. UHRI is part of the
Gokongwei Group. Nustar Media Contact: Hannah Mae Paler, PR Associate, NUSTAR
Resort Cebu hannahmae.paler@nustar.com.ph +63 906 231 8415 |
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