Bar Queens 2026

Bar Queens, a celebration of female+ talent, creativity and community, returns for its third edition in 2026. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a national platform celebrating creativity, collaboration and community within the drinks industry.

This year sees the introduction of a paired entry format. Bartenders will compete in teams of two, creating and presenting two conceptually linked cocktails at regional heats.

Entries opened on International Women's Day (8 March) and close on 30 March. Five regional heats-Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and London-lead to a Grand Final in London in early June. Two winning pairs will be crowned *Bar Queens Champions 2026*, earning a three-day trip to the Athens Bar Show.

While opportunities in hospitality continue to grow, female+ bartenders remain underrepresented in competitions and industry recognition. *Bar Queens* provides a supportive platform to help address this, encouraging participation, visibility and confidence.

Founded by Katy Wicks and Eímear Corr, the competition was created to offer a more inclusive, welcoming alternative to traditional contests-one shaped by lived experience and a desire to see more women and non-binary bartenders step forward.

Now in its third year, *Bar Queens* has established itself as a vibrant, community-led competition, offering national exposure and international opportunity to emerging talent.

Entry details

Open to female+ bartenders working in the UK to ENTER before 30 March 2026
Entrants should apply as pairs including the following:

• Two cocktails: a Spritz-inspired drink and a bespoke drink inspired by a dynamic duo.
• Specs of both drinks.
• Brief summary of your inspirations.
• Photo of both drinks.
• Preferred regional heat location.
• You and your besties' name and the venues you work in.

TO ENTER email:sip.uk@pernod-ricard.com or entering via Insta.

Regional Heats

Five regional heats will showcase talent nationwide:
Leeds @ Below Stairs on 9th April
Edinburgh – @ Edinburgh Bar Show Wednesday 15th April
Liverpool @ Slow Pour on 29th April
Cardiff @ Lab 22 on 30th April
London @ Swift Shoreditch on 5th May

Grand Final

Finalists will compete live at a London venue in early June with two pairs crowned
Bar Queens Champions 2026.

Prize

The winning pair receives a three-day trip to the Athens Bar Show, including:

• Access to seminars, workshops & international talent.
• Insight into global cocktail trends.
• Networking and professional inspiration.

How Bar Queens Started

Bar Queens was founded on a simple realisation: while the talent was there, the opportunities to showcase it didn't always feel accessible.

After nearly a decade in hospitality, co-founder Katy had worked alongside many highly skilled women shaping innovative drinks menus and elevating bar programmes, yet saw few entering competitions. The issue wasn't ability, but that traditional contest environments didn't always feel welcoming.

At Pernod Ricard UK, she connected with Eímear, who had witnessed much the same and had herself lacked the confidence to compete despite her experience developing bar menus. Together, they set out to create a more inclusive, supportive platform where female and non-binary bartenders could collaborate, build confidence and showcase their creativity.

From this, Bar Queens was born.

Since launching, the competition has grown steadily in both scale and reputation. It has become known for its collaborative atmosphere, with regional heats offering a supportive space where ideas are shared, confidence builds, and new connections are formed.

Today, Bar Queens stands as a platform where emerging female+ bartenders are encouraged to step forward and gain recognition within the industry.