World Class Competition 2026: The Slovak Bar Scene Enters a New Season

The beginning of the year in Slovakia has traditionally belonged to the World Class Competition — the world’s most prestigious bartending contest, brought to the local scene by Italmarket Slovakia. January marks the launch of its 12th edition, promising new challenges, strong personalities, and a clear ambition: to bring the competition even closer to bartenders across the entire country.

One of the key highlights of the 2026 edition is the opening of the competition in two cities. The first event will take place on January 26 in Bratislava, followed by Košice on January 27. This step aims to make World Class more accessible to a broader spectrum of bar professionals and to actively support the development of bar culture beyond the capital.

“We are looking ahead to a year full of inspiration, education, and unforgettable experiences,” says Tony Velich, Brand Manager of World Class Slovakia.

The competition will once again deliver top-level training sessions and workshops led by leading figures from both the Slovak and international bar scenes. The season will culminate in the World Class Cocktail Festival, with up to 40 local bars from across Slovakia expected to take part.

A historic milestone will be the national final, which will be held in Košice for the first time ever on June 9, 2026. The winner will go on to represent Slovakia at the global final in Dubai.

Bartenders interested in participating can apply via tony.velich@italmarket.sk or contact World Class Ambassador Filip Kováč at filipkovac.bar@gmail.com.

For more information, follow:
@italmarketslovakia × @worldclasssvk

This article was made in collaboration with ITALMARKET Slovakia a.s.