Apply for the 50 Best Bars Scholarship 2026 for the chance to win all-expenses-paid internships in Athens and Buenos Aires.
First launched in 2022, the 50 Best Bars Scholarship offers up-and-coming bartenders a life-changing opportunity to gain experience at some of the world's finest drinkeries. Its previous winners – Drew Fleming, Apoorva Kohli and Calliope Draper – supercharged their careers learning from world-leading bars from New York to London and Cartagena to Tokyo.
In 2026, the programme returns to give any bartender over the age of 21 with less than three full years of experience in the industry the opportunity to enter for consideration.
What awaits this year's lucky winner? One stage at Line in Athens – No.8 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 – and at Tres Monos in Argentina (No.10), both with all accommodation and travel covered, plus £1,000 per stage.
The 2026 scholarship winner will head to Line in Athens and Tres Monos in Buenos Aires
This year's selection process will take place over three rounds. In the first round, applicants will be required to answer a selection of short questions about their inspirations, motivations and career so far, along with a short 30-second video introducing themselves to the judges.
From this pool of candidates, 50 Best will choose a 25-strong shortlist of budding bartenders, each of whom will be asked to create a custom cocktail that reflects their identity and career so far. These will be judged by senior members of the 50 Best team, alongside the teams behind the two bars that will host the winning bartender.
The five highest scorers will advance through to the interview stage, where the judging panel will select three finalists to fly to this year's edition of The World's 50 Best Bars, where the overall winner will be announced on stage at the highly anticipated live awards ceremony.
The three previous winners of the scholarship united for a 50 Best Signature Session in Hong Kong
In early 2027, the winner will embark on their duo of stages. At Line, they will gain invaluable insight into the bar's pioneering low-waste operation before getting behind the bar to serve up its innovative creations. In Buenos Aires, the Tres Monos team will guide the winner between various roles across its bar and education estate, learning its masterful combination of world-class hospitality in a fun-focused, unpretentious setting.
For your chance to supercharge your career, apply now using the button below.
Applications for the 50 Best Bars Scholarship are open until 27 May 12:00 BST. Any bartenders across the globe over the age of 21 with under three full years' experience in the hospitality sector are eligible to apply.
