50 Best, the organisation behind The World’s 50 Best Bars, has revealed that the first edition of Europe’s 50 Best Bars will take place in Amsterdam at De Kromhouthal.

For its inaugural edition, the ranking will celebrate the achievements of Europe’s finest bars, bartenders and cocktail cities. It will be the first list of its kind to encompass the whole of Europe and will be compiled from the votes of more than 300 anonymous, gender-balanced bar industry experts from across the region.

The voting panel, known as the Europe’s 50 Best Bars Academy, comprises a balanced mix of bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and well-travelled cocktail connoisseurs. The Academy is selected by 11 Academy Chairs, each representing a different European sub-region.

The list will be unveiled at a flagship awards ceremony on 30 June, featuring red carpet arrivals and a drinks reception, followed by a live countdown and the reveal of Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026. The evening will culminate in the announcement of The Best Bar in Europe 2026, sponsored by Perrier.

Ahead of the ceremony, 50 Best will also announce the winners of two special awards recognising outstanding achievement over the past year: the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award and the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.

In addition, winners of the special awards entered by bars across Europe will be revealed. These include the One To Watch Award, Roku Industry Icon Award, Three Cents Best New Opening Award, Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award, SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award and Best in Destination Award.

“We are delighted to host the first ever awards ceremony for Europe’s 50 Best Bars in Amsterdam – a first in 50 Best history across all our awards,” says Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Europe’s 50 Best Bars. “As the city’s drinks culture continues to evolve and inspire, we look forward to celebrating the exceptional European bar community in this dynamic and cosmopolitan destination. Our aim is to encourage drinks enthusiasts everywhere to discover their next favourite bar and to join us in recognising the outstanding venues shaping the industry worldwide.”