Philippine Cocktail Fiesta 2026 in Cebu: Schedule, Tickets and the Bars Flying In
The Fiesta’s first edition outside Metro Manila runs November 13 to 15 in Mactan, Cebu City, Mandaue and NUSTAR. The closing party is ₱1,999; the passport and Bar Congress are free.
Reported by Suroy Newsdesk. Edited by Janette Arceo. Editorial standards.
The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta runs in Cebu from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026, its first edition outside Metro Manila. Bartenders from Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, New Delhi and Manila work shifts at local bars in Mactan, Cebu City and Mandaue before the festival closes with a ticketed party at NUSTAR Resort Cebu.
Most of it costs nothing to get into. The one ticket worth deciding on early is the closing party, Asia Icons, at ₱1,999 net on Sunday night. The guest shifts are priced per drink at whichever bar is hosting, the Fiesta Passport is free, and so is the Bar Congress if you register.
Philippine Cocktail Fiesta 2026 schedule
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov 13 | Bars in Mactan | Guest shifts: visiting bartenders take over local bars for the night |
| Fri, Nov 13, 5 to 7 PM | Mott 32 Cebu, NUSTAR | Fan Zhu, co-founder of Bar Long Fong in Beijing, with Mott 32 head mixologist Jay Natividad. Open to the public |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Bars in Cebu City and Mandaue | Guest shifts and bar pairings, plus a masterclass by Lee Watson of The Spirits Library on the history of Philippine spirits and bar culture |
| Sun, Nov 15, 10 AM to 4:30 PM | NUSTAR Resort Cebu | Bar Congress: panels, masterclasses and Philippine craft spirits tastings. Free with advance registration |
| Sun, Nov 15, 7 PM to 1 AM | Grand Ballroom, NUSTAR Resort Cebu | Asia Icons closing party with nine guest bars. ₱1,999 net |
Bar-by-bar times for the Friday and Saturday guest shifts, and the dates and seat prices of the four cocktail pairing dinners, had not been published in any announcement as of November 8. The organizers post them on thecocktailfiesta.com and on Instagram at @thecocktailfiesta, so check there the morning you go rather than turning up on a guess.
Asia Icons closing party: tickets and the nine bars
Asia Icons runs from 7 PM to 1 AM on Sunday, November 15, in the Grand Ballroom of NUSTAR Resort Cebu. The ₱1,999 net ticket covers cocktails from the nine guest bars and free-flowing pours from NUSTAR’s own bars, according to NUSTAR’s October 23 announcement. Food is sold separately. Groups get one ticket free for every ten bought, and sales are online through NUSTAR.
The announcement does not mention a dress code or an age policy. Ask NUSTAR before booking for a group with anyone younger.
The nine bars pouring that night:
- Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou. Ranked No. 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026.
- Bar Us, Bangkok
- Coa, Hong Kong
- Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur
- BOP (Bartenders of Pony), Singapore, a Jigger & Pony Group project that opened in January
- Problem Child, Makati. The only Philippine bar on the main Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list, and named best bar in the Philippines.
- The Spirits Library, Manila
- ReCraft, Manila
- Raion, Manila
The free part: Fiesta Passport and Bar Congress
The Fiesta Passport is free and handed out at airports, partner hotels and participating bars, according to Tatler Asia’s October 9 report. Nearly 40 Cebu venues are running Fiesta cocktails and offers through the whole of November, not only on the three festival days.
The Bar Congress, the festival’s first, takes most of Sunday at NUSTAR, 10 AM to 4:30 PM. It is pitched at bar owners, bartenders, hoteliers and spirits producers, with masterclasses running from artisan vodka to Philippine rum and tastings of local craft spirits. Admission is free with advance registration. One panel puts Pongsakorn “Beer” Akarabunditsakul of Bar Us and Kate Osmillo of Raion on what bar programs should drop and keep. Another, on leadership and wellness behind the bar, brings in Jay Khan of Coa, Yangdup Lama of New Delhi’s Sidecar, Angeline Tan of Three X Co and Uno Jang of the Jigger & Pony Group.
Pairings and dinners announced so far
Tatler Asia lists these Cebu pairings, without dates or prices:
- Big Fuzz from Manila at Warehaus, with Bar by East
- Ron Cruz of Fat Cat, World Class Philippines Bartender of the Year 2026, with Luna Bar + Tapas
- The Grasshopper Bar from Manila, a pairing dinner at Balai Brunch by Cafe Plus
- Sidecar from New Delhi, a pairing dinner at Anzani
Why the Fiesta moved to Cebu
The Fiesta started in Metro Manila in 2025 with 38 guest bartenders across nearly 100 bars in 10 cities. This year it became a rotating host-city program, backed by the Department of Tourism Central Visayas and the Tourism Promotions Board. It is run by DrinkCollectiv and Drinks Be With You, with DrinkCollectiv founder Tatum Ancheta as festival director.
“Cebu has the infrastructure, the bars and a developing cocktail industry,” Aaron Aw of the Philippine Cocktail Fiesta told SunStar on October 9, pointing also to the city’s international flights and its capacity to host visiting bar people. Seth Binolirao of the DOT Central Visayas office said the agency wants the spotlight on local artisans and beverages.
A local committee of Cebu bar people runs the ground game: Gab Carlos, John Orozco, John Park, Eugene Dy, Kevin Obach, Fred Obach and Adrian Muntuerto. Carlos is behind The Basement and Park behind The Lost Unicorn, and the two already took over Lennon’s at Rosewood Bangkok this year as part of the Fiesta’s exchange program. The Lost Unicorn tops Suroy.ph’s own guide to bars in Cebu City, which covers where to drink the other 362 nights of the year.
Sunday is the date to clear in the calendar, and the rest of November in Cebu is in what’s on in Cebu this November. Coming in from outside the city and choosing between Mactan, the IT Park and downtown, the where to stay in Cebu guide breaks it down by area.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the Philippine Cocktail Fiesta in Cebu?
November 13 to 15, 2026. Guest shifts run in Mactan on Friday and in Cebu City and Mandaue on Saturday, and Sunday belongs to NUSTAR Resort Cebu: the Bar Congress by day and the Asia Icons closing party at night.
How much are Asia Icons closing party tickets?
₱1,999 net, covering cocktails from the nine guest bars and free-flowing pours from NUSTAR. Food is sold separately. Groups that buy ten tickets get one free. Tickets are sold online through NUSTAR.
Is the Bar Congress open to the public?
It is pitched at bar owners, bartenders, hoteliers and producers, but admission is free with advance registration. It runs 10 AM to 4:30 PM on November 15 at NUSTAR Resort Cebu.
Where do I get the Fiesta Passport?
It is free and handed out at airports, partner hotels and participating bars. Nearly 40 Cebu venues are running Fiesta cocktails and offers through November.
Sources
Tatler Asia, “The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta heads to Cebu this November 13 to 15! Here’s what to expect,” Lauren Golangco, October 9, 2026. SunStar, “Cebu finds its place in the country’s cocktail story,” Jewil Anne M. Tabiolo, October 9, 2026. SunStar, “NUSTAR Resort Cebu brings 9 award-winning bars from across Asia to Cebu for one night only,” NUSTAR sponsored content, October 23, 2026. Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 results, announced July 2026. Schedule table compiled by Suroy.ph from those announcements, checked November 8, 2026.
Tatler Asia, “The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta heads to Cebu this November 13 to 15! Here’s what to expect,” Lauren Golangco, October 9, 2026. SunStar, “Cebu finds its place in the country’s cocktail story,” Jewil Anne M. Tabiolo, October 9, 2026. SunStar, “NUSTAR Resort Cebu brings 9 award-winning bars from across Asia to Cebu for one night only,” NUSTAR sponsored content, October 23, 2026. Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 results, announced July 2026. Schedule table compiled by Suroy.ph from those announcements, checked November 8, 2026.
