World Class Cocktail Festival set to shake up the city—and the country—this September

The World Class Cocktail Festival, to be held August 16 to October 3 across Canada, promises to be one of the biggest and best parties this country has ever seen.

“Our ambition is to give the World Class Global Final a Canadian feel even though it will be centred in Toronto,” says Michael Armistead, who oversees the World Class Canada Bartending Competition as National Onpremise, Reserve and Sponsorship Manager at Diageo Canada.

To make it not just Toronto’s festival, but Canada’s, he’s also planning activations from Vancouver to Halifax in the lead-up to the competition itself. “We want to bring to life the feeling of community,” he says. “We’re excited about it, and we feel the industry is excited about it, nationally and globally.”

World Class, sponsored by Diageo and its reserve brands (including Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Don Julio tequila, Tanqueray No. Ten Gin, Singleton single malt and Ketel One Vodka), is the biggest and most prestigious cocktail competition on the planet. Each year, some 10,000 bartenders from 55 countries compete and the winner is justly considered the globe’s Bartender of the Year.

Since Canada started competing in 2013, this country has won the global title four times, more than any other country: Kaitlyn Stewart in 2017, James Grant in 2021, Jacob Martin in 2023 and Keegan McGregor in 2024. So it only seems fitting that it’s Canada’s turn to host the big event. Certainly, Armistead has been trying to bring it home for the past few years, and he has a thrilling lineup planned. (See the schedule to the right.)

The Fairmont Royal York is the host hotel and festival hub, but, Armistead points out: “All through the week we will be doing brand activations, seminars and guest shifts featuring global industry legends all around Toronto.”

Many of those events will be ticketed and open to consumers, including the closing events and winner’s announcement. Plus World Class is planning to run contests all summer to bring cocktail-loving visitors and industry pros to the festival.

The only question remaining is: Will hosting the Global Final in Toronto mean home team advantage for this year’s World Class Canada winner, Kate Chernoff of Vancouver’s Keefer Bar? “She feels the support of the country behind her,” Armistead says. “This year’s other Canadian National Finalists will all be at the final as part of the global team.”

World Class schedule

A snapshot of events planned for the global party

Saturday, August 16

The kickoff of World Class Cocktail Festival. World Class will be sponsoring the King’s Plate horse race at Woodbine Racetrack. “We’ll be there to support it, top hat and tails in hand,” Armistead says.

Sunday, August 17

Month-long World Class promotion begins at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

Thursday, September 4

Opening night of the 50th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. Don Julio is TIFF’s official tequila partner, and there will be World Class Cocktail Festival activations at some film events.

Monday, September 22, to Friday, September 26

Events, seminars and guest shifts in key cities across the country, as well as visits by previous global winners en route to Toronto, “to ensure there is a full community feel to the cocktail festival,” Armistead says.

Saturday, September 27

Competitors arrive in Toronto.

Monday, September 29

An industry forum with a series of seminars during the day, with an opening party in the evening.

Tuesday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 1

The competition.

Thursday, October 2

The final challenge and announcement of the winner, held in a venue to be announced.