January 27, 2026 — North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will return for its fifth edition in April2026. The three-day event program will be held in Vancouver, Canada, culminating with the highly anticipated awards ceremony taking place on Wednesday, April 22,2026 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The 2026 event program brings the North American bar community back to Vancouver following a successful destination debut in 2025, celebrating the region’s world-class cocktail culture and exceptional bartending talent in one of the continent’s most dynamic cultural hubs. Home to a collaborative bar community and exceptional talent, Vancouver’s bar scene is increasingly recognized on the global stage.

North America’s 50 Best Bars focuses on highlighting excellence in the bars industry specifically in the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The inaugural awards ceremony was held in New York City in 2022, followed by San Miguel de Allende in 2023 and 2024, and Vancouver in 2025. This year, the awards ceremony returns to Vancouver to honor and celebrate the talented bars and teams in destinations throughout the continent.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars, says: “Following our first-ever celebration in Canada last year, we are thrilled to return to Vancouver to host the 2026 edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars. In 2025, the city’s dynamic hospitality scene hosted the region’s top bartending talent and showcased Canada’s growing impact on the bar industry. We’re so excited to return to Vancouver this April and recognize the individuals and destinations that are defining North America’s role in the global cocktail scene.”

The celebration begins the day before the reveal of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026 with the Bartenders’ Feast and will be followed by the live countdown and the awards ceremony itself at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 22, ending in the announcement ofThe Best Bar in North America 2026 and other special award winners. North America’s 50 Best Bars recognized the growth of the North American cocktail scene by unveiling the extended 51-100 list for the first time in 2025 and will do so again in 2026.

Royce Chwin, President & CEO of Destination Vancouver, says: "After the incredible energy of last year's event, we could not be more excited to welcome North America’s 50 Best Bars back to Vancouver this year. This event signals the growing recognition of Vancouver's cocktail culture, shaped by bold ideas, diverse influences and a strong sense of place. The return of North America’s 50 Best Bars creates an opportunity to bring the industry together, shine a spotlight on local talent, and give a warm Vancouver welcome to guests from across the continent.”

In advance of the North America’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, 50 Best will unveil a few special award winners, including the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award and Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. The extended 51-100 list, showcasing those bars ranked between 51^st and 100^th, will also be revealed in the lead up to the awards ceremony.

The countdown of the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will also be broadcast live on YouTube to a global audience who are not able to attend in person.

Further details regarding the 2026 program and consumer events will be revealed in due course.

How the Voting Works

The ranking for North America’s 50 Best Bars will reflect the best bar experiences based on the votes of the Academy members, who comprise anonymous North American bar industry experts from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The voting split of these bar industry experts is 33% bartenders and bar owners, 33%, drinks writers and educators and 33% well-traveled cocktail experts. There is a 50/50 gender balance among the voters.

This year’s Academy is made up of more than 300 voters. This change was implemented to obtain a wider snapshot and ensure a greater number of diverse voices are heard in the voting process. Moreover, as per all 50 Best lists for restaurants, bars, and hotels, a minimum of 25% of Academy members are refreshed annually to keep the perspectives dynamic and relevant. Members of the 50 Best organization do not vote and do not control the composition of the list; that is the collective role of the voting Academy. This means that bars cannot apply to be on the list and no sponsors have any influence on the list.

The Academy is divided into 7 regions: USA Northeast; USA Midwest; USA West; USA South; Canada East; Canada West; Mexico and the Caribbean. Each region has its own panel of members including a chairperson, called the Academy Chair. The Chairs each select a voting panel, ensuring a balanced selection. Each North America Academy member will vote for 7 bars, with a maximum of 5 in the home country (or state in the U.S.) where they are based. Voters also have the option to vote for a further 2 (or more) bars located outside of their home country (or U.S. state) up to a maximum of 7.

The lists of North America’s 50 Best Bars and The World’s 50 Best Bars are the results of two separate votes from two different voting Academies, taking place at different times and assessing different geographical regions. Therefore, the results from voting create two separate lists, with different rankings.

Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte. Academy Chairs are not privy to, and have no knowledge of, the votes cast by the voters in their respective regions. They are not spokespeople for the 50 Best brand.

The list will be the result of a poll of more than 300 experts (all within the North American continent), who each cast votes for the bars where they have had their ‘best experience’ during the last 18 months before the voting deadline. The list is a simple computation of votes by North American voters for bars in North America. Further information on the Academy Chairs and how the voting works is available on the FAQs page here.

New York, NY – January 26, 2026 – Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 LDEI Legacy Awards, supported by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts. Since 2009, the Legacy Awards provide women in food, beverage, and hospitality with transformative, one-of-a-kind professional experiences designed to accelerate careers, expand networks, and deepen leadership skills.

The 2026 Legacy Awards feature six immersive experiences hosted by accomplished LDEI members and partners across the U.S. and abroad. Each award is thoughtfully curated to offer hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world insight into the systems shaping today’s food landscape — from regenerative agriculture and restaurant ownership to spirits branding, sustainable food systems, and product innovation. Applications are open now through March 31, 2026.

“Legacy Awards are about meaningful access to knowledge, to mentors, and to experiences that women don’t always get invited into,” said Marilyn Freundlich, President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. “The 2026 programs reflect the depth and diversity of our membership and the power of learning directly from women who are building resilient, values-driven food businesses and systems.”

2026 LDEI Legacy Award Experiences

Vertically Integrated Farming: Pasture to Plate – Atlanta Chapter

Hosted in partnership with White Oak Pastures near Bluffton, Georgia, this experience offers an in-depth look at a sixth-generation, zero-waste farm that pasture-raises, processes, and prepares its own livestock. The Awardee will gain exposure to each step of production, from animal husbandry and USDA-inspected processing to food service operations. The experience concludes in Atlanta with Global Growers Network, exploring urban agriculture and culturally rooted food systems serving diverse communities.

Restaurant Ownership & Hospitality – Boston Chapter

Designed for an emerging restaurateur, this experience offers a behind-the-scenes look at independent restaurant ownership. Hosted by the Boston Chapter Dames, the Awardee will receive mentorship from award-winning chefs and restaurateurs, including Tracy Chang (Pagu), Patricia Estorino (Gustazo Cuban Kitchen), and Maria Freddura (The Daily Catch). Programming includes business planning, kitchen design, supply sourcing, and marketing, culminating in guidance on drafting a restaurant business plan.

Roots & Revenue: Big Island Agriculture – Hawai’i Chapter

Tailored to the Awardee’s interests, this experience explores the development, marketing, and distribution of value-added agricultural products on the Big Island of Hawai’i. With visits to farms, ranches, markets, and school garden programs, the Awardee will learn how producers build multiple revenue streams while strengthening local food systems in a region where most food is imported. Accommodations will be in Waimea, immersed in Hawai’i’s agricultural heartland.

Kentucky Spirits: Grain to Glass – Kentucky Chapter

This five-day experience focuses on the business, branding, and production of bourbon. Hosted by the Kentucky Dames, the Awardee will engage with distillers, brand founders, blenders, and cooperage experts to understand everything from mash bills and barrel aging to visitor experiences and brand growth. Highlights include mentorship with leaders at Buzzard’s Roost and hospitality at Foxhollow Farm.

Harvesting Knowledge: Sustainable Food Systems – London Chapter

Hosted by the London Chapter Dames in collaboration with Ballymaloe Cookery School and Organic Farm in Ireland, this experience includes participation in Ballymaloe’s “Week of Practical Homesteading.” Led by Dame Darina Allen, the program focuses on regenerative farming, traditional food skills, and food sovereignty. The experience concludes in London with curated visits to artisan producers and conversations with chapter Dames.

Food Production Innovation: Concept to Shelf – Portland Chapter

This experience explores how women bring artisan food products to market. Over five days, the Awardee will meet women-owned brands at various stages of growth, tour production facilities, and learn how branding, scaling, and distribution shape success. Hosted by the Portland Chapter Dames, the program includes mentorship from established founders and past LDEI scholarship recipients.

“LDEI’s Legacy Awards embody Julia Child’s lifelong commitment to learning, mentorship, and excellence in the culinary arts,” said Todd Schulkin, Executive Director for The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts. “We’re honored to support programs that give women the tools, confidence, and access to lead the future of food.”

Application forms are online here. Legacy Award Committee Co-Chairs are Dame Bonnie Tandy Leblang of New York, Dame Ingrid Gangestad of Florida, and Dame Beth Pav of Austin. The awards are supported by Les Dames D’Escoffier International, LDEI chapters, individual members, their companies, and The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. For more information on the LDEI Legacy Awards and to meet last year’s winners, click here.

January 26, 2026 – Toronto, ON – Canadian dairy leader Lactalis Canada today announced the launch of iÖGO nanö Bubbles – a first of its kind offering in the kids yogurt category featuring playful, mouth-bursting bubble texture in a creamy & smooth yogurt in a 100g cup.

Made with 100% Canadian milk, real fruit and no artificial colours, flavours, or sweeteners, iÖGO nanö Bubbles introduces an innovative snacking option for kids aged 6-12 inspired by the rising popularity of bubble tea style textures among a younger generation of Canadians – both youth and parents. Providing a source of Vitamin D and Calcium, the offering includes three delicious flavours: Orange Cream with Mango Bubbles, Mixed Berries with Strawberry Bubbles, and Banana with Mango Bubbles.

“There’s something fun and joyful about a spoonful of juicy flavours exploding in your mouth and we are excited to bring Canadians this completely new way of enjoying yogurt with the launch of iÖGO nanö Bubbles,” said Adrienne Pagot-Gérault, General Manager, Yogurt & Cultured Division, Lactalis Canada. “This breakthrough innovation expands our iÖGO nanö brand beyond drinkable yogurt into a creamy yogurt cup that reflects shifting consumer expectations for distinctive texture and playful food experiences while maintaining the brand’s high quality and nutritional value.”

iÖGO nanö Bubbles is the latest offering from iÖGO made to meet the needs of every age category including iÖGO, iÖGO nanö drinkable yogurt, and iÖGO frozen yogurt products. iÖGO nanö Bubbles is available at most major retailers across the country.

To learn more, please visit iögo.ca.

TORONTO and NIAGARA REGION, ON, Jan. 22, 2026 /CNW/ - George Brown Polytechnic (GBP), in partnership with Niagara College, has announced the return of the Ontario Wine Awards (OWA) in 2026, the province's most prestigious wine competition and awards program.

Founded in 1995, the Ontario Wine Awards recognize Ontario Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) wines for their quality, distinction, and excellence.

Under a new shared hosting model, George Brown Polytechnic and Niagara College will co-host the OWA on a rotating basis, beginning at George Brown in Toronto in 2026, followed by Niagara College in 2027, and alternating annually thereafter. This partnership will give students more chances to take part in mentored judging and get practical, hands-on experience helping run the event.

The announcement was made during a partnership event at George Brown, where the two institutions formalized the collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which confirms shared hosting responsibilities and long-term stewardship of the awards.

"The Ontario Wine Awards have long played an important role in recognizing excellence in Ontario's wine industry," said Gervan Fearon, President, George Brown Polytechnic. "By partnering with Niagara College, we are building on that legacy while expanding applied learning opportunities and industry engagement for students in both regions, as well as promoting and supporting an industry that generates nearly $5.5 billion in economic activity and employs more than 22,000 individuals. Ontario wines are celebrated and recognized across Ontario and, indeed, across the world. The Ontario Wine Awards is a part of this recognition and celebration."

"As the home of Canada's first commercial teaching winery, we're very pleased to partner with George Brown Polytechnic in the return of the Ontario Wine Awards," said Niagara College President Sean Kennedy. "This collaboration creates a unique opportunity for the students who will one day drive the success of Ontario's wine industry to celebrate and learn from the current leaders and innovators in this world-class sector."

"The Ontario Wine Awards continues to go from strength to strength under the joint patronage of George Brown Polytechnic and Niagara College," said Tony Aspler, founder of the Ontario Wine Awards. "I'm delighted that this partnership helps secure the future of Ontario's prestigious wine competition, celebrating the work of the province's winemakers."

Each year, the OWA culminate in the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines, recognizing the very best VQA wines produced across the province.

"These awards offer a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the skill, care, passion, and innovative spirit of Ontario's winemakers," said the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. "I am delighted that George Brown Polytechnic and Niagara College will be cultivating their future together."

"Collaboration is key to delivering a world-class education that prepares students to succeed in their future careers, drive critical sectors, and meaningfully contribute to our economy," said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. "Through this partnership, George Brown Polytechnic and Niagara College are ensuring that students get the hands-on experience they need to thrive, while also fostering excellence in Ontario's premium wine industry."

GBP will continue as the brand steward and owner of the Ontario Wine Awards, while Niagara College will serve as co-host during designated rotation years. A joint steering committee will oversee governance, judging standards, and academic integration.

Wine submissions open on January 30. Wineries across the province are encouraged to submit their entries and be part of this year's awards. 

Judging for the 2026 Ontario Wine Awards will take place May 30-31 at George Brown's Chef School, with winners being announced during Ontario Wine Week in June.