Crafting a cocktail fiesta in Cebu

The Basement in Cebu I Photo courtesy of DrinkCollectiv

The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta, one of the biggest F&B industry events of the year supported by the Department of Tourism – Central Visayas and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, isn’t just heading to Cebu for the first time; it’s also unlocking a record number of programs, activities, and participants—including award-winning bars and bartenders across Asia—for its biggest edition yet.

A celebration of Filipino cocktail culture

From Nov. 13 to 15, The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta will gather bartenders, chefs, hospitality professionals, media, and cocktail enthusiasts from across the Philippines and Asia in Cebu to celebrate Filipino cocktail culture, hospitality, and tourism; expand knowledge exchange between the Philippines and Asia; and fuel the growth of the Philippine cocktail culture and the community within it.

“What started in Manila last year has grown into something much bigger than a single-city festival,” says Tatum Ancheta, founder of DrinkCollectiv and festival director of The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta.

The Fiesta, which will also feature special industry events on Nov. 12 and 16, marks the first time it will be held outside Manila—as well as the beginning of its rotating host-city program.

“Moving the Fiesta to a different city each year allows us to introduce different Philippine destinations and their bar communities to people from across the region,” Ancheta says. “This year, we’ve also expanded through Fiesta Exchange, which takes Filipino talent to leading bars across Asia for guest shifts and collaborations, creating new opportunities for our bartenders and bars to build relationships across the region.”

TCF organizers I Photo by Midnight Dream Studio

“Creating connections across the region”

Unveiling its full lineup, the main driving forces of this year’s edition are the nearly 40 participating venues across Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Mactan; 25 guest shifts and cocktails, the first-ever Bar Congress, a one-day program for panel discussions and masterclasses; and the ‘Asia Icons’ closing party featuring nine award-winning bars led by Guangzhou’s Hope & Sesame, No. 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 and named The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in Mainland China 2026—represented by Eagle Cheng and Geumseong Liu.

Eagle Cheng, Consultant & Bartender at Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou)

“Beyond bringing great bars and bartenders together, we want to create connections across the region while giving more people the opportunity to discover the Philippines through our bars, food, and hospitality,” says Ancheta.

The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta is headed by DrinkCollectiv.com, an Asia-focused drinks and hospitality platform with entities registered in Hong Kong and Manila, in partnership with Drinks Be With You, a community within the Philippine bar scene that brings together bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts through industry events, educational programs, and cocktail competitions.

Highlights from The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta 2026

Barhop across Cebu

Mactan on Nov. 13

Cebu City and Mandaue City on Nov. 14

Discover venue-specific Fiesta cocktails, special menus, discounts, buy-one-get-one offers, complimentary treats, and limited-edition merchandise.

Participating venues and partner hotels will also offer a free Fiesta Passport, featuring participating Cebu bars and offers: Buhi Cave Bar at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, The Basement in Mandaue City, and Nth Lair at Amber Hotel.

Who is coming to Cebu:

1. KT Lam and Bright Panawit of Lennon’s Bangkok, ranked No. 7 and recipient of the Highest New Entry Award at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, heading to Cowrie Cove

2. Sean Halse, beverage manager of Hanoi’s The Hudson Rooms, No. 46, at Tipsy Dog

3. Alvin Sung Jaya and Arya Priambudi of Jakarta’s Carrots, No. 21, at Buhi

4. Mark Lloyd, director of bars at Macau’s Wing Lei Bar, at Spiaggia

5. Summer Chen, co-founder of Vender, ranked No. 14 and named The Best Bar in Taiwan 2026, heads to The Vault Room

6. Kenta Aoyama, senior bartender at Punch Room Tokyo, takes over The Lost Unicorn

Notable collaborations:

1. Fan Zhu, co-founder of Beijing’s Bar Long Fong, No. 96 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 extended 51–100 list and organizer of Beijing Cocktail Week, collaborates with Mott 32 head mixologist Jay Natividad

2. Singapore’s Moga, represented by bar supervisor Danica Rubio, joins Cebu’s Gab Carlos of The Basement