I Wayan Sudiana Wins Heineken Regional Bartender Finals
The Indonesian bartender secured the top spot after demonstrating superior skill in the 2026 regional competition.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Food and Drink
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I Wayan Sudiana of Multi Bintang Indonesia has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Heineken Regional Bartender Finals. Malaysia-based Lim Tee Hong of La Primeur Austin finished as the competition runner-up.
Why it matters
The event aims to standardize hospitality excellence and provide professional development opportunities across the food and beverage industry. These competitions help drive higher service quality and technical mastery among industry professionals.
The Star Academy program reached 600 partner outlets in Malaysia this year and aims to upskill 2,500 bartenders throughout 2026. Since the program began, it has provided training to a total of 12,000 participants.
The players
I Wayan Sudiana
He is the 2026 Heineken Regional Bartender Finals champion representing Multi Bintang Indonesia.
Lim Tee Hong
He is a bartender representing La Primeur Austin who placed as the runner-up in the regional competition.
Jason Dennis D'Cruz
He served as a guest judge for the finals and is the winner of the 2024 Global Draught championship.
The details
The competition challenged finalists on speed, accuracy, and their technical mastery of the Star Quality Pour. Competitors qualified for the regional stage after months of intensive training, assessments, and outlet-level events held throughout the year.
Timeline
I Wayan Sudiana won the Regional Bartender Finals in 2026.
Jason Dennis D'Cruz previously won the Global Draught championship in 2024.
Industry Dynamics
The competition underscores a broader shift within the beverage industry to standardize technical excellence through structured educational programs. By investing in the Star Academy training initiative, brands are fostering long-term professional development to compete in a high-demand market.
Consumers visiting partner outlets can expect improved service quality as a direct result of these rigorous training and assessment standards. The expansion to 600 partner outlets across the region means that standardized pouring techniques are becoming more accessible to customers.
The takeaway
Professional bartending competitions serve as a key metric for measuring service quality and technical training success. Aspiring hospitality workers can benefit by seeking out similar certified training programs to improve their career trajectory and skill set.
Further reading
For more on industry standards and hospitality trends, visit the Food and Drink section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star.
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