Kathmandu. Diageo India’s ‘World Class’ program has entered its 12th year.

The program, which was launched with the goal of establishing bartending as a serious, sustainable, and respectable profession, has today become an influential platform for developing the South Asian bartending ecosystem.

What started as a competition-oriented program has evolved into a long-term talent development platform that offers career building, skilling, mentorship and international reach, according to Diageo India. Through training, global networks, and collaborations with industry, the program is not limited to a single edition, but is creating a lasting impact.

WorldClass operates in a structured, multi-step process. The top 100 bartenders from hundreds of applications are selected and compete in the regional finals to be held in various places in India and South Asia. The top 16 selected contestants advance to the national finals, where they are judged on their understanding of taste, technology, speed, storytelling and guest experience.

One is declared the World Class India and South Asia Champion. They will get an opportunity to represent the region in the World Class Global Finals to be held in September. The 2026 edition of the World Class 2026 is considered historic in the South Asian context. For the first time, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka have been included under the same South Asian platform.

This year, participation from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities has increased significantly. Also, the participation of female bartenders is at an all-time high. According to the organizers, this indicates that the bartending profession is expanding beyond traditional metros.

Education is a key pillar of world class. Through workshops, taste-based modules, and hands-on sessions, bartenders are trained on the basic skills of technology, efficiency, and hospitality.

Past winners and alumni re-engage as mentors, judges, and coaches to share experiences with new generations. This practice has helped to expand bartending from a short-term job to a long-term career.

World Class has also been building a direct connection with consumers through cocktail festivals, pop-up events and curated bar experiences. These events provide guests with the opportunity to interact directly with the tastes, ideas, and talents that shape modern South Asian cocktail culture.

The World Class 2026 regional finals will be held in multiple cities from January 29 to February 11. The regional final will be held in Kathmandu on February 6. The national finals will be held in March 2026 and the global finals will be held in September 2026.