WORLD CLASS COCKTAIL FESTIVAL to be held at Roppongi Hills Arena on July 9, featuring cocktails by top bartenders from Japan and abroad

Diageo Japan Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK-based major spirits company Diageo, which markets beverage brands in more than 180 countries, will hold an outdoor event called "WORLD CLASS COCKTAIL FESTIVAL" at Roppongi Hills Arena on Thursday, July 9, 2026. At this event, visitors will be able to experience cocktails prepared by top bartenders from Japan and around the world, together with DJ music and food. On the same day, the Japanese final of "WORLD CLASS," now in its 17th edition, "DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2026 Japan Final," will be held and, for the first time, made open to the public. Additionally, a special video "WORLD CLASS JOURNEY - The trajectory of bartenders challenging the world from Japan -" has been published on the official YouTube channel.

"WORLD CLASS" — Enjoy cocktails from past champions at the "WORLD CLASS COCKTAIL FESTIVAL"

This event is being held in conjunction with the Japan final of one of the world's largest bartender competitions, "DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2026 Japan Final," which will take place at the same venue. Top bartenders from Japan and overseas, including last year's WORLD CLASS world champion Felice Capasso, will gather to serve original cocktails at the venue. Visitors can enjoy a world-class cocktail experience together with DJ music and food.

■ WORLD CLASS COCKTAIL FESTIVAL Overview

Date and Time: Thursday, July 9, 2026, 12:00–20:00

Venue: Roppongi Hills Arena (6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Admission: Free

Cocktail & Food Tickets (sold only on-site):

500-yen ticket 6-piece set: 3,000 yen (tax included)

500-yen ticket 12-piece set: 5,000 yen (tax included)

■ WORLD CLASS COCKTAIL FESTIVAL Cocktail Service Schedule

Special cocktails by past WORLD CLASS champions will be available for limited times.

*Standard cocktails will be served throughout the event (12:00–20:00).

[13:00–15:00]

- Don Julio Truck: Don Julio Blanco cocktail by Fumia Nori (2023 Japan Champion)

- Whisky Truck: Talisker cocktail by Shigeki Yoshida (2012 Japan Champion)

- Tanqueray No. TEN Truck: Tanqueray No. TEN cocktail by Shigeki Yoshida (2012 Japan Champion)

[15:00–17:00]

- Don Julio Truck: Don Julio Blanco cocktail by Marina Kishida (2025 Japan Champion)

- Whisky Truck: The Singleton cocktail by Masato Ishioka (2024 Japan Champion)

- Tanqueray No. TEN Truck: Tanqueray No. TEN cocktail by Takashi Fujii (2016 Japan Champion)

[18:00–20:00]

- Don Julio Truck: Don Julio Reposado cocktail by Michito Kaneko (2015 World Champion)

- Whisky Truck: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve cocktail by Manabu Ohtake (2011 World Champion)

- Tanqueray No. TEN Truck: Tanqueray No. TEN cocktail by Felice Capasso (2025 World Champion)

■ Participating Bartenders (partial list)

"DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2025" World Champion Felice Capasso

A bartender based in Oslo, Norway. He won the global championship at DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2025 held in Toronto in 2025 and contributes to the development of spirits culture and professional education through lectures and his activities.

"DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2025" Japan Champion Marina Kishida

Affiliated with Gold Bar at EDITION, Tokyo EDITION Toranomon. She became the youngest-ever winner at the DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2025 Japan Final held in Osaka in 2025 and represented Japan at the global competition.

■ Food

A variety of food trucks will be on site to liven up the event. Enjoy a wide range of gourmet options, from authentic Mexican dishes such as Cuban sandwiches, tacos and burritos to pizza, pizza dogs, fish & chips, and french fries.

Japan final for the ticket to the world championship: "DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2026 Japan Final"

This tournament is the Japanese final of the world's premier bartender competition "WORLD CLASS," now in its 17th year.

Ten top-level bartenders from across Japan will gather to compete for the right to participate in the DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2026, one of the world's largest-scale events, to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from October 18 to October 23, 2026. At the venue, visitors can enjoy the excitement of the competition while attending the cocktail festival.

*According to Diageo

2026 Finalists (honorifics omitted, in Japanese syllabary order):

Kento Ueguchi - Yokaki

Nobumori Kawai - BAR chord

Takumi Kitsuki - CITADEL

Yuya Kobayashi - memento mori

Naomigi Shima - Cocktail Bar Hedonist

Arata Suzuki - Haruya

Shrestha Ramesh - VIRTU Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

Kazuaki Nagao - Bar LIBRE

Yusuke Nakajima - Kaden

Kota Masuda - Keio Plaza Hotel Main Bar Brian

Organizer: Diageo Japan Ltd.

Supported by (in no particular order): Cocktail Culture Promotion Foundation, Japan Bartenders Association (N.B.A.), Japan Hotel Barmen Association (H.B.A.), Professional Bartenders Organization (P.B.O.)

Cooperation: MHD Moet Hennessy Diageo K.K., Kirin Brewery Company, Limited

Ice provided by: Kuramoto Ice Industry

Official URL: https://www.wcjapan.jp/

A special video "WORLD CLASS JOURNEY - The trajectory of bartenders challenging the world from Japan -" has been released

To commemorate the event, a YouTube program that delves into the challenges and growth trajectories of top bartenders aiming for the world, "WORLD CLASS JOURNEY - The trajectory of bartenders challenging the world from Japan -"