HEINEKEN Regional Bartender Finals 2026 Celebrates Hospitality Talent Across Southeast Asia

HEINEKEN Malaysia and Multi Bintang Indonesia have brought together leading bartenders from Malaysia and Indonesia for the HEINEKEN Regional Bartender Finals 2026, marking the first time finalists from both countries competed on the same stage.

The competition featured participants from HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Star Academy and Multi Bintang Indonesia’s Heineken® Star Quality Programme. It aimed to recognise bartending talent, encourage knowledge sharing and strengthen hospitality standards across Southeast Asia.

The event also highlighted the economic contribution of Malaysia’s beer industry, which generates RM7.1 billion annually, contributes RM3.3 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 52,000 jobs nationwide, according to the latest Economic Impact Assessment.

Roderick van den Brink, Sales Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, said bringing together finalists from both countries creates opportunities for bartenders to exchange ideas, develop their skills and gain recognition for their craft. He added that investing in hospitality professionals helps improve customer experiences and strengthen the wider food and beverage industry.

The regional champion title went to I Wayan Sudiana, representing Bali through Multi Bintang Indonesia’s Heineken® Star Quality Programme.

The finalists were evaluated by a panel of judges, including Jason Dennis D’Cruz, the 2024 HEINEKEN Global Draught Champion. Assessments covered speed and accuracy under pressure, guest engagement, the ability to educate consumers and technical proficiency in the Star Quality Pour.

In Malaysia, Star Academy expanded its training approach in 2026 by bringing trainers directly to partner outlets, including locations in Miri, Bintulu, Sandakan, Alor Setar and Port Dickson. The programme has reached more than 600 partner outlets nationwide and is expected to train a record 2,500 bartenders this year, building on more than 12,000 bartenders trained since its inception.

Beyond technical expertise, Star Academy also promotes responsible alcohol service. Training includes managing challenging situations, encouraging responsible consumption and reminding customers never to drink and drive.

The regional finals mark the culmination of months of training, assessments and outlet-level competitions in both countries. Through these initiatives, HEINEKEN Malaysia and Multi Bintang Indonesia aim to create further development opportunities for bartenders while supporting professionalism across the hospitality industry.

For more information, visit HEINEKEN Malaysia.