Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter.

Stock up on electrolytes and maybe clear your mornings now, Vancouver. It’s about to be a very social week.

North America’s 50 Best Bars is back in the city, and we’re collectively bracing for impact (read: late nights and very strong cocktails).

With the 2026 awards landing on April 22, the continent’s top bartenders, bar teams, and industry insiders are flying in, shakers in hand. Translation: for one very spirited stretch of April, some of the best drinks in the world won’t require a plane ticket, just a well-timed reso.

Even before the main event, there’s already a bit of hometown pride in the mix. Vancouver’s Bagheera (59), Meo (64), Laowai (72), and Mount Pleasant Vintage (91) have all landed on the extended 51-100 list, alongside Victoria’s Humboldt Bar at 53. Not to brag, but BC is showing up early.

In the lead-up to the ceremony, bars across the city are hosting a packed lineup of guest shifts, one-night-only collaborations, and blink-and-you-miss-it pop-ups featuring talent from everywhere from New York to Mexico City to Tokyo. 

Here’s who to find where:

Meadowlark x Monkey Thief: April 19 @ The Chickadee Room 

Featuring: Meadowlark (Chicago), Monkey Thief (New York City)

The Chickadee Room pop-up series returns with a double-header to kick off the 50 Best week. Chicago’s Meadowlark, known for its thoughtful, ever-changing cocktail menus, joins NYC’s Monkey Thief, a Pan-Asian bar spotlighting bold, ingredient-driven drinks.

The Nightcap with The Canadylans: April 19 @ AMA Raw Bar

Featuring: Hux Bar & Bistro (Halifax), Civil Liberties (Toronto), Gaia House (Vancouver)

Three Dylans, one bar. This late-night hang brings together bartenders from across the country for a loose, high-energy shift with creative cocktails and a bit of chaos baked in at AMA Raw Bar, running from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

West by North West: April 19-21 @ Good Thief

Featuring: Le Mal Nécessaire (Montreal), Paper Lantern (Calgary), Bar Banane (Toronto)

Good Thief spotlights Canadian talent over three nights, with guest shifts from Montreal’s Le Mal Nécessaire (April 19), Calgary’s Paper Lantern (April 20), and Toronto’s Bar Banane (April 21). Expect a mix of experimental cocktails and strong hospitality, alongside “món nhậu” (Vietnamese tapas) designed to keep pace with the drinks.

Casa México: April 19-22 @ Chupito

Featuring: Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City), Licorería Limantour (Mexico City), Bar Mauro (Mexico City), Bijou Drinkery (Mexico City), Ahorita Cantina (Mexico City), Despacho (Mexico City), FORM+MATTER (Mexico City), Less is More (Mexico City), Slice of Life (Toronto), Bar Supernova (Vancouver)

Chupito transforms into Casa México for a four-day, all-day celebration of Mexico’s bar culture, bringing in some of the country’s most influential bars alongside a few local favourites. The programming runs from daytime seminars (ticketed) to public aperitivo hours (think $10 martinis and snacks) into nightly guest shifts featuring a rotating cast of top bartenders. It all builds to a late-night after-party on April 22, with DJs and back-to-back sets from visiting bars.

50 Best Signature Sessions: Pan-American Takeover: April 20 @ Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions

Featuring: Bon Vivants (Nassau), Kaito del Valle (Mexico City), Service Bar (Washington, DC)

A one-night-only takeover brings a cross-section of North America’s bar scene to Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions. Expect a tight menu of signature cocktails (around $20 each), plus music, food, and a packed room of industry insiders and in-the-know locals.

Sora 45 x Bar Raval: April 21 @ Como Taperia

Featuring: Sora 45 (Montreal), Bar Raval (Toronto)

Como Taperia hosts two back-to-back collaborations, pairing visiting bars with its Spanish-inspired menu. On April 20, Montreal’s Sora 45 steps in for an early evening shift before regular service resumes. On April 21, Toronto’s Bar Raval takes over.

Library Bar x Mother: April 21 @ Lobby Lounge & RawBar

Featuring: Library Bar (Toronto), Mother (Toronto)

Toronto’s Library Bar and Mother take over the Lobby Lounge for an afternoon of polished, ingredient-driven cocktails sure to pair well with the restaurant’s refined menu. 

East Coast Comes West: April 21 @ AMA Raw Bar

Featuring: Angel’s Share (New York City), The Cloakroom (Montreal), Sora 45 (Montreal)

A full East Coast takeover lands at AMA for one night only, with visiting bars from NYC and Montreal behind the bar. Expect an fun cocktail list alongside snacks like wagyu New York dawgs and Montreal smoked meat.

Guest shifts: April 21-22 @ L’Abattoir

Featuring: Clemente Bar (New York), Bar Madonna (New York)

Two New York bars take over L’Abattoir on back-to-back days. On April 21 Clemente Bar brings its art-driven, culinary-leaning cocktails to Gastown. On April 22, Bar Madonna steps in for a pre-awards aperitivo, serving up its playful take on Italian-American drinks as an easy lead-in to the night ahead.

Botanist Bar guest shifts: April 21-23 @ Fairmont Pacific Rim

Featuring: Zest (Seoul), Clemente Bar (New York City), ARCA (Tulum), Mecenas (Guadalajara)

Fairmont Pacific Rim is hosting a run of guest shifts at Botanist Bar, bringing in top talent from Seoul, New York, and Mexico. Highlights include Zest’s Vancouver debut with its sustainability-driven cocktails, a pre-awards appearance from NYC’s Clemente Bar, and a closing night six-course tasting menu with ARCA and Mecenas, alongside Botanist’s kitchen.

The Caribbean Cocktail Tour: April 2 @ Lobby Lounge & RawBar

Featuring: Library by the Sea (Puerto Rico), Bon Vivants (Nassau), La Factoría (San Juan)

The Lobby Lounge leans tropical with a Caribbean takeover, bringing together three standout bars for a lineup of bright, destination-inspired cocktails that pair easily with the lounge’s globally minded menu.