Do you fancy tasting something different on a night out in Benidorm? From Friday 11 September, drinks take centre stage as bars and restaurants across the city compete to create this year’s best cocktail.
The V Concurso de Cocktails (Fifth Cocktail Competition) runs from 11 to 20 September as part of Benidorm Gastronomy 2026.
Each participating venue will serve two creations, one with alcohol and one without. The alcoholic cocktails cost €9, while the alcohol-free versions cost €7.
Better still, customers get a say in who wins.
Try a cocktail and cast your vote
Anyone trying one of the competition cocktails can scan the QR code at the venue and give it a score from one to five stars.
The cocktail receiving the highest public score will take the 2026 Public Special Mention.
Organisers will also put everyone who votes into a draw, with six vouchers for cocktails among the prizes.
A professional jury from the hospitality and cocktail sector will make its own choices. It will select the Jury Prize for Best Cocktail 2026 and the Best Alcohol-Free Cocktail 2026.
Where to try the cocktails
The competition gives you plenty of excuses to make your way around Benidorm over the ten days.
Participating venues are:
- Camarote Club Coctelería
- Diva 15
- Ku Lounge Café
- La Pinta Beach
- La Terrasse at Port Benidorm Hotel & Spa
- Malaspina
- Pinocchio Playa
- Shija Sabores de los Balcanes
- Urban Beach
Each venue has created its own alcoholic and alcohol-free entry, giving customers the chance to try different ideas before deciding which deserves their vote.
More food events to come
The cocktail competition forms part of the wider Benidorm Gastronomy 2026 programme, which spreads food and drink events across the year rather than concentrating everything into the summer.
Once the cocktail shakers go quiet, attention turns back to the kitchen.
The XV Jornadas de los Arroces de la Tierra (15th Local Rice Days) will run from 16 to 25 October.
Benidorm will then round off its 2026 gastronomic calendar from 26 to 29 November with the II Jornadas de ‘Menjars del Nostre Poble’ (Second ‘Food of Our Town’ Days).
For now, though, September belongs to the cocktail makers. With alcoholic and alcohol-free options in the competition, you do not need to order a boozy drink to join in, vote for your favourite and see how Benidorm’s bartenders measure up.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Benidorm’s V Concurso de Cocktails runs from 11 to 20 September.
- Participating venues will offer an alcoholic and an alcohol-free competition cocktail.
- Alcoholic cocktails cost €9 and alcohol-free versions cost €7.
- Customers can score cocktails from one to five stars using a QR code.
- Six cocktail vouchers will go to voters through a prize draw.
- A professional jury will choose the best cocktail and best alcohol-free cocktail.
- The published source says eight venues are taking part but names nine.
- Benidorm’s next gastronomic event starts on 16 October.
