The 5th Australian Sake Awards was held in Sydney on 16 and 17 May 2026.

Following last year’s successful event, the judging was once again conducted at Wentworth Park Sporting Complex in Ultimo, a precinct known as a hub for education, technology and media.

Entries opened earlier this year and attracted 204 sake products from breweries across Japan as well as importers and distributors operating in Australia and overseas. In addition to sake entries, the Awards also introduced a new Umeshu category for the first time, further expanding the scope of the competition. Interest from breweries and industry participants continues to grow each year, resulting in a diverse range of sake and umeshu styles being represented.

This year’s judging panel consisted of experienced Australian industry professionals, including sommeliers, sake importers and retailers, hospitality professionals, and certified sake specialists. Alongside returning judges from previous years, a number of new judges participated, bringing fresh perspectives to the evaluation process.

The Australian Sake Awards was also honoured to welcome Dr. Muneyoshi Kanai from Japan’s National Research Institute of Brewing as a guest judge. Prior to the judging, Dr. Kanai delivered an online educational session for the judging panel, sharing his expertise and insights. During the Awards, he played an important role by providing guidance and contributing to discussions throughout the judging process.

As in previous years, judges worked in groups of six to seven around round tables, evaluating entries while exchanging opinions and observations. This judging format, introduced in 2023, has been highly regarded by participants for encouraging discussion and making the process more accessible for first-time judges, particularly during the food matching assessments.

The 2026 judging categories were:

• Sparkling
• Light & Crisp
• Fruity & Floral
• Rich & Full-Bodied
• Matured & Aged
• Umeshu

In addition, the Judge’s Choice Award was presented as a special award recognising products that demonstrated outstanding character and appeal beyond the boundaries of individual categories.

On the first day, category judging focused on aroma, flavour, balance and overall harmony within each entry’s nominated category.

The second day featured food matching assessments, where entries were evaluated alongside dishes selected by the entrants. This year’s food matching menu included:

• Caprese Salad
• Beer Battered Fish & Chips
• Thai Green Curry with Tofu & Vegetables
• Chinese 5 Spice Pork Belly
• Cheesecake

These pairings were designed to reflect dishes commonly enjoyed in Australia, highlighting the versatility of sake and its potential to complement a wide range of cuisines.

Over the two-day judging period, the Awards once again generated lively discussion and valuable discoveries, providing an opportunity to evaluate sake from the perspective of the Australian market. Feedback from judges and industry participants will continue to help shape the future development of the Awards.

For Japanese breweries and beverage businesses, the Australian Sake Awards aims to provide valuable insights into Australian consumer preferences and food pairing opportunities, helping support market development and future product innovation.

The full list of award-winning products can be viewed below:

The awards Gala Dinner is scheduled to be held in Sydney on Thursday, 10 September 2026, ahead of Sydney Sake Festival.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participating breweries, beverage businesses, judges and everyone involved in supporting the Australian Sake Awards 2026.