Lisbon, Portugal
October 11-17th, 2026
Venue: Sheraton Lisboa
ASI CONTEST BEST SOMMELIER OF THE WORLD 2026
SCHEDULE //
for delegates and guests!
(program is subject to potential changes)
*The detailed program for candidates will be sent out separately to all the candidates from the SCC.
Please find HERE the Programme and the available packages.
October 11th, 2026: Arrivals & Registration
13:00 – 17:00: Check-in for participants and
delegations
13:00 – 17:00: Welcome fair for partners
Venue: Rooms White Plains 3, 4, and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
19:30 – 21:00: Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner
Venue: City Hall
Dress code: business casual
20:00 – 01:30: Bar des Sommeliers
Venue: Sheraton Hotel
* All participants are required to attend all activities organized by the Sommelier Association of Portugal (AEP)
October 12th, 2026: Day 1 of Quarterfinals
CANDIDATES ONLY (final program for candidates to be sent by the SCC)
08:15 – 08:15: Group photo for candidates
Venue: tbc
08:15 – 09:00: Registration of candidates
Venue: tbc
09:00 – 18:00: Welcome speech and start of the
¼ Finals
Venue: New Orleans 1, 2 and 3 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
12:30 – 14:00 : Lunch with Casa Relvas
Venue: Panorama room, Sheraton hotel
14:00 – 18:00: continuation* of the quarter-finals
Venue: New Orleans 1, 2 and 3 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
*Whenever finished with their quarterfinals, candidates must attend the masterclasses
14:00 Individual portraits of candidates upon completion of the quarterfinals
PRESIDENTS/ DELEGATES/ GUESTS
09:30 – 10:30: Masterclass: Aveleda
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
11:00 – 12:00: Masterclass: CVR Lisboa
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch with Casa Relvas
Venue: Panorama room, Sheraton hotel
14:30 – 15:30: Masterclass : Phelan Segur
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
16:00 – 17:00: Masterclass: Diam
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
16:30 – 17:30: Masterclass: Champagne
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
20:00: Dinner
Venue: tbc
Dress code: business casual
20:00 – 01:30: Bar des Sommeliers
Venue: Sheraton hotel
October 13th, 2026: Day 2 of Quarterfinals
CANDIDATES ONLY (final program for candidates to be sent by the SCC)
09:00 – 18:00: Continuation of the ¼ Finals
Venue: New Orleans 1, 2 and 3 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
12:30 – 14:00 : Lunch
Venue: Panorama room, Sheraton Hotel
14:00 – 18:00: continuation* of the quarter-finals
Venue: New Orleans 1, 2 and 3 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
*Whenever finished with their quarterfinals, candidates must attend the masterclasses
14:00 Individual portraits of candidates upon completion of the quarterfinals
PRESIDENTS/ DELEGATES/ GUESTS
09:30 – 10:30: Masterclass
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
11:00 – 12:00: Masterclass : Beira Interior and Bairrada
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch with CVR Tavora-Varosa Murganheira
Venue: Panorama room, Sheraton Hotel
14:30 – 15:30: Masterclass : CVR Alentejo
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
16:00 – 17:00: Masterclass: Austrian Wine, Austria: A Paradise of Diversity
By Stefan Neumann MS
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
17:30 – 18:30: Masterclass: Kopke, Port Reimagined – The Role of Port Wine in Contemporany Sommelierie
By Carlos Alves and Priscila Haddad
Venue: White Plains 4 and 5 rooms at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
20:00: Gérard Basset Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Dinner
Venue: tbc
Dress code: smart business attire/elegant dress for women
20:00 – 01:30: Bar des Sommeliers
Venue: Sheraton Hotel
October 14th, 2026: Announcement of semifinalists
ALL GUESTS
09:30-10:30 Masterclass: Perlage Water
Venue: Rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
11:00-12:00 Masterclass: Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association
How Sake Completes the Sommelier’s
Toolkit
By Michael Tremblay
Venue: Rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch with Château d’Esclans
Venue: tbc
13:40: Oeiras, Masterclass at the Marquês de Pombal
Palace
Venue: Carcavelos Vineyard, Forte da Torre
Dress code: smart casual
19:30: Dinner at the Marquês de Pombal Palace: Announcement of the semifinalists
20:00 – 01:30: Bar des Sommeliers
Venue: Sheraton Hotel
October 15th, 2026: Semifinals Day
SEMI-FINALISTS ONLY:
09:00 – 18:00: ½ Finals
Venue: Rooms New Orleans 1, 2 and 3 at the Sheraton Hotel.
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch
Venue: Panorama room, Sheraton Hotel
PRESIDENT, NON-COMPETING CANDIDATES, GUESTS
09:30-10:30 Masterclass
Venue: rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
11:00-12:00 Masterclass: Vinhos Verdes
Venue: rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
12:00-12:30 Individual photo session of the quarterfinalists with the ASI President
Venue: in front of rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch
4 Madeira wines presentation by Justino’s from 13:15 to 14:00
Venue: Panorama room, Sheraton Hotel
14:30 – 16:00: Masterclass: Wines of Portugal, Hidden Gems
By Dirceu Vianna Jr MW
Mandatory for all non-competing contestants and presidents
Venue: rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
16:30 – 18:00: Masterclass IVDP: Diversoty of Port & Douro
By Manuel Lima Ferreira (Head of the Tasting Department at IVDP, IP) and Paulo Russell-Pinto (Wine Educator at IVDP, IP).
Mandatory for all non-competing contestants and presidents
Venue: rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
19:00: FREE DINNER
20:00 – 01:30: Bar des Sommeliers
Venue: Sheraton Hotel
October 16th, 2026: Finals Day
09:30 – 10:30: Masterclass: SoGrape, Portugal: A Country of Diversity
By Dr. António Graça
Mandatory for all contestants and presidents
Venue: Rooms White Plains 4 and 5 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Dress code: smart casual
11:15: Departure for the Coliseu dos Recreios
11:30 – 14:15: Wine fair at the Coliseu dos Recreios
12:00-13:30 Lunch
Venue: Coliseu
14:30 – 17:30: Finals of ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2026
Venue: Coliseu dos Recreios
Dress code: business formal
17:30 – 18:00: Announcement of Results
18:00 – 18:30: Press Conference (for winner, finalists and jury)
18:00: Return to Sheraton Hotel
19:00: Departure for the Carlos Lopes Pavilion
19:30 – 20:00: Partner photo call (winner, finalists, partners)
19:30 – 20:00: Welcome cocktail reception
Venue: Carlos Lopes Pavilion
20:00 – 00:00: Gala dinner
Venue: Carlos Lopes Pavilion
Dress code: smart business attire/elegant dress for women
October 17th, 2026: Departures Day
Departure day or you are welcome to extend your stay in Portugal!