The 2026 AHA (Vic) State Awards were handed out at a sold-out ceremony at Crown Palladium on Monday night, where Victoria's top pubs and hotels were recognised for their excellence and achievement. The significant event acknowledges the hard work and dedication that owners, chefs, waitstaff and other stakeholders put in, which continues to make Melbourne's hospitality industry one of the city's most distinctive and attractive features. Paddy Sullivan, AHA (Vic) CEO, says, "A night like the State Awards for Excellence showcases the full spectrum of what makes Victoria's pubs and hotels so special. From inspiring leaders and innovative chefs to community champions and destination venues that locals are proud to call their own. Our industry simply cannot be successful without the significant contributions of our people. Young professionals are evolving their careers in hospitality, building skills and stepping into leadership roles, and it is their passion, professionalism and dedication that create the best possible customer experience in pubs and hotels right across Victoria every day." The numerous awards span everything from best chef to best parma, best venue manager to best regional pub restaurant, best bush pub to the heart of the community prize, and everything in between. The most prestigious award of the evening, the Nikakis Benchmark Award, which honours industry stalwart Nick Nikakis, was awarded to Rob Pitt from Hotel Sorrento. The People's Choice Award, which was contested by over 150 pubs and voted on by the general public, was awarded to The Oxford Scholar. A number of Melbourne's favourite venues took out important awards: The Fifth Province in St Kilda was awarded Best Live Entertainment Venue, The Terminus North in Fitzroy won Best Presented Beer, and the Corner Hotel in Richmond won Best Rooftop Experience. Other notable awards include the Best Cocktail Menu, which was awarded to The Yackandandah Hotel, the Overall Regional Hotel of the Year, which went to Macedon Village Hotel, the Chef of the Year, which went to Tony Twitchett of Taxi Kitchen, and the Best Metropolitan Pub Restaurant, which went to St Andrews Hotel in Fitzroy. Images: Supplied. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.