Find out what’s shaking on ‘Cocktail Wars’
Find out what’s shaking on ‘Cocktail Wars’
The new reality competition series is hosted by old friends Lance Bass and Joey Fatone.
Who’s thirsty? If your adult beverage menu has gotten a little stale and you’re looking to shake things up this summer, check out the series premiere of “Cocktail Wars” on E! on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 10 p.m. ET. Hosted by former *NSYNC members Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, the reality series will follow along as top American cocktail artists compete in a series of challenges that showcase their creativity and technique. Our favorite choice for watching the new series is with a subscription to DIRECTV’s MyEntertainment Genre Pack.
How to watch the ‘Cocktail Wars’ series premiere
- When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET
- TV: E!
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial of DIRECTV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘Cocktail Wars’
When do new episodes of ‘Cocktail Wars’ premiere?
The first two episodes of “Cocktail Wars” will air back-to-back on E! on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 10 p.m. ET. Following the premiere, one episode will air each week on the channel in the same time slot.
Why watch ‘Cocktail Wars’ with a DIRECTV subscription?
DIRECTV’s MyEntertainment subscription is the way to go if you want to stream episodes of “Cocktail Wars” each week. The plan costs just $43 per month and comes with a mix of more than 60 cable entertainment and news networks — though no sports or local channels are available in the plan.
A MyEntertainment subscription also includes on-demand entertainment from AMC+, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu, unlocking a huge bonus cache of TV shows and movies to enjoy. Watch “Cocktail Wars” on E! and a ton of other in-demand programming with the MyEntertainment plan, and get a five-day free trial as a new subscriber, too.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch the ‘Cocktail Wars’ premiere for free?
DIRECTV’s free trial can be used to watch the show’s series premiere, but there are other services that offer trials and include E! in their plans. Fubo has E! in the Pro and Elite plans, and it comes with a trial that lasts between one and seven days, depending on factors including what time of month you subscribe. Hulu + Live TV includes a three-day trial. After the trial ends, its channel package costs $90 per month, with the Disney Bundle included. YouTube TV offers a trial between two and 21 days and includes E! in its core plan, as well as various genre plans from the streamer.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| E! | + $22 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | - | ✓ | + $18 | |
Watch the trailer for ‘Cocktail Wars’ on E!
Learn more about the first season of ‘Cocktail Wars’
“Cocktail Wars” will assemble a lineup of expert mixologists and pit them against each other in a series of clever challenges. Every shake, stir, or splash could be the twist that moves them through to the next round, or send them packing. The drinks are strong, but it’s the bragging rights that really count.
Hosted by Bass and Fatone, the series will also feature a list of celebrity judges, including Melissa Gorga, Lauren Graham, Seth Green, Rachel Maddow, Devon Walker, and many more. There’s a $10,000 prize on the line each week, and audiences have the chance to brush up on their own cocktail-mixing skills, too!
