Brewing Bigger Change: IWCBD 2026 Raises £33,889 for Women's Causes Across 88 Brew Days Worldwide
- Guild Secretary
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) has delivered its biggest year yet. In 2026, 88 brew days took place across the UK and internationally, bringing together 1,153 participants, producing 93 brand-new beers, and raising an outstanding £33,889 for women's causes - a 25% increase on last year.
Now in its second year under the stewardship of Women On Tap CIC - the UK-based social enterprise championing gender equality in beer - IWCBD has grown into a genuine global movement. From local taprooms in Yorkshire to brewery collectives in Switzerland, South Africa, Canada and the USA, the annual International Women's Day brew event has become one of the most meaningful campaigns in the independent beer calendar.
The headline numbers tell a story of momentum:
• 88 brew days across multiple countries (up from 61 in 2025)
• 1,153 participants taking part (up from 837)
• 93 beers brewed (up from 66)
• £33,889 raised for women's causes worldwide (up from £26,921)
• 30 WSET Level 1 Beer Award qualifications fully funded (up from 18)
• 15 bursary recipients supported through the Women On Tap Bursary Scheme - a brand new milestone
Participating breweries were asked to commit to donating a minimum of £100 to a women's cause of their choosing, with funds flowing to a breadth of organisations. Domestic abuse charities, women’s aid networks, freedom and empowerment projects, and industry-specific bodies all received donations, from StrutSafe and Solace Women’s Aid, to Women in Beer UK, Pink Boots Society, Freedom 4 Girls, and Women for Refugee Women.
Of the 75 brew days that completed the post-campaign report, 62 were UK-based and 13 were international, with projects in the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, South Africa and the Cayman Islands.
Women On Tap CIC founder, Rachel Auty said “The growth we’ve seen in 2026 is genuinely extraordinary, but what moves me most isn’t the numbers, it’s the stories. Women coming together in breweries, taking up space, supporting each other, and turning their passion for beer into lasting impact for the causes that need us. This is exactly what IWCBD is for.”
Good for business, not just the cause
Post-campaign survey results make a compelling case for IWCBD participation beyond the charitable dimension. Of breweries that responded:
• 70% reported IWCBD had a positive impact on their brand and public profile
• 38% said their IWCBD beer was meaningfully easier to sell
• 85% confirmed they will sign up again for 2027
Participating brewery, Bristol Beer Factory, captured it plainly: “It isn’t an understatement to say it revolutionised the way the (male) sales team approach new beer projects due to the fast sell-out rate and internal staff happiness that was a direct result of the IWD brew and marketing activities.”
Kayleigh Bell from Pillars Brewery explained why IWCBD is important:
“Representation in the brewing industry doesn’t happen by accident, and events like IWCBD are part of how the culture shifts. It builds real relationships between our brewery and the women who join us to brew - these women are all collaborators, advocates, and future ambassadors for the industry we love.”
Susi Lutz from b.i.e.r. Verein, Switzerland, added: “IWCBD matters because it brings women together around something that has long been a male-dominated space: the brewery. Every year, we learn from each other, we brew something we’re proud of, and we turn that beer into real change.”
Looking ahead to 2027
With 85% of this year’s participants already confirming their return, plans for IWCBD 2027 are taking shape. Initial ‘commitment to brew’ sign-ups are expected to open in autumn 2026, with Women On Tap continuing to develop the campaign’s international reach, its partnerships, and its bursary programme.
Sponsorship opportunities for 2027 are now open. Organisations interested in aligning with one of the most impactful campaigns in independent beer should get in touch directly.
With thanks to our partners
IWCBD 2026 would not have been possible without the support of our partners. Thank you to headline partner the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), whose backing has been instrumental in the campaign’s growth; to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), whose ongoing commitment to funding qualifications for women in beer is creating lasting change; and to Simpsons Malt, whose continued support helps make this campaign possible year after year.
Notes to Editors
Women On Tap CIC is a UK-based Community Interest Company working to advance gender equality in the beer and brewing industry. It runs IWCBD, a national bursary programme, beer education events, and campaigns advocating for women and non-binary people in beer.
The International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) was first created by Sophie de Ronde of Burnt Mill Brewery in 2014. Women On Tap CIC took on the campaign from 2025 onwards. IWCBD takes place annually around International Women’s Day (8 March).
All figures cited are drawn from the IWCBD 2026 post-campaign participant survey. 75 of 88 IWCBD 2026 projects completed the final report (85%), and three respondents had not yet confirmed final donation totals at time of publication; the 1,153 participants and the £33,889 figure may therefore be a slight understatement.
For media enquiries, interview requests, or further information
Rachel Auty, Women On Tap CIC