Great American Beer Festival® Heads Outdoors for the First Time

In 2026, the iconic festival will be held at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion

Boulder, CO | January 27, 2026 — The Great American Beer Festival®(GABF®) is stepping outside. In a historic first, the nation’s favorite craft beer celebration will move outdoors on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2026, relocating from the Colorado Convention Center to Denver’s Levitt Pavilion.

The move signals a bold new chapter for GABF, blending its legendary beer lineup with live music, open skies, and a more immersive festival experience.

“Great American Beer Festival has always reflected where American craft beer is headed,” said Ann Obenchain, vice president of marketing and communications of the Brewers Association. “Taking the festival outdoors lets us reimagine what’s possible and we’re excited to bring fresh energy to the festival and provide an experience that feels uniquely Colorado.”

Located in Denver’s Ruby Hill neighborhood, Levitt Pavilion is a nonprofit music venue offering expansive green space, panoramic city views, and a built-in amphitheater that unlocks new creative possibilities, from live music to open-air tasting zones, and an evolved PAIRED event.

"Levitt Pavilion is proud to be the new host venue for the Great American Beer Festival, and to welcome the festival's many brewers, partners, and attendees to Ruby Hill Park this fall," said Meghan McNamara, executive director of Levitt Pavilion Denver. "Our founding purpose is to build community through music and shared experiences, and partnering with the Brewers Association expands that vision for both our organizations."

The setting may be new, but the spirit of GABF remains unmistakable: hundreds of breweries, thousands of beers, and a nationwide showcase of award-winning craft beverages, now amplified by fresh air, room to roam, and a renewed social spirit that only an outdoor festival can deliver.

“This isn’t just a venue change for us, it’s an evolution,” Obenchain added. “We’ve listened to our attendees and we’re creating an outdoor festival that invites people to explore, discover, and celebrate craft beer in a completely new way—one that’s all about gathering your friends, finding your spot on the lawn, and enjoying great beer and good times together.”

After more than four decades as a cornerstone of American beer culture, GABF’s move outdoors signals a time of adaptation for craft beer, and a future that’s bold, vibrant, and open to change. Tickets will go on sale starting June 2026. For more information or to sign up for ticket alerts, visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.

EVENT DETAILSDates:

October 10 and 11, 2026

Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Levitt Pavilion, Denver

Tickets: Starting at $60. On sale June 2026.

###

About the Brewers Association    

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 9,500-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol differentiating beers from small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events, including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference^™ & BrewExpo America^®,  and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer^® magazine, and Brewers Publications^® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com^®. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

Media kit with imagery here

Contact: jessie.vandenhouten@backbone.media

Third-party news items that are posted on the Guild website come from press releases and emails received by the Guild. These are posted as they have been received. Their publication on the Guild website is an informational service only and is neither an endorsement of the content, nor its sender, by the Guild. For enquiries, please use the contact details that can be found at the bottom of each post.