The “Oscars of Brewing and Cider” 2026 medal winners will be announced in Manchester during the International Brewing & Cider Awards Trade Day event
- Guild Secretary
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Culminating the well-attended Trade Day Event organised by the BFBI as part of the International Brewing & Cider Awards, the 2026 medal winners will be announced live!
The event hosted at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, on Friday 6th March 2026, will bring together the most renowned brewers, cidermakers, buyers and industry professionals for a day of networking, tasting and celebration.
Running from 12.00pm to 4.30pm, the Trade Day offers exclusive access for industry attendees to sample the very best beers and ciders in the world, entered into the oldest and most respected international brewing and cider competitions, and believed to be the largest collection of beer and cider at any one event.
About the medal announcement, Ruth Evans MBE, Chief Executive of the BFBI and Director of the International Brewing and Cider Awards said: “After the hard work of judging, it is always exciting for our Chairmen of Judging to announce the medal winners. It is great to be able to open the doors to our fantastic, collaborative industry. There is nowhere in the world so many beers and ciders from around the world can be sampled. We also encourage all retailers to join us and, perhaps, find the next best selling beer or cider for their shelves.”
Highlight of the day, the medal announcement will take place at 1.00pm, giving attendees the first opportunity to celebrate the year’s standout producers and products.
New to the 2026 edition! Following the winners announcement, the event will transition into a relaxed celebration, opening its doors to ‘Friends of Trade’. This extended session allows industry professionals to invite family and friends to join them in celebrating their achievements, socialising with peers, and enjoying award-winning beers and ciders in a less formal setting.
Event Schedule
12.00pm – 4.30pm: Trade Day open
1.00pm: Live announcement of medal winners
4.30pm – 8.00pm: Friends of Trade celebration
8.00pm: Event close
Tickets
Trade Day Tickets (12.00pm – 4.30pm):From £12.50 + VAT for BFBi members
Trade Day tickets include access to the Friends of Trade event until 8.00pm.
Friends of Trade Tickets (from 4.30pm):
From £12.50 + VAT
Organised by the BFBI, the Trade Day and medal announcement forms a vital part of the International Brewing & Cider Awards calendar, following judging earlier in the week, and provides an invaluable opportunity for buyers, distributors and industry stakeholders to discover award-winning products, meet producers, and build meaningful commercial relationships.
With a heritage spanning more than a century, the International Brewing & Cider Awards are recognised globally as a benchmark of quality and excellence.
Judged by experienced brewers and cider makers from across the industry, the International Brewing and Cider Awards are a real career milestone for professionals worldwide, the true ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider industries.
For ticket information and further details, visit the official event page or the International Brewing & Cider Awards website. Click here to book your tickets
Notes to Editors
Contact press: For all media enquiries, please contact jodie.serlenga@bfbi.org.uk or press@tipplemarketing.com
About the Event:
International Brewing & Cider Awards Trade Day
Date: Friday 6th March 2026
Venue: Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Time: 12.00pm – 8.00pm
About International Brewing & Cider Awards
The International Brewing Awards is the longest established brewing competition in the world, having first been held in 1886. Since then, the competition has focussed upon searching out excellence and rewarding it across all styles of commercially brewed beer. The winning breweries are awarded medals and trophies from the world’s most professional tasting panel, composed exclusively of experienced commercial brewers.
Over its 140 year history, the competition has evolved with the global industry and made sure they are relevant and always keep up with the changes in the market.
Core attributes include:
Organised since 1886, the oldest international beer competition
Open to all types of beer
Structured into nine beer categories with 36 classes
With few classes, medals are difficult to win and therefore every win is that much more prestigious
Diversity and innovation as well as tradition are recognised through the alcohol strength categorisation
Judged only by professional brewers
Technical installation and stewarding are second to none
First established in 1901, The International Ciders Awards were reintroduced as an international recognition of excellence in cider production in 2013.
An award is a recognition by fellow professional cider makers that a cider is an outstanding commercial example of its style.
The superb technical installation including cider in bottle, can, bag in box, cask and keg ensures integrity of product, dispensed to the judges at the cider maker’s recommended temperature.
All judges are currently practising cider makers from around the world, and our stewards are trained to ensure integrity of pour and dispense to the judges. With 9 categories within 3 trophies there is a place for every cider, with every cider having a chance of winning - even those new or innovative variations on styles.
Website: https://www.brewingawards.org/
Socials: @intbrewingciderawards
Contact press: For all media enquiries, please contact jodie.serlenga@bfbi.org.uk or press@tipplemarketing.com
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