The future of beer festivals is a favorite thought experiment among folks like me who spend way too much time pondering the state of the beer world. Beer festivals aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but it’s becoming pretty clear they can’t just keep doing things the way they always have. If festivals want to capture the fancy of the modern audience, they’re going to need a bit of a glow-up.
The Brewers Association, which organizes and operates the biggest, most ballyhooed beer festival in the United States, is thinking outside the box. Actually, thinking outside, period. For 2026, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is moving to an outdoor, open-air venue. For 26 years, the event took place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. In 2026, it will take place at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion.
“The 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.”
Levitt Pavilion is located in Denver’s Ruby Hill neighborhood, a few miles south of the Convention Center. The nonprofit music venue offers expansive green space, panoramic city views, and a built-in amphitheater that GABF organizers say will unlock 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.”
Event organizers promise that the spirit of GABF will remain the same, with hundreds of breweries pouring thousands of beers, and that it will still showcase award-winning craft beverages from producers across the nation. All the same GABF goodness now delivered with fresh air and more room to roam.
“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.”
The Brewers Association’s announcement noted that, 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 in June 2026. For more information or to sign up for ticket alerts, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.
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