Why The Great American Beer Festival Is Moving Outdoors
Key takeaways
- Spirits Why The Great American Beer Festival Is Moving Outdoors The Great American Beer Festival—one of the largest beer festivals in the United States—has always been held indoors.
- Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
- The Great American Beer Festival is organized by the Brewers Association, the trade association representing America’s small and independent breweries.
Spirits Why The Great American Beer Festival Is Moving Outdoors The Great American Beer Festival—one of the largest beer festivals in the United States—has always been held indoors. For the first time ever, it will be held outdoors in 2026—rain, snow or shine.By Don Tse,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Don Tse is a beverage alcohol writer covering business and innovation.Follow Author Jun 11, 2026, 05:00pm EDTDenver's Levitt Pavilion will host the first ever outdoor edition of the Great American Beer Festivalcourtesy of Levitt PavilionWhen the Brewers Association first announced it was moving the Great American Beer Festival outdoors for the first time in the festival’s over-40-year history, there was much hand wringing over the unpredictability of Denver weather and whether the smaller size meant the beginning of the end of one of the country’s most famous beer festivals.
The Great American Beer Festival is organized by the Brewers Association, the trade association representing America’s small and independent breweries. It has been held in five different venues since its inaugural edition in 1982. Since 2000, the event, one of the largest beer festivals in the United States, has been held at the Colorado Convention Center.