For over four decades, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) has been a staple event at the Colorado Convention Center, featuring rows of tables, fluorescent lighting, and a buzzing crowd of craft beer enthusiasts sampling small cups of brews. Established in 1982 by the Brewers Association, the GABF serves as a pivotal gathering for breweries to introduce new beers to a national audience, where accolades can dramatically transform a brewery’s fortunes.

In 2026, this iconic festival will undergo a significant transformation as it moves outdoors for the first time in its history. Scheduled for October 10 and 11, the GABF will take place at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park, marking a new chapter in its storied progression.

The relocation signifies more than just a venue change; it reflects a new outlook from the Brewers Association regarding the overall festival experience. Ann Obenchain, the association’s vice president of marketing and communications, emphasized that this move offers a chance to innovate and inject new energy into the event. She noted how it aligns with the evolving landscape of American craft beer.

Historically, GABF has mirrored the growth of craft beer in the United States, transitioning from a small, niche gathering to a major event that attracts thousands of attendees from across the country. The original concept of the festival was to unite breweries, offer a platform for competition, and familiarize the public with the diverse styles of craft beer.

As the craft beer scene thrived and more breweries emerged, the festival expanded significantly, with the Colorado Convention Center becoming a crucial venue to accommodate its growing popularity. Despite the shift toward educational programming and food pairings, the festival maintained its core format focused on dense and rapid tasting.

The new setting at Levitt Pavilion aims to provide a more relaxed atmosphere with open green spaces, enabling a broader range of activities beyond just tasting. This outdoor venue will facilitate live music, enhanced tasting areas, and a reimagined version of the festival’s PAIRED event, which will benefit from the open-air environment.

Even with these changes, the essential elements of the GABF will remain unchanged. The hundreds of participating breweries and the competitive medal component will still be integral to the festival. However, attendees can expect a different ambiance, with a less structured layout that encourages social gatherings and leisurely exploration.

The move to an outdoor venue also mirrors trends in consumer preferences, as attendees increasingly seek experiential events that foster community and social interaction rather than rapid beer sampling. As craft beer enters a new phase of evolution, the GABF adjusts accordingly, aiming to create a vibrant festival atmosphere that resonates with both long-term enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Tickets for the 2026 festival will be available starting in June, offering both veterans and newcomers a chance to experience what promises to be an exciting transformation in one of America’s most beloved beer festivals.