A warm July evening, the scent of fresh hops hanging in the air, music pumping from DJ booths, and more than 100 breweries ready to pour! The London Craft Beer Festival 2026 got off to exactly the kind of start every festivalgoer hopes for.
We spent the evening making our way through the event, tasting new beers, meeting new breweries, and soaking up an atmosphere that never seemed to slow down. Every corner of the park had something happening, yet the event still felt easy to explore.
Long queues were rare, the crowd stayed in great spirits, and the mix of breweries offered something for every palate. Nights like this are a reminder of why British craft beer continues to thrive.
A Little Background on the London Craft Beer Festival
The London Craft Beer Festival has earned its reputation as the UK’s premier celebration of craft beer, and it is easy to see why.
Every year, the event brings together more than 100 breweries pouring over 800 beers, attracting everyone from curious newcomers to seasoned beer enthusiasts and industry veterans. Growth has been steady over the years, as each edition welcomes more breweries, bigger crowds, and an even broader mix of styles to discover.
Industry credibility also runs deep thanks to the dedicated trade session, where brewers, suppliers, and professionals connect before the public arrives.
The move to Southwark Park for this year’s edition added even more space, giving the festival a relaxed, open-air feel that suited the occasion perfectly.
Everything You Need to Know About the London Craft Beer Festival 2026
Here are essential details that made getting around the event simple and helped us make the most of the evening.
Dates and Sessions
The festival ran on 17–18 July 2026 across two distinct sessions:
- Trade Session – This was held on Friday, July 17, from 10:30 am–4:00 pm, reserved for breweries, suppliers, and industry professionals.
- Public Sessions – These sessions included Friday Night (5:30–10:30 pm), Saturday Afternoon (11:00 am–4:00 pm), and Saturday Night (5:30–10:30 pm).
Tickets
Ticket costs were as follows:
- Standard Entry: £64.50 + £6 booking fee (Groups of four received £5 off each ticket)
- Fast Track Entry: £69.50 + £6 booking fee
Standard ticket holders could add a Fast Track Upgrade for £10.
What’s Included
Every ticket for the London Craft Beer Festival in Southwark Park covered:
- Unlimited tasting pours
- A souvenir glass
- Live music
- Plenty of food options from local street food pop-ups
Considering everything included, the standard ticket offered excellent value, especially since the beer pours never stopped.
List of London Craft Beer Festival Breweries We Met
After a few hours, our souvenir glass had definitely earned its keep. We visited 25 brewery stalls, sampled everything from crisp lagers to tart fruit beers, and chatted with brewers on their stands. Aside from beer tasting, London Craft Beer Festival 2026 was also about meeting the people behind it.
Photos from our evening are included throughout this section to give you a peek at how the festival was booth by booth:
1. Tiny Rebel
Tiny Rebel arrived from Newport, Wales, with the same playful spirit that has defined the brewery since 2012. Famous for Cwtch and crowd favourites Clwb Tropica and Easy Livin’, the team showcased beers that balance bold flavours with broad appeal. Their stand stayed busy all evening.
2. Mad Squirrel Brewery
Mad Squirrel continues to push creative boundaries. Their Shamrock and Sumo offered two completely different experiences, each packed with personality. Curious drinkers had plenty to smile about here.
3. Brixton Brewery
Brixton Brewery proudly represented South London. We particularly enjoyed the Electric Tropical Lager, which delivered bright fruit character while staying wonderfully refreshing. Another beer worth revisiting!
Brixton stood out as one of the festival’s biggest crowd-pullers. Their colourful seating area made it easy to settle in, but the real magnet was the DJ spinning a lively mix of R&B and club anthems.
Festivalgoers kept dancing between sips. It was hard to walk past without joining the fun!
4. JUBEL
Jubel has carved out its own space by blending beer and fruit in a way that feels surprisingly refreshing. Famous for its beer-lemonade concept, the range offered a light, crisp alternative to hop-forward styles. Many people fell in love with it instantly.
Jubel also drew a lively crowd throughout the festival, thanks to the DJ performing beside its stall. The upbeat music created a fun vibe that encouraged people to stop, grab a drink, and soak up the energy!
5. Orbit Beers
Orbit Beers brought elegant European brewing traditions to South London. Clean lagers and Belgian-inspired styles demonstrated impressive precision without sacrificing character. Simple done exceptionally well.
6. St. Ives Brewery
Cornwall’s coastline lives in every pint from St. Ives Brewery. Their beers reflected a strong sense of place and proved popular among drinkers looking for classic styles brewed with care. Their Cornish pride was indeed unmistakable!
7. Harbour Brewing Co
Harbour Brewing brought another excellent Cornish lineup. Their Pilsner and IPA were excellent, but the juicy Peach Lager completely won us over! We enjoyed it so much that we returned for (many) more pours.
8. Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery remains one of craft beer’s global success stories. Brooklyn Lager still drinks beautifully after all these years, showing exactly why it remains an international benchmark. Familiar never felt boring.
9. Hackney Church Brew Co.
Community sits at the heart of Hackney Church Brew Co. Their British Summer Time and Gazpacho drinks showcased a brewery happy to brew for everyone.
10. Brew York
Brew York’s colourful branding attracted plenty of attention. Creative recipes backed up the eye-catching presentation, making this one of the busiest stands we visited. Their reputation clearly travels well beyond Yorkshire.
11. Pillars Brewery
London’s lager specialists reminded us that precision matters. Pillars Pilsner delivered crisp malt character, refreshing bitterness, and flawless balance. Lager lovers had plenty to celebrate here.
12. Rodenbach
Rodenbach offered a distinctive change of pace with Fruitage, a crisp, fruit-forward aperitif that was made for sipping in the sunshine. At 3.4% ABV, it was light, vibrant, and packed with natural flavours – definitely one for drinkers keen to explore beyond traditional British styles.
13. Keltek Brewery
Keltek proudly represented Cornwall with traditional ales brewed thoughtfully and consistently. Their dedication to classic brewing methods still attracts loyal fans. Sometimes simplicity speaks for itself.
14. Fierce Beer
Aberdeen’s Fierce Beer lived up to its name. Bold flavours, creative recipes, and striking branding combined into one memorable stop. Every beer brought something distinctive to the glass.
15. Sandford Orchards
Excellent cider deserved its place alongside the beer being served in Southwark! Sandford Orchards poured outstanding Blackberry Cider that quickly became one of our favourite drinks of the evening. We happily joined the queue a few times for more glasses!
16. Sagrado
Sagrado introduced us to a lightly sparkling agave drink inspired by ancient Pulque traditions. Fresh, invigorating, and genuinely different, it stood apart from everything else we tasted. Small stand, big recommendation!
17. Big Hug Brewing
Big Hug Brewing embodies its name perfectly. Friendly people poured approachable beers packed with flavour, creating one of the most welcoming stops of the evening. Great conversations came naturally here.
18. Full Circle Brew Co
Newcastle’s Full Circle Brew Co. continues building an impressive reputation. Modern branding matched polished beers that balanced drinkability and flavour. Definitely one to keep watching.
19. Signature Brew
Music and beer remain inseparable at Signature Brew. Their award-winning lineup reflected years of collaboration with artists while maintaining exceptional brewing standards. Great music and creative energy also surrounded the stand all night.
20. Jiddler’s Tipple
This carbon-negative brewery impressed us with its easy-drinking, lower-ABV beers. Every brew focuses on flavour and balance, while the vintage shirt-inspired artwork makes the cans instantly recognisable. The passion behind the brand is indeed clear to see.
21. Gravity Theory Cider
Gravity Theory also proved cider had every right to stand alongside the beer. Inspired by Isaac Newton’s famous apple story, the range balanced modern craft ideas with classic cider-making. A unique change of pace, and a striking display at the event.
22. Whitebox Cocktails
Whitebox Cocktails’ canned cocktails delivered bar-quality flavour and complexity in a convenient format, making them a great option between beer tastings. It was a clever addition for anyone looking to mix things up without compromising on quality.
23. Bluntrock Brewery
Cornwall’s Bluntrock Brewery’s fervour for quality ingredients and thoughtful brewing came through immediately, producing delightful beers that exhibited both modern ideas and traditional craftsmanship. Another independent brewery well worth discovering!
24. Attic Brew Co.
Attic Brew Co. proves that some of the best ideas really do start in an attic. What began as a passion project has grown into the West Midlands’ largest independent brewery, and that underdog spirit still shines through in every pour.
25. The Indian Brewery
The Indian Brewery also added a pleasant twist to the festival lineup with beers inspired by South Asian flavours. Their Juicy Mango Pale without a doubt caught our attention, offering tropical fruit notes that were bright, juicy, and almost too easy to keep sipping!
Their stand quickly became one of those places where people lingered for “just one more” before moving on.
…And So Many More…
It’s important to mention that these were just the breweries we had the chance to chat with…but trust us, we sampled plenty more along the way. Big names like Budvar, Vault City, and Paulaner also kept the pints flowing, and every stand welcomed festivalgoers with genuine exuberance and a passion for great beer.
This session lasted five hours, yet the energy never dipped. Crowds packed the stands from start to finish, with brewers happily talking through their latest creations one pour at a time.
Judging by the buzzing ambience all weekend, it’s no surprise the festival welcomed around 20,000 beer lovers through its gates.
That’s a Wrap for London Craft Beer Festival 2026
London Craft Beer Festival 2026 truly captured what a summer festival vibe should be. Outstanding breweries brought a vibrant atmosphere to life, proving that creativity and passion are alive and well in the craft beer industry.
Friendly security, DJ booths keeping the energy high, festival-goers dancing between tastings, a busy food court, and relaxed crowds all combined to make the evening feel effortless from start to finish.
If you missed this year’s festival, now is the perfect time to start planning for 2027. Until then, we’ll continue bringing you the latest brewery news, festival coverage, and industry updates from across the world.
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