Great American Beer Fest to move outdoors

Brewers Association shifts iconic craft beer event to new outdoor venue in Denver

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:15pm

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The Boulder-based Brewers Association is moving the 2026 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) from its longtime indoor home at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver to the Levitt Pavilion, an outdoor venue about five miles south in Denver's Ruby Hilly neighborhood. The festival will be held October 10-11, 2026.

Why it matters

The GABF is one of the craft beer industry's biggest annual events, drawing thousands of beer enthusiasts and showcasing hundreds of breweries. Moving the festival outdoors represents a significant evolution for the event, allowing organizers to "reimagine what's possible" and provide a more immersive, communal experience for attendees.

The details

The Brewers Association, which organizes the GABF, says the move to the outdoor Levitt Pavilion venue will "bring fresh energy to the festival and provide an experience that feels uniquely Colorado." The new location will invite attendees to "explore, discover, and celebrate craft beer in a completely new way" by gathering with friends and enjoying beer and good times together on the lawn.

  • The 2026 GABF will be held October 10-11, 2026.

The players

Brewers Association

The Boulder-based trade group that organizes the Great American Beer Festival.

Levitt Pavilion

An outdoor music venue in Denver's Ruby Hilly neighborhood that will host the 2026 GABF.

Ann Obenchain

Vice president of marketing and communications for the Brewers Association.

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What they’re saying

“Great American Beer Festival has always reflected where American craft beer is headed. 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.”

— Ann Obenchain, Vice president of marketing and communications (Brewers Association)

What’s next

The Brewers Association will begin planning the logistics and programming for the 2026 outdoor GABF, which will be held October 10-11, 2026.

The takeaway

The move of the iconic Great American Beer Festival to an outdoor venue in Denver represents an evolution for one of the craft beer industry's premier annual events. By embracing a more communal, immersive experience, the Brewers Association aims to "reimagine what's possible" and provide attendees with a uniquely Colorado celebration of craft beer.