GABF moves outdoors to Levitt Pavilion in 2026

The annual Great American Beer Festival, one of the nation’s largest craft beer celebrations, is headed outdoors for the first time.

Why it matters: Organizers want to inject fresh energy into the 43-year-old event as interest in both the festival and craft beer declines.

Driving the news: GABF is moving from the Colorado Convention Center to the Levitt Pavilion concert venue across town in Denver, the Boulder-based Brewers Association announced Tuesday.

  • The pavilion features a large stage and a sloping grass field.
  • Other details are undecided, particularly whether the event will feature beverages other than beer, as it did in 2025.

The big picture: The shift is based on consumer feedback and a desire to reinvigorate an event that saw falling attendance in recent years, compared to the sold-out sessions at the height of the craft beer boom a decade ago…

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