Our festival and special events calendar is packed with great beer happenings across Belgium and the neighbourhood. Top of the list: the Idiot’s own Belgium Beer Week’s 7th edition, 24-30 August 2026. Bars, brewers and event organisers here and worldwide host their own events in celebration of Belgian beer culture, recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of humankind.
A quick heads-up: dates, venues and line-ups can change, so always double-check with the organiser’s own site before you head out. It happens! Spotted a missing festival or an error on our part? We’re Idiots, after all — drop us a line at contact@idiots.beer and we’ll sort it out. Here’s to another incredible year of great beer and even better company. 🍻
November 6-7: Stout sure Meuse
Namur Capitale de la Bière hosts a showcase of about 50 beers of both the dark art and sour beers. Stouts and sours are the mix at La Nef (2 Rue Saint-Nicolas) in Namur, always a great place to visit.
November 7-8: Bière a Lille (BAL) Le Grand Final 2026
We list this here as it is such an incredible festival and showcase of French and international beer. They even have a special section for Belgian brewers. Video: Nicolas Lescieux of l’Échappée Bière, one of the organisers of the Bière a Lille (BAL), talks about the growth of craft beer in France and takes us on a walk among some of the brewers. The festival hosts events from 4-10 November with the beer fest on the weekend at Gare Saint-Sauveur.
November 13-14: Billie’s Craft Beer Fest
Tickets go fast at Stéfan Cauwenbergs’ world-famous Billie’s Craft Beer Fest at Waagnatie Expo & Events, in Antwerp, Belgium. It is one price and what you can taste. Certainly, it is not to be missed. Facebook.
November 28: Winters Bierfestival
Winters Bierfestival is organised by Waregemse Bwiniervrienden, a group of friends that have been brewing together in Waregem, where the festival is held. It features 11 brewers this year.
December 12-13: Kerstbierfestival, Essen
Kerstbierfestival ends the year with some heavy beers and drinking in Essen. Tickets run out fast as the space is limited and it is one of the great beer events in Belgium. Some 200+ Christmas beers are featured. Tickets presales from September 1.
Beer Festivals 2027
March 20-21: The Beer Experience
In 2022 we went to the inaugural edition of The Beer Experience at the old colliery buildings in Heusden-Zolder (Limburg) and again in 2023. The festival combines craft beer with music, talks, and food surrounded by the historical equipment of the former coal mine. It features some of Belgium’s best craft and artisanal breweries. Not to be confused with the Beer Experience expo held in February.
Beer Festivals 2026 (completed) – to be updated for 2027
February 20-22: Week-End Bières Spéciales à Sohier
Sohier puts on the 30th edition of this festival featuring about 100 beers, making it one of the oldest beer festivals in Belgium. It is a bit out of the way in Wallonia so plan your trip accordingly. Facebook.
February 23: Beer Experience expo
This expo featuring 50+ exhibitors is being held at De Koninck brewery from 11-19h. It is hosted by Becomev, which also runs the Brussels Beer Challenge.
March 7: Illegaal Feestjes
This festival by Brasserie Illegaal is true to form – the brewery is devoted to funding/supporting the arts in what they call ‘brewing for culture’ and this year features a host of musicians. The music finishes at 5 am so bring your dancing boots.
March 8: Indoor Beer Festival
A winter fest run by the people behind the Bierfestival Mechelen.
March 21: Ostara Craft Beer Fest
This is a new festival for 2026, hosted by La Source at its location in Brussels and featuring the Brussels clutch of brewers plus some friends (Misery, Dok and others): 1B2T, Brasserie des Beaux Jours, Borinage, CoHop (Jannine, La Bagarre, La Flaque, Witloof), Drink Drink, Dok Brewing Co, Illegaal, Et l’Amère Fût, La Jungle, La Senne, La Source, L’Ermitage, Mazette, Misery Beer, Surrealiste, Tilquin, Tipsy Tribe, Totem, Uncharted, Zythologist.
This 8th edition takes place at the Grand-Place of Louvain-la-Neuve from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm each day and features 20 brewers and 70 beers.
March 29: Lichtaarts Bierfestival
About 100 beers are on the menu at this local fest in Lichtaart. Everyone is welcome on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Ligahof in Lichtaart from 2 p.m.
March 30: Kastels Bierfestival
Set in Kasterlee, this festival is organised by Kastelse Biervereniging, a group of homebrewers who have produced four beers so far.
April 2-7, 2027: Hoppe Craft Beer Festival
This festival features cans and bottles of Belgian and international beers and encourages bottle sharing at the GC De MARc/kT in the center of Merksplas.
April 19-20: Fest’ IPA
This celebration of IPA styles features about 50 beers and is held at La Nef in Namur, Belgium.
April 20: Zwanze Day
Cantillon is now holding Zwanze Day every two years in alternation with Quintessence. Zwanze was cancelled in 2023 and is being held in 2024, followed by Quintessence in 2025. Zwanze day marks the release of a special geuze at the same time at selected bars in Belgium and around the world. In the video Jean Van Roy, Cantillon’s owner and brewer, speaks about the reason he started Zwanze day.
April 30: Weerdse Bierfeesten
April 27: Koerselse Biermarkt
The Koerselse Biermarkt is held in Beringen, Belgium and offers 100 beers to taste and entertainment, including live bands and an annual football tournament.
May (no date set yet): Aarschotse Bier Wandeling
Held in Aarschot this festival involves taking a pub walk around the town. You choose your own route and go on a beer discovery. You can taste more than 45 different beers spread over the participating bars. You can return your full card to any participating catering establishment to participate in a draw for a prize.
May: Festival de Gueuze
Held in Aalst. It is hosted by Kultuurcafé De Gaadvis.
May 3-5: Poseidon Beerfest 2024
This first festival is hosted by Poseidon Beers at Puurs-Sint-Amands. This beer festival is organised by Poseidon Beers, voted ‘Best beer trade of the year’.
May 4-5 2024: Toer de Geuze
These are the days when the geuze and lambic brewers and blenders open their doors to the public. Expect bus loads of people from all over the world touring these breweries, some of which only open to the public for the event.
May 2-3: Twisting the Fate VI
He may have left us in 2022, but the spirit of Armand Debelder lives on at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen in the people and in the brews. Twisting the Fate is always and incredible event at the brewery and in the sunshine (most years). You get to taste limited edition lambics that have been aged on different types of wood. That is you can normally only drink them at the brewery at Lot (Beersel).
May 3: Internationaal Geuze & Kriek Festival (Nacht Van De Grote Dorst) 2025
Also known as Internationaal Geuze & Kriek Festival, this fabulous festival celebrating geuze and kriek is held every two years at a fabulous bar in Dilbeek. It is one of the great showcases of geuzes and lambics.
May 3: 1ste Internationaal Bierfestival te Dendermonde
De Wildeman beer cafe in Dendermonde is holding its first international festival. The lineup includes some stellar brewers, with the Belgians mixed in with Holy Goat (Scotland), Radical Way (Cyprus), Cerveza Espiga (Spain), Revenant Brewing Project (Finland), Black Rebel (Germany) and Totenhophen (Luxembourg).
May 7-9: La Cité De La Bière
Held at the Musée de la Vie Wallonne in Liège, this festival features local brewers in the area and a few international ones. Keep track on Facebook.
May 4: Great Breweries Marathon
You can walk or run the marathon or 25 km course, which features a run past Duvel Moortgat, Bosteels Brewery and Palm & De Hoorn breweries. Yes beer is served during and after. And you collect a beer package to take home. A Duvel awaits you at the finish. It all starts at Duvel Moortgat Brewery.
May 18-20: EBC Symposium 2025
It’s not a festival, but a font of knowledge and a gathering of the best brains in brewing. The European Brewery Convention (EBC) Symposium 2025 will take place 18–20 May in Budapest, Hungary. The Symposium will focus on sustainable beer packaging, innovations in keg and tank‑beer installations, draught‑beer dispense technology, and quality improvement. Facebook.
May 18: Beerlovers Marathon 2025
The Beer Lovers’ Marathon is a running race and a 42.195-kilometers party. The theme this year is Belgian comics. Get dressed up and run. There will be 16 Belgian beers served along the route and afterwards. Facebook.
June 19-20: Leuven Craft Beer Fest
June 20-22: Bier aan Zee 2025
Beer by the Sea seems like fun in Middelkerke. Facebook.
June 20-22: Bierpassie Weekend 2025
Set in the lovely courtyard of the Handelsbeurs in Antwerp this fest features traditional and craft brewers of Antwerp and area.
June 20-22: Carolo Beers Festival
Held in conjunction with the La Brocante des Quais de Charleroi, featuring concerts, foodtrucks and other festivities, this festival in Charleroi is teamed up with Brasserie Dupont at Place Verte Charleroi. Not much more info seems available as of June.
June 21: Bierfestival Doorsj
Run by the local beer club Biergilde Sainte Gertrude this fest celebrates local breweries around Sint-Geertruid, Zuid-Limburg.
June 22: Bierfestival Lokeren
A street beer fest with food and a BBQ in Lokeren.
June 26-28: Barna’Beer Estival
Namur beer bar Le Barnabeer is hosting this festival at the stunning setting of Esplanade de la Citadelle de Namur. About 25 breweries are featured. Keep up to date on Facebook.
June 5-8: Summer Beerlovers’ Festival
This festival in Liège features craft brewers, cocktails, wine, street food and music. Check their Facebook page for regular updates.
June 7: Maldegems Bierfestival 2025
This one day festival is held in Maldegems by the Waterbek social club.
June 12-15: The Place to Bier 2025
The 10th edition of this festival is hosted at la Grand Place d’Enghien. On the program: beer tastings, musical entertainment, concerts and discoveries.
June 14: Bierfestival Velle
This is a short one from 13-21h on by the local beer club in Velle, 9140 Temse and features 19 brewers on it’s eight edition.
June 14-15: Dag(en) van de Oude Geuze
Held at Streekproducten Centrum (Regional Products Centre) in Halle by De Lambikstoempers beer club (to which I belong) it features bottles from every brewer and blender of geuze and lambic in Belgium, served up by club members. You will also find a lot of the brewers holding court over the two days. The Beer Idiots are usually among the last to leave it’s so good. A fantastic fest in a parking lot that’s not to be missed.
July: Namur Capitale de la Bière et du Terroir Festival, Namur (suspended)
Namur Capitale de la Bière et du Terroir Festival features a mix of traditional family-run brewers, bigger brands that produce lots of suds, and craft brewers. Co-organised by Emilien Watelet and Sébastien Legrain, it’s Wallona’s largest beer festival, in a part of Belgium that does not feature a lot in the geek calendar.
July 3-5: La Fête de la bière à Souvret
Blind taste testing and music feature in Souvret at Brasserie Renaux-Lefebvre.
July 4-6: La Bière en fête
About 23 breweries are featured at this fest in Mons the Grand-Place de Mons.
July 4-6: Jazz Bilzen Bierfestival
July 5: De Bierjutterij 2.0
This festival in Oostende is organised by a local beer club.
July 5-6: Van Moll Fest
Yep, this is across the border, but it has become a must-go craft fest in Eindhoven that features international brewers that we just have to list it here. Facebook.
July 11: Feestdag van de Vlaamse streekbieren
Held in Zedelgem, Belgium, this festival features about 100 beers and is hosted by the Zille Zuipers.
August 22: Razernij – Beerdrinkers & Hellraisers
This combination punch of craft beer and punk/rock/metal festival takes place in Rumst. Bands and the brewers on tap are being announced in the run up to a wonderful party. Keep track on Facebook.
Another great fest on the Belgian beer calendar by De Lambikstoempers beer club. Lots of lambiks.
August 24-30: Belgium Beer Week 2026
Yep, the Beer Idiots have to put on a festival, and this celebrates Belgian beer culture, recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity . It’s a co-creation event. 185 participating venues worldwide – 95 in Belgium. Go to Belgium Beer Week for the events and participants in your country. Bars, brewers and event holders can participate by signing up here. Check our Facebook page for updates.
August 29: Bier Van Olier – BBW26 participant
This one-day festival is held in Sijsele/Damme, Belgium. Info here: www.biervanolier.be
29-30 August: Beveren Hopt – BBW26 participant
Run by beer club Beverse Schuimkraag Proevers, this festival takes places in Roeselare.
August 29-30: The Place to Beer – Noces de Faïence – BBW26 participant
The 8th edition of this festival features craft brewers and their beers from Belgium and other parts of Europe at the Château de Trazegnies, Courcelles by The Place to Beer in partnership with the Brasserie Zythologist.
September 4-6: Open Beer Days
Open Beer Days are for everyone: young and old, beer lovers and families says 3 Fonteinen. Where: lambik-O-droom, Molenstraat 47, 1651 Lot. When : Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September: 12PM – 8PM.
September 4-6: Belgian Beer Weekend
Held at the Grand Place in Brussels by the Belgian Brewers association, this event features parades, bands and pomp among the 50 or so breweries serving beers to about 61,000 visitors over the weekend.
September 4-13: Belgian Beer Culture Days
Launched as an extension of Belgian Beer Weekend, this week celebrates the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO recognition of Belgian beer culture. 10 years of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In Brussels there will be a Belgian Beer Culture Bar
40+ breweries featured over 10 days, outside Belgian Beer World. Some 5,000 cafés and 1,000 retail locations will be celebrating Belgian beer.
September 5: Boerenerf Festival
One of the great new lambic blenders around and we love visiting his converted family farmhouse. Lookout for the Belgian giant and good burgers, with all things sourced locally. You can find out more with the our interview with Senne Eylenbosch here.
September 11-12: Festival des Bieres de Nivelles 2026
We don’t know much about this festival but it is held in the main square of Nivelles where you can drink ‘quelques’ beers according to the organisers.
September 12-13: Wanderlust
This Brussels festival, held by the Brussels Beer Project, will be held again at Place Sainte-Catherine.
September 12-13: Brugs BierFestival
This festival takes place in the Bruges Meeting & Convention Centre in the city centre with +/- 50 breweries and beer companies featuring 350 beers.
September 18-20: Beer and Hops Festival 2026
This is held every three years in Poperinge and features a parade of people dressed as hops and other beery things in Poperinge, a central town for many of Belgium’s remaining hop farmers. See who gets to be the Hop Queen. Sunday is the grand parade.
September 19: HOPZ! Indoor 2026
This free beer festival takes place in Hamont-Achel. Facebook.
September 27 Festival de la Bière 2026
A cute local festival that we’ve been going to off and on over the past 17 years and where we’ve met quite a few up an coming brewers. A lot of communal feeling in an open air square. Unpretentious fun in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe on a Sunday. They won’t admit it, but it’s in Brussels. Capital.
September 27: Kuva Dranken Bierfestival
October 3: Dag van de Lambiek 2026
This edition of Day of the Lambic is being held at Lambiek Fabriek brewery, a lovely spot to have a beer. Hosted by the Gueuze Society every two years, and with the backing of In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst bar/cafe in Lennik, Eizeringen. Their Nach van de Grote Dorst (aka International Geuze and Kriek Festival will be next held on 1 May 2027.
October 3-4: Modeste Beer Festival
Held with in Antwerp around the first weekend in October by Antwerps Bier College at iconic city brewer De Koninck, this festival features beers from about 25 small Belgian breweries.
October 3-4: Les Fêtes de la Bière à Ormeignies
October 4: Bierfestival Boerenkrijger Overmere
10 brewers, and 50 beers by Boerenkrijger Bier.
October 10: Hasseltse Bierfeesten
October 10: Bierhappening
This festival is held in Vijvers, Zottegem by the local beer club.
October 10: Fête de la Bière Val-Dieu 2026
October 12: Bottles and Barrels Craft Beer Festival
This beer festival features about 10 breweries in Eppegem. Facebook.
October 14-24: Oktoberfest Brussels
Celebrate the Bavarian tradition in Brussels. Oktoberfest Brussels has all the oom-pah-pah. Buy your tickets in advance.
October 17-18: Brassigaume 2026
Grégory Verhelst of Brasserie Artisanale de Rulles hosts the lovely festival Brassigaume in Marbehan. It’s well worth the trip.
October 17-18: Leuven Octoberfest
Proost!
October 24: Wichels Bierfestival 
Held in Wichelen, this year’s festival features breweries at the Rubbens distillery and brewery. Facebook.
This festival is held in Poperinge, the centre for many of the remaining hop farmers in Belgium. October 31-Nov. 1: Herentalse Bierfeesten
About 100 beers are offered here, some on tap.
