Sydney Beer Week returns in 2026, promising 10 Days of city-wide beer activities, celebrating Australian beer, the venues and the beer-loving community that make it happen.
Despite ongoing challenges against scale and foreign imports, Australian beer continues to thrive – pushing boundaries in new ingredients, refined techniques and fresh ideas, through collaboration, innovation and resilience.
Returning for its third year, taking place 16 – 25 October, SBW is heralding its biggest program yet, bringing tap takeovers, brewers’ dinners, collaborations and one-off experiences.
Kicking off Day 1 the ‘State of Brews’ returns. It is a city-wide activation that invites venues to participate by pouring beers representing any Australian state or Territory, or an international region.
The event gives beer lovers the chance to explore diverse brewing scenes without leaving Sydney, and is focused on “bringing people together” – sparking conversations, building new relationships between venues and brewers, and giving drinkers “something genuinely different” to explore across the city.
SBW director Peter Anstey says they have been “blown away” by the eagerness of venues and brewers to collaborate.
“In 2026, we’re expanding the program, leaning even harder into community, and creating more moments where people can genuinely connect over great beer.”
An Expressions of Interest program runs 9 March to 1 May, with events confirmed with venues and breweries 8 May and consumer marketing commencing in September.
Venues can register their interest HERE.
Pro-Am is back for its third year, as one of the Week’s most collaborative and anticipated events, bridging grassroots creativity with professional brewing.
Proudly supported by Yakima Chief Hops and Cryer Malt, the Pro-Am invites home brewers to submit beers, judged within their class and aligned with participating commercial breweries. Winning beers are brewed at scale and poured for the final judging stage, which takes place on the rooftop of Hotel Sweeney’s and invites the public, industry peers, friends and family to vote, via secret ballot.
Equal parts educational, inclusive, and celebratory, Anstey says the Pro-Am “continues to showcase the depth of brewing talent across NSW”.
The Beer & Brewer Awards Night also returns, taking place Tuesday, 20 October.
SBW is the passion of two people deeply embedded in Australia’s independent beer community. Peter Anstey is GM and licensee of Hotel Sweeney’s, bringing over 30 years’ in hospitality, and Josh Quantrill provides 15 years extensive experience across the UK and Australian beer industries.
“Sydney Beer Week exists to shine a light on the wins — big and small — and to remind everyone why this industry is worth showing up for,” Anstey concludes.
