South East England Beer Festivals 2026

Explore exceptional beer festivals from the coastal celebrations of Brighton and Portsmouth to the historic brewing towns of Oxford and Canterbury. South England blends seaside charm with traditional brewing heritage for diverse festival experiences.

Festivals
63
Breweries
300
Cities
4

The South East's diverse beer festival scene

The South East offers Britain's most varied festival landscape, where coastal cities, historic market towns and Kent's famous hop country each bring something different. It is a region that balances centuries of brewing heritage with one of the country's most independent craft scenes.

Brighton leads the modern side, its festivals as creative and independent as the city itself, spilling across breweries, bars and pop-up venues. Canterbury and the Kent countryside keep festivals rooted in the county's hop-growing past, while Oxford and Southampton add college-town and waterfront events to the mix.

The South East is also home to some of the longest-running festivals in the country, including town and village events that have welcomed drinkers for decades. Expect a real range, from carefully kept Sussex and Kent cask to barrel-aged and farmhouse styles, usually with cider, food and a relaxed crowd.

With the coast, the Downs and the hop gardens all within easy reach, festival-going here doubles as a great day out. Our South East breweries guide introduces the brewers behind the beer, and the listings below show what is coming up.

Brighton Pier entrance with visitors, iconic venue for South England beer festivals
Historic Canterbury riverside building hosting craft beer events
Historic Oxford architecture in city known for traditional ale festivals
Modern Southampton architecture in city hosting South Coast beer festivals

Upcoming Beer Festivals in South East England

Hops in the Tropics festival details

Happening now

Hops in the Tropics

Mon 24 - Mon 31 August 2026

Black Lion, Leighton Buzzard

Summer beer festival with live music.

Rivers of Ale Beer & Music Festival festival details

This weekend

Rivers of Ale Beer & Music Festival

Thu 27 - Mon 31 August 2026

368 Brighton Road, Shoreham-by-Sea

🎉DRUM ROLL PLEASE…it’s the The Duke of Wellington's annual Rivers of Ale Beer & Music Festival! 26 cask ales and 10 ciders. August Bank Holiday weekend Free entry Live Ale - Real Music - Proper Cider Music from.. Thursday - Serotonic 8:30pm Friday - Spiders from Marz 9pm Saturday - Papillon 4:30pm and Stash 9pm Sunday - Joy Machine 10pm Bank Holiday Monday - Burning Skies 4pm .....and more!! Pop-Up Food Kitchen serving Turkish Wraps & side (V/ Vg available) in the beer garden The Duke of Wellington is on the 700 bus route stopping at the door and a 5 minute walk from Shoreham-by-Sea station

The Hope Sour Beer Showcase festival details

Free entry

The Hope Sour Beer Showcase

Thu 27 - Fri 28 August 2026

The Hope, Carshalton

Keg, cask and ciders. All available in thirds as well as pints and halves. Enjoy.

The Chequers Beer & Music Festival festival details

This weekend

The Chequers Beer & Music Festival

Fri 28 - Mon 31 August 2026

48 Cobden Hill, Radlett

The Third Annual Chequers Beer and Music Festival!🎉 16 Real Ales from across the Four Counties each barrel from independent brewers! We have food from E&S Catering on the 28th and 29th and @pulled_st on the 30th and 31st from 2pm 🍔🌮 We’ve got a huge array of fantastic music starting with Chris, Tuck & Dan on Friday night from 8pm, you won’t want to miss any of it!🪩

The Elephant and Castle's Annual Punk & Cider Festival festival details

This weekend

The Elephant and Castle's Annual Punk & Cider Festival

Fri 28 - Mon 31 August 2026

8 Hereson Road, Ramsgate

A Fantastic Lineup Of Music And A Full List Of Yummy Ciders To Suit All Tastes 😋 As Always Entrance Is FREE! Just bring a quid for the collection bucket, please 😘

The Rising Sun's Beer, Cider & Music Festival 2026 festival details

This weekend

The Rising Sun's Beer, Cider & Music Festival 2026

Fri 28 - Sun 30 August 2026

Rising Sun, Steyning

The Rising Sun's Beer, Cider & Music Festival 2026 Join us for a Bank Holiday weekend full of music, food, local beers & ciders, and so much more! We still have more in the works for you lucky people, which will be announced as we get closer.. But here's your music and entertainment lineup for now: Friday 28th August Open from 4pm 8pm - 10pm - 80s & 90s Party with Charrise (dressing up welcome) Saturday 29th August Open from 12pm 5pm - 7pm - Beeding Hearts Unplugged 8pm - 10pm - The Brooks House Band Sunday 30th August Open from 12pm 1pm - 2pm - Tom Foolery Children's Entertainment 2.30pm - 4.30pm - Open Mic 5pm - 7pm - Travis & Bec 8pm - 10pm - The Others Brothers Monday 31st August We will be closed all day. We can't wait to see you! 🍻

Six Bells Celebration of Real Ales festival details

This weekend

Six Bells Celebration of Real Ales

Fri 28 - Mon 31 August 2026

The Six Bells Newdigate, Dorking

This August Bank Holiday, we’re bringing together 16 fantastic real ales from breweries across the country for our Celebration of Real Ale. The event is organised by the Six Bells in aid of Harper, and her family. Harper has three major operations coming up at Great Ormond Street and funds are needed to support the family during this time. From traditional bitters, milds and porters to pale ales and modern, hop-forward favourites, we’ve chosen a line-up that shows just how varied and exciting proper cask ale can be. Expect beers from some of the best-known names in British brewing alongside a few discoveries that may be completely new to you. And we’re keeping the pricing simple: every real ale will be £5 a pint, giving you every excuse to work your way through the list and find a new favourite.

The Flower Pots Beer Festival festival details

This weekend

The Flower Pots Beer Festival

Fri 28 - Sun 30 August 2026

The Flower Pots Inn, Alresford

Come and join us for a weekend of cask ales, Flower Pots food and live music Friday Noon through to Sunday Night. We have been brewing all year for this. 20 of our traditional cask ales and over 100 guest ales and lagers from many brilliant independent breweries throughout the UK Our Flower Pots chefs; Rob, George, Jim, Miranda and Lottie, will be providing fresh food throughout the whole weekend, and we have over 20 live music acts - even more than last year. Children and dogs are more than welcome, and like every year, our Festival is free to enter with free car parking at the Cheriton Recreation Ground, with a dedicated Disabled drop off. There is also a free shuttle bus service run by the New Alresford Trust.

Thrapston Beer Festival festival details

This weekend

Thrapston Beer Festival

Fri 28 - Sun 30 August 2026

Castle playing fields, Kettering

Thrapston Beer Festival is back again August Bank Holiday weekend, featuring the annual Family Fun Day on the Sunday. With more live music than ever before, more food, entertainment and of course, a large array of beverages to choose from! Come along and see what you’re missing out on.

Queens Head Beer & Music Festival festival details

This weekend

Queens Head Beer & Music Festival

Sat 29 - Mon 31 August 2026

The Queens Head, Maidstone

Selection of real ales, beers & ciders 🍺 Fantastic bands in our beautiful beer garden 🎶 Delicious Street Food 🥘 Free admission