GABF 2026: Sunday tickets and the move outdoors

The Great American Beer Festival is back this weekend, and for the first time in its long history, it's not at the Colorado Convention Center. GABF 2026 runs on October 10 and 11 at the Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park, moving outdoors after decades indoors. It's the kind of change that changes how you plan your day, so here's what you need to know before you head south.

First, the tickets. Saturday is already sold out, so if you're looking to go, Sunday is your best bet. A single-day ticket is $66.53, which is nearly 40% lower than in previous years, and it gets you a tasting glass and unlimited samples from more than 200 breweries. The sessions run from noon to 4:00 pm, so it's a four-hour window rather than an all-day affair. If you want something more, the Festival + PAIRED ticket is $170.38 and adds access to the PAIRED experience, which pairs craft beer with food from acclaimed chefs. The two-day pass and the designated driver ticket are both sold out, so Sunday is really the only open door left.

Since Saturday is gone, Sunday is also when the competition comes to a head. GABF is as much a contest as a tasting: more than 800 breweries from 50 states compete for medals across 100 categories, and the awards ceremony happens during the festival on Sunday. That's why it's often called the 'Super Bowl of craft beer.' Beyond the beer, there's a Taste Buds area with cider and other brews, and you can even try Red Ball Tennis with the United States Tennis Association on the court.

Because this year is outdoors, a few survival tips are worth taking seriously. Eat a big breakfast before you walk in and keep eating throughout the day. Denver's dry climate and the high altitude mean you'll dehydrate faster than usual, so drink water regularly. A pro move is to taste without swallowing, using pour-off cups for the beers you don't love. Dress in layers, wear comfortable shoes, and bring sunscreen — the Colorado sun is intense at this elevation. Pace yourself, take breaks, and have a safe ride home lined up.

The venue itself is part of the draw. Levitt Pavilion is Colorado's all-ages outdoor amphitheater, a nonprofit that puts on around 50 free concerts and community events every summer. It sits inside Ruby Hill Park, an 88-acre space in southern Denver with walking trails, picnic spots, sports fields, playgrounds, and a 7.5-acre bike park that stays open year-round, weather permitting. If you're coming from downtown, the shuttle runs round-trip from the Sheraton Denver Downtown to the pavilion for $21.48, though reservations had to be made by October 1, so it's not a last-minute option.

If you're already in town for the weekend, the festival fits right into a beer-heavy itinerary. Denver is one of the best craft beer cities in the country, and the neighborhoods around the center of town — Union Station and LoDo, Larimer Square, RiNo, 16th Street, and Cherry Creek — are all within reach for a pre- or post-festival pint. With Saturday sold out, Sunday is the day to catch the medals and the samples.