The 2026 Rhode Island Brew Fest was held January 31, 2026. Next year's dates haven't been announced yet — !
Providence, Rhode Island
January 31, 2026
Burp Fest is bringing its legendary burping contest to Rhode Island Brew Fest in Providence! Think you've got what it takes? Step up and prove it.
Bring the thunder! Our decibel meter doesn't lie. Let out your most earth-shaking belch and see if you can claim the crown.
It's not about power — it's about endurance. How long can you keep it going? The clock is ticking.
Take home the Burp Fest trophy and eternal bragging rights.
Your legendary performance featured across all Burp Fest socials.
Exclusive festival merchandise only winners receive.
How to enter: Show up at the Burp Fest booth at Rhode Island Brew Fest and sign up on the spot. Or get notified in advance so you're ready to go!
The Rhode Island Brew Fest is a winter celebration of American craft beer held annually at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Now in its 13th year as of 2026, the festival has been hosted at this venue since 2019 and has become one of New England's premier craft beer events. The festival is organized and presented by Gray Matter Marketing, a full-service event management and marketing firm based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
The festival features two sessions on a single day: Session 1 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM and Session 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Each three-hour session offers unlimited beer samples from 50+ breweries pouring over 200 beer styles. Admission includes a branded commemorative pint glass received upon exit. Food vendors are available on-site and event merchandise is available for purchase. The event is strictly 21+ with valid ID required at the entrance. Service animals are permitted but pets are not.
The Rhode Island Brew Fest has a strong track record of selling out. The 2026 edition on January 31 saw both sessions reach 100% sold out status. General Admission advance tickets were priced at $60, with a $20 at-door option available before sellout. Designated Driver tickets are also offered. The event's consistent sellout record speaks to its popularity among New England craft beer enthusiasts.
The Rhode Island Brew Fest is the creation of Gray Matter Marketing, a full-service event management firm founded in 2012 by Matt Gray in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Gray, who also owns Ragged Island Brewing Company, launched the company with two events that same year: the Cape Cod Brew Festival and the Citizens Pell Bridge Run. The management team behind Gray Matter brings more than 60 years of combined experience in lifestyle events and sport management, and the firm has since built a portfolio that spans large-scale road races and beer festivals across the Northeast. Every event the company produces is partnered with a local nonprofit, and collectively Gray Matter events have raised more than $1.2 million for organizations including the Norman Bird Sanctuary, the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, Aquidneck Land Trust, and the Rhode Island Brewers Guild.
The Rhode Island Brew Fest launched in 2014 and found its permanent home at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence in 2019. The venue -- a converted industrial building with soaring ceilings, massive windows, and contemporary finishes -- gives the winter festival a character that open-air summer events cannot match. Held each January, the Brew Fest leans into the season rather than fighting it, positioning itself as a midwinter escape where 50-plus breweries pour more than 200 styles across two sold-out sessions. The dual-session format keeps crowd sizes manageable and the experience intimate, which is a major reason both the 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM sessions consistently sell out well in advance.
Now in its thirteenth year as of 2026, the Rhode Island Brew Fest has established itself as one of New England's premier craft beer events. Its reliable sellout record speaks to a simple formula executed well: a striking venue, a curated brewery lineup, and a community of beer lovers eager for a reason to brave the Rhode Island winter. For Providence, a city that punches well above its weight in food and drink culture, the Brew Fest has become a January institution.
Founded
2014
Organizer
Gray Matter Marketing
Breweries
50+
Beers
200+
Tier
Major
January 31, 2026
Status: Confirmed (sold out)
2025: January 25, 2025
1 day (two sessions)
WaterFire Arts Center
475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908
📍
Providence, Rhode Island
$60
50+ breweries
200+ beers to try
Find our booth at Rhode Island Brew Fest and compete in the Loudest Burp and Longest Burp championships!
Rhode Island Brew Fest 2026 takes place January 31, 2026 at WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908.
Rhode Island Brew Fest is held at WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908.
General admission tickets to Rhode Island Brew Fest are $60. Check the official website for VIP and other ticket options.
Yes! Burp Fest will be at Rhode Island Brew Fest with our legendary burping contest. Compete in the Loudest Burp Championship and the Longest Burp Championship for trophies, social media fame, and exclusive merch.
Burp Fest is the world's premier competitive burping organization. We bring our burping contests to beer festivals across America, giving attendees the chance to compete for glory, trophies, and social media fame.
Just show up at the Burp Fest booth at Rhode Island Brew Fest! You can also sign up on our website to get notified about contest times and details.
We're always looking for new beer festivals to bring the burping contest to. Get in touch!
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