The 2026 Rhode Island Brew Fest was held January 31, 2026. 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. !
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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
2027 dates not yet announced
The last edition was held January 31, 2026. when 2027 dates are announced.
1 day (two sessions)
WaterFire Arts Center
475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908
📍
Providence, Rhode Island
50+ breweries
200+ beers to try
Want the Loudest Burp and Longest Burp championships at Rhode Island Brew Fest? Sign up and we'll tell you when Burp Fest is coming.
Rhode Island Brew Fest 2027 dates have not been announced yet. Check back for updates!
Rhode Island Brew Fest is held at WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908.
Ticket pricing for Rhode Island Brew Fest 2027 has not been announced yet. Check the official website for updates.
Burp Fest is planning to bring its burping contest to Rhode Island Brew Fest. Sign up to get notified when details are confirmed.
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.
Sign up on our website and we'll let you know as soon as a Burp Fest contest is confirmed at Rhode Island Brew Fest.
Previous editions of Rhode Island Brew Fest.
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