A unique Liverpool beer festival returns, hosting the winter stage of the UK’s biggest beer competition, CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain, in the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt. The festival runs from:- Thursday, 19 February to Saturday, 21 February 2026 and is designed by world-renowned architect Edward Lutyens. 

CAMRA members who book ahead can get free entry, with entry prices for non-members from just £4 depending on the session.

This year Liverpool Beer Festival will host the Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition so, amongst the 200 cask beers and real ciders on offer, festival visitors will also have a chance to try some of the very best cask beers that the UK have to offer, with 50 shortlisted beers also available at the festival.

Judging for the Champion Winter Beer of Britain takes over a year to complete, starting with local blind-tasting panels and regional heats, with the final round of judging taking place at the festival. The category winners from the winter competition will be entered into the overall Champion Beer of Britain competition later this year.

With both the competition and festival beers on offer, the festival will showcase a formidable range of cask beers for customers. There will be session and strong porters and stouts, brown, red and black ales, old ales, strong milds and ‘speciality’ beers, covering anything from lagers, rye beers, wheat beers, and beers brewed with different yeasts such as Kviek to flavoured beers (think plums, coffee, ginger and honey) – a cornucopia of tastes.

Starting in 1974, Liverpool Beer Festival is 1 of CAMRA’s longest running festivals and is just 10 minutes’ walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station.

There is no entrance charge for CAMRA members (non-members from £4 depending on the session) but you will need to buy a ticket that includes £10 worth of (refundable) beer tokens, a programme and a glass. Don’t leave it too long as tickets sell out fast. 

For more information go to this website.