1st Bavarian-Czech Beer Festival Rehau

Beer Cultures in the Border Region

Rehau, with just under 9,000 inhabitants located directly on the border with the Czech Republic in the Upper Franconian district of Hof, is hosting the Bavarian-Czech Beer Festival on Maxplatz for the first time on May 23 and 24, 2026. This cross-border event brings together around 27 breweries from the Fichtelgebirge, the Hofer Land, and West Bohemia – a premiere that unites the centuries-old beer culture of both sides of the border in a single festival space.

Tasting in 0.1-Liter Glasses

Instead of the usual half-liter or liter steins, visitors receive small 0.1-liter tasting glasses, allowing them to sample a double-digit number of different beers in one day. Among the participants are Meinel-Bräu from Hof and the Lobkowicz brewery from Prague, as well as smaller private breweries from the Hofer Land and traditional Pilsner houses from Plzeň and Cheb. Those who want more can opt for a 0.5-liter bottle or a liter stein after tasting.

Live Music on Both Sides of the Border

The musical program reflects the German-Czech spirit: On Saturday at 2:30 PM, The Moodies, a five-piece dance band from Cheb, will open the festival. Starting at 6:30 PM, Grannys Pearl will play rock covers. On Sunday morning, the Original Fichtelgebirgsmusikanten will perform traditional Bavarian-Bohemian brass music. Between sets, culinary specialties from both sides will be offered: Bratwurst, roast pork, Bohemian dumplings, and Pilsner goulash.

Family Program and Funding

For children, there will be a bouncy castle, a children's stein-lifting competition, and a barrel rolling race. The festival is part of the efforts to further deepen the cultural and tourist ties between Bavaria and the Czech Republic after the abolition of border controls – the premiere is funded by the INTERREG program Bavaria–Czech Republic 2021–2027.

Rehau and the Beer Region of Upper Franconia

With over 150 breweries, Upper Franconia has the highest brewery density per capita in the world – Rehau is located in the heart of this beer region. On the other side of the border, the Karlovy Vary and Plzeň regions are home to Bohemian brewing tradition, from which the world-famous Pilsner emerged. The festival showcases this dual tradition in one place for the first time.