Cologne Beer Festival

Three Days of Beer on the Rhine Between the Cathedral and the Bastion

The Cologne Beer Festival 2026 is the 26th edition of one of Germany's most established beer festivals. It runs from Friday, August 7th to Sunday, August 9th, 2026 on the Rhine promenade at the Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer — specifically between the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Bastion. A spectacular setting: the Cathedral and the main train station on the right, the Rhine on the left, and the beer stands in a long row straight ahead.

40 Breweries, 500 Types of Beer

Around 40 breweries from Germany and abroad will present their beers — a total of about 500 different types of beer to sample. Represented are classic German styles (Pils, Helles, Kölsch, Wheat Beer, Schwarzbier), Bavarian specialties, and "exotic and rare beers from around the world" — from Belgian Trappist beers and Czech Pilsners to Scandinavian craft brews. You can sample at each stand, and bottles to take home are also available.

Free Admission, Pay Per Glass

Admission to the Beer Festival is free — payment is made exclusively at the stands. Small tasting glasses (0.1–0.2 l) typically cost €2–€4, with larger glasses priced accordingly. Those who want to try several varieties can embark on their own beer journey across Europe. A deposit system for the tasting glasses manages returns.

Opening Hours and Travel

The Beer Festival is open:

• Friday, August 7th: 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM
• Saturday, August 8th: 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM
• Sunday, August 9th: 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Cologne's main train station is just a 5-minute walk away — travel by train and public transport is highly recommended, as there are no parking facilities near the festival area at Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer.

Culinary Accompaniments

In addition to the beer stands, food trucks and gastronomic stalls will provide visitors with currywurst, burgers, bratwurst, vegetarian options, fries, and sweets. Classic Rhenish specialties like Halve Hahn and Reibekuchen (potato pancakes) are also available — a perfect complement to Kölsch.

Cologne — The Kölsch Capital with International Ambitions

Cologne is the beer capital of the Rhineland — and the Beer Festival expands this horizon every year by looking beyond the local. Veranstaltungsbüro Nolden GmbH organizes beer festivals in several German cities (Bonn, Düsseldorf, Aachen, Mainz, etc.), but the Cologne edition, with its location on the Rhine and proximity to the old town, is one of the most popular dates on the tour. Combined with a stroll through the old town, a visit to the Cathedral, or a Rhine cruise, it creates a perfect summer weekend mix.