International Brewing & Cider Festival

The city of Manchester will host the first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival, a two-day ticketed event showcasing the finest beers and ciders from around the world.

The Festival will take place on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March 2024 at Depot Mayfield Manchester, offering a rare opportunity for the public to taste a vast range of local, national and international drinks, including award-winning beers and ciders from The International Brewing & Cider Awards.

The Festival is being organised by the world’s most historic international beer and cider competition, The International Brewing & Cider Awards, which will relocate to Manchester having been hosted at The National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent for the last decade.

The biennial competition, known as the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world, will see industry professionals gather to celebrate the extraordinary and well-crafted beer and cider from all corners of the world.

For the first time in its 137-year history, the Awards will be accompanied by a public festival, and represents a significant milestone in the Awards’ commitment to promoting and supporting the brewing and cider industries.

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to sample beers or ciders from worldwide brewers and cidermakers entered into the International Brewing & Cider Awards, including the award-winners.

This one-of-a-kind Festival aims to bring together beer and cider enthusiasts, industry professionals and the general public for a weekend filled with camaraderie, live music, mouthwatering food trucks, and most importantly, well-crafted beer and exceptional cider.

Tickets for the inaugural International Brewing & Cider Festival are officially available to purchase: https://ibcfest.com/tickets/

Festivalgoers can choose from a wide range of ticket options across the weekend, starting from £20*, including single-day afternoon or evening tickets to an ultimate weekend ticket. For avid beer and cider enthusiasts, the ‘beer geek’ ticket option on the Friday allows guests to sample from the widest selection of entered and award-winning beers and ciders from the International Brewing & Cider Awards, including limited availability small pack and bottled beers and ciders.

The event's unique dual zone setup enables guests to choose between:

• An entry-only wristband, where festivalgoers can enjoy delicious drinks from a range of brewers and cidermakers and pay as they go in the ‘Bar Zone’. Tickets priced at £20.00*
• A token wristband, which allows guests to enjoy up to five beers and ciders that have been entered into the International Brewing & Cider Awards, along with the award-winning products, within the ‘Competition Zone’. Tickets for a token wristband start from £35.00*.

As part of the Festival’s commitment to support the local community and foster positive change in the region, the International Brewing & Cider Festival has partnered with Forever Manchester and Spoons, a neonatal family support charity.

Festival attendees will have an opportunity to make a positive impact within their local community and include a ‘Digital Pint’ donation alongside their ticket purchase. By donating the equivalent cost of a typical pint, half pint, or tip, visitors will be able to pay it forward and lend a helping hand to those in need, with 100% of the proceeds being split between the two charities.

The International Brewing & Cider Festival is not only a celebration of the best brewers and cidermakers from around the world, but also a chance to support local breweries and the wider industry.

For more information about The International Brewing & Cider Festival and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://ibcfest.com/tickets/