Brewer of the Year: The Event - January 17-18, 2026 in Florence

The event is scheduled for Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2026 at the Teatro Cartiere Carrara , where one of the most anticipated events on the national beer scene will take place.

The access method that has helped make the festival unique has been confirmed: the Beer Pass , which can be purchased online , allows unlimited tastings of beers in the chosen session, without lines or payments, as well as the opportunity to attend the many tastings led by experts in the presence of the brewers themselves. There are three scheduled sessions: Saturday, January 17th , from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to midnight, and Sunday, January 18th , from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM (the longest session includes the awards ceremony).

The Beer Pass includes : screen-printed glass, glass holder strap, water, coat check, guided tastings, as well as the opportunity to freely try all the beers of your choice, served and described by the producers.

The real stars of the festival will find their place in the large circular counter positioned in the centre of the theatre, namely the 20 candidates for the title of Brewer of the Year, the 3 candidates for the Emerging Brewer award and the 3 breweries selected for the “Fermento Italia” corner.

The event is centered around an award and its nominees, selected through a voting system involving 100 judges distributed across the region and the Top 50 brewers from the previous edition. The votes cast create a representative and up-to-date overview of Italian excellence, determining the winners of the two categories: Brewer of the Year and Emerging Brewer , the latter recognition given to brewers with less than three years of experience. The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, January 18th at 4:00 PM , on the theater stage. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook on the official page.

Candidates for Brewer of the Year 2025 50&50 (VA) • Alder (MB) • Altavia (SV) • Bibibir (TE) • Birra dell'Eremo (PG) • Birrificio Bajon (RA) • Birrificio Italiano (CO) • Bondai (UD) • Brasseria della Fonte (SI) • Brewfist (LO) • Cantina Errante (SI) • Eastside (LT) • Elvo (BI) • Hilltop (VT) • Liquida (FE) • MC77 (MC) • Mukkeller (FM) • Opperbacco (TE) • Ritual Lab (RM) • Wild Raccoon (UD)

Candidates for Emerging Brewer 2025 De Lab (CN) • Linfa (RM) • Mudita (LI)

Corner Fermento Italia Ballarak (PA) • Kashmir (IS) • Luppolajo (MN)

The brewers of the Top50 , a ranking that identifies the 50 best Italian breweries, will be involved in free guided tastings that will allow the public in attendance to discover the secrets and curiosities of the featured beer.

Inside the theater, there will be four street food vendors offering regional specialties, while the Publiacqua station will provide free water and a rinsing area to clean your glass between tastings.

Brewer of the Year confirms its status as a unique showcase for Italian craft beer, recognized and appreciated for its high quality and creative flair. It's a meeting place for enthusiasts, brewers, and professionals, in a carefully curated setting designed to maximize every beer lover's experience.

Event organized by Fermento Birra   with the collaboration of Mr Malt , J-Software ,   Fermentis , Polykeg , Corimpex, ADM Vetro , GAI and Simei. Technical partner: Prinz and Rastal. Media partner: Fermento Birra Magazine.

Useful information

Opening hours

• Saturday 17 January: 12–17 and 19–24 (box office from 11am) • Sunday 18 January: 12–18, with awards ceremony at 4pm (box office from 11am)

Prices

• Beer Pass : 45 euros (unlimited tastings, event kit, services) • Full ticket : 10 euros • Reduced : 5 euros (obtainable by purchasing the beer pass online)

Where

Teatro Cartiere Carrara, Via Fabrizio De André, Florence. Parking is available in the surrounding area and in the theater's secure parking area (€5).