Burp Fest at DC Beer Fest 2026

The DC Beer Fest found its perfect home at Nationals Park, transforming one of Major League Baseball's modern stadiums into a massive craft beer destination. The concept is brilliantly simple: take the concourse of a major league ballpark — with its built-in food infrastructure, expansive event spaces, and iconic setting along the Anacostia River — and fill it with 80+ breweries and 200+ beers. The result is a festival that feels both massive in scale and intimate in execution, as attendees wander through distinct zones like Centerfield Plaza, the Brew House, the Loft, and the Terrace.

Organized by Drink Eat Play, the DC Beer Fest taps into Washington, D.C.'s rapidly growing craft beer scene. The District and surrounding areas are home to a thriving collection of breweries, and the festival brings together both local favorites and breweries from across the region for a spring celebration of craft beer. The two-session format — noon to 3 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM — keeps the crowd size manageable and gives attendees a focused three-hour window to explore.

The VIP experience sets the DC Beer Fest apart from many other large-scale beer festivals. Where most VIP upgrades offer little more than early entry and a nicer glass, DC Beer Fest gives premium ticket holders access to the field-level warning track, the actual dugouts, and batting cages with live pitching — experiences that would otherwise require being a professional baseball player. For sports fans who also love craft beer, there is arguably no better festival in the country.