Kerstbierfestival 2026: 200 Belgian Christmas beers in Essen

If one festival distils the magic of Belgian Christmas beer, it is the Kerstbierfestival in Essen, a small town north of Antwerp on the Dutch border. On 12-13 December 2026 the beer tasters of O.B.E.R. (Objectieve Bierproevers Essense Regio) once again fill the Heuvelhal with what is widely regarded as the world's best list of Belgian Christmas and winter beers: around 200 different bottled brews, some 20 on draught, poured in proper 15 cl tasting glasses so every beer can be judged on its merits. The selection famously chases down exclusive cuvées from the smallest and most remote breweries alongside world classics, and hot Gluhkriek keeps the December chill at bay. Around 2,100 visitors from some 25 countries make the pilgrimage each year, and demand far exceeds space: online presale opens on 1 September and usually sells out fast, with box-office entry only on Saturday evening from 6pm. Book early, bring friends, and end the beer year the Belgian way. Check the official website for tickets, and plan your beer trip with beBeer.