Great British Beer Festival Cancelled as CAMRA Faces Financial Strains and Budget Shortfall

The Campaign for Real Ale CAMRA has announced the cancellation of the Great British Beer Festival in 2026 citing severe budgetary shortfalls and unsustainable operating costs. This marks a historic pause for an event which has drawn thousands of real ale enthusiasts annually since 1977 and has become a mainstay in the British food and drink calendar.

Email correspondence sent to members and seen by industry insiders reveals the group is scrambling to address a challenging financial outlook brought about by stagnant membership and rising expenditures. CAMRA chair Ash CorbettCollins stated the situation presents a stark picture for the notforprofit group which currently boasts 145000 members. The loss sustained from this years festival highlighted an urgent need to scrutinise expenditure particularly the high costs of venue hire and volunteer support which outpaced revenue as visitor numbers fell short of expectations.

The Great British Beer Festival is not just a celebration but an economic linchpin drawing tens of thousands of visitors to sample nearly 900 varieties of beer and host the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain awards. This years event at the NEC Birmingham could not cover expenses leading to a substantial financial loss for the organiser and prompting this drastic measure. CAMRA confirmed that the winter sister festival has also been affected and will not run next year.

Historical records indicate that the festival has only been suspended a handful of times, including the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, and for isolated incidents such as a fire in 1984 and venue unavailability in 2024. CAMRA is now set to embark on a three year strategy review designed to refocus spending on its core objectives and ensure financial survival. The message from leadership makes clear that all nonessential activities will be curtailed as part of a broader costcutting initiative.

CorbettCollins has issued a direct appeal to government urging the chancellor to use the upcoming autumn budget to deliver relief to the struggling pub industry with calls for a reduction in VAT and beer duty, reforms to business rates, and the easing of national insurance contributions. Industry trends show accelerating pub closures and increased cost pressures, threatening community hubs across the UK.

CAMRA remains firm in its campaigning mission even as it is forced to make difficult decisions about headline events, emphasising that the future of British beer culture hinges not just on festival goers but on robust policy support and strategic focus amid shifting consumer patterns and inflationary headwinds.