Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival 2026: The Complete Guide
The Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival returns on Saturday 11 July 2026, running from 11am to 5pm at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley in Lovedale. It is one of the easiest ways to taste the breadth of Australia's oldest wine region in a single afternoon, with more than 50 wineries, craft breweries and distilleries pouring in one place, alongside food trucks, live music, masterclasses and family activities. For Sydney locals planning a winter weekend in the Hunter, this is the anchor event of the July calendar.
This guide is part of our ultimate guide to Hunter Valley wine tours.
The Essentials
The festival takes over Rydges Resort in Lovedale, in the heart of the Lower Hunter touring zone, for one big Saturday. Gates open at 11am and the event runs to 5pm, with an opening dinner held at the resort the evening before for those making a weekend of it. There is plenty of onsite parking at Rydges, though if you plan to taste freely you will want to sort transport in advance rather than drive yourself. The official Hunter Valley Wine Country events listing is a good place to check the latest festival details.
General admission is $30 per person when booked ahead, which includes festival entry, your first drink free up to the value of $8, and a memorabilia wine glass. Tickets are $40 on the day, so booking early is worth it. Masterclasses can be added to a general ticket for $20. Children are welcome and get in free with an adult.
What's On
The draw is the sheer range under one roof: more than 50 of the region's wineries, breweries and distilleries pouring side by side. On the wine side, high-profile Hunter names take part, including Brokenwood, Hungerford Hill, Margan and Bimbadgen, so you can taste benchmark Hunter Semillon and Shiraz without driving between cellar doors. The beer and spirits side brings craft brewers and distillers into the mix for anyone whose group is not exclusively wine-minded.
Beyond the tastings, the day runs gourmet food stalls and trucks, live entertainment across the afternoon, prize giveaways and a charity raffle. The masterclasses are the pick for anyone who wants to go deeper, with guided tastings and food-and-drink pairings led by people who know the region. Families are well looked after too, with free kids activities including a jumping castle, train rides and face painting.
What to Taste
If you want to taste what the Hunter does best, head for the Semillon and Shiraz. Hunter Semillon is one of the wine world's true originals, picked early at low alcohol and ageing into honeyed, toasty complexity, while Hunter Shiraz is medium-bodied, earthy and savoury rather than big and jammy. The festival format lets you compare producers side by side, which is the fastest way to understand the regional style. For the full background before you go, see our Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz guide, and the official Hunter Valley Wine site is a good primer on the region's producers.
Making a Weekend of It
July is the heart of a Hunter winter, which suits long lunches, open fires and quieter cellar doors, so the festival pairs naturally with a full weekend rather than a day trip. The smart structure is to arrive Friday, do the festival on Saturday, and keep Sunday for a relaxed cellar-door visit or two before heading home. Because the festival fills accommodation across Lovedale and Pokolbin, book your stay early: our guide to where to stay for the Hunter Valley Wine Festival covers the options. And since you will want to drink freely on the day, plan your transport ahead with our guide to getting to the Hunter Valley Wine Festival.
For the rest of the year's calendar, see our guide to Hunter Valley events in 2026, and the official Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival site has the latest program and tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival 2026? The festival is on Saturday 11 July 2026, running from 11am to 5pm at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley in Lovedale. An opening dinner is held at the resort the evening before for those staying the weekend.
How much are tickets to the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival? General admission is $30 per person booked in advance, which includes entry, your first drink free up to $8 and a memorabilia glass. Tickets are $40 on the day. Masterclasses can be added for $20, and children get in free with an adult.
Where is the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival held? At Rydges Resort Hunter Valley in Lovedale, in the Lower Hunter touring zone. There is onsite parking, though booking transport in advance is wise if you plan to taste freely across the day.
What wineries are at the festival? More than 50 wineries, breweries and distilleries take part, including high-profile Hunter names like Brokenwood, Hungerford Hill, Margan and Bimbadgen, alongside craft brewers and distillers. Check the official program for the full 2026 exhibitor list.
Is the festival family-friendly? Yes. Children are welcome and get in free with an adult, and there are free kids activities including a jumping castle, train rides and face painting, so it works for families as well as groups.
Should I drive or book a tour for the festival? If you want to taste freely, book transport rather than drive. Many visitors book a private charter or tour operator for the day so nobody has to stay sober. See our guide to getting to the festival for the options.
Browse Hunter Valley wine tour operators on The Cork Chronicles and book a driver for your festival weekend.