1. Calendar

2026 Brussels Beer Challenge

Link to article BBC

October 27th-30th, 2026

Roselare, West Flanders, Belgium

Deadlines:

  • Sept 11 - Deadline to register with both the competition and EDP
  • Sept 18 - Deadline to deliver beer to east coast consolidation warehouse

Exclusive benefit for BA Export Development Program members

Not a member? Learn more about the Program benefits and fees.

International competitions serve as key platforms to raise awareness for American craft beer abroad and assist breweries with generating publicity for their brands in overseas markets. Export Development Program members are invited to submit entries for judging in the 2026 Brussels Beer Challenge.

All Export Development Program Members will be covered for competition entry fees for up to three beers and a consolidated shipment to Belgium.

EDP Members: Please read all details below before registering.

About the competition:
The Brussels Beer Challenge aims to promote the beer industry in a market that is not only a benchmark for beer but also home to connoisseurs. During three days, a tasting panel of internationally renowned beer judges will taste over 1,700 beers from around the world. The participating beers are divided into categories based on origin, type, and style, and then evaluated. At the end of the three tasting days, the best beers in each category will be awarded a gold, silver, or bronze award. EDP members won 28 awards in 2025.

For more information, please visit www.brusselsbeerchallenge.com.

Event Timeline

  • June 1 – Competition Registration Opens
  • September 11 – Deadline to register with both the Brussels Beer Challenge competition and the EDP for shipment (separate registrations, both are required). The official competition registration is open into October, however, EDP members participating in the consolidated shipment must complete the EDP shipment registration by September 11 to be included in the consolidated shipment to Belgium.

    Important: The consolidation of samples for Brussels Beer Challenge overlaps with the consolidation for the Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival. EDP members may ship samples for both activities together, but each case box must be labeled accordingly to ensure samples are palletized accordingly.

  • September 18 – Consolidation deadline. Final day for beer to arrive at the East Coast consolidation point.
  • October 27-30 – Competition judging
  • November 16 – Results announced

Entries / Costs

The Brewers Association will cover the entry fee for up to three brands (bottles and cans only) per brewery and consolidated airfreight shipment for Export Development Program members.

Breweries can submit more than three brands, but will be asked to remit payment for the number of brands submitted beyond three. The fee per additional brand is €190.

Registration Instructions

EDP members must complete two separate registrations to participate in the consolidated shipment to Belgium:

  1. Register entries with the Brussels Beer Challenge
  2. Complete the EDP consolidated shipping form at the bottom of this page

Failure to complete both registrations may result in your entries being excluded from the shipment.

Please follow the steps below carefully.

Step 1: Register Your Entries with the Brussels Beer Challenge

Deadline: September 11

  • Review the Competition Rules & Regulations and Category Guidelines
  • Submit your entries through the Competition Registration portal
    • Payment Instructions for EDP Members: On the Brussels Beer Challenge payment page, enter voucher code: BA2026FREE3
    • This code covers entry fees for your first three submissions. Breweries entering more than three beers must provide payment information for additional entries during registration.

Step 2: Complete the EDP Consolidated Shipment Registration Form

Deadline: September 11

Complete the EDP shipping form located at the bottom of this page.

Be sure to review the instructions below regarding:

  • Case labeling
  • Tracking information
  • Shipping deadlines

Step 3: Ship Entries to the Consolidation Warehouse

Review and complete all steps under “Shipping Instructions” below. Entries must arrive at the East Coast consolidation warehouse no later than September 18. Late shipments cannot be guaranteed inclusion in the consolidated shipment.

Required Beer Volumes

Per competition guidelines:

  • 6 bottles/cans for package sizes 0.5L or smaller
  • 3 bottles/cans for package sizes larger than 0.5L

Shipping Instructions

Entries must arrive at the consolidation warehouse by September 18.

For packing and shipping tips, refer to Slide 15 of the Craft Brewers Conference seminar “International Shipping for U.S. Brewers.”

Before Shipping

For palletized shipments, your carrier must contact the ACCEM warehouse at inbound@accem.com at least one business day prior to delivery to schedule an inbound appointment.

Include:

  • Brewery name
  • Notice that the shipment is part of the Brewers Association Brussels Beer Challenge consolidation

Case Labeling Requirements

Download and attach the provided shipment label to each case. Include:

  • Brewery name
  • Box/case number
  • Total number of cases shipped
    (example: 1 of 5, 2 of 5)

You must also record the contents of each case and share this information with your tracking details. Improperly labeled or late shipments may not be included in the consolidated shipment. Due to recurring carrier delays, early shipping is strongly recommended.

Competition Labeling – Unlike some international competitions, the Brussels Beer Challenge does not require bottles or cans to be labeled with registration information. Competition staff identify entries using commercial packaging labels.

Important Notice

The Brussels Beer Challenge consolidation overlaps with the Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival consolidation. Breweries shipping samples for both events may combine shipments, but each case must be clearly labeled for the appropriate competition.

Tracking Information

Email the following to EDPShipping@BrewersAssociation.org before or immediately after shipping:

  • Tracking information
  • Number of boxes/cases shipped (including palletized shipments)
  • Contents of each box/case

Consolidation Warehouse Address

IMPORTANT: Palletized deliveries require scheduled appointments.

ACCEM WAREHOUSE, INC.
Attn: BrewersAssoc/BBC
8 Peach Tree Hill Rd.
Livingston, NJ 07039

Phone: 201-858-3899 ext. 306

Warehouse Contacts

EDP Consolidated Shipping Registration Form

If the form does not appear below, refresh your browser. If it still does not load, access it directly here.

Fill out my online form.