Beervana winner will receive flights, four nights in Wellington and festival access

Beervana is searching for Australia’s biggest beer fan, with one winner to be flown to Wellington this August for a four-night trip to the New Zealand beer festival.

The prize includes return flights, four nights’ accommodation, spending money and behind-the-scenes access across the festival weekend. The winner will attend Beervana at Hnry Stadium on Wellington’s waterfront, where the 2026 event runs on 21st and 22nd August.

Entries are open to beer lovers across Australia, who need to explain why they deserve the title. The organisers are looking for creativity, passion and a genuine interest in craft beer.

Beervana has built a following for its more experimental side of brewing. Across the weekend, around 25,000 litres of beer are poured, with past and expected festival draws ranging from green ant beers to banana ice cream sours, secret dance halls and food from across Wellington’s hospitality scene.

Festival Director Ryan McArthur said the competition was designed to bring an Australian beer fan closer to the New Zealand brewing scene.

“Kiwis and Aussies have a shared thirst for a good beer; we’ve welcomed breweries from across Australia to Wellington for Beervana for years, now it’s time to bring Australia’s biggest beer fan into our inner circle,” McArthur said.

“While there might be contention over who created the pavlova, there’s no contest when it comes to the shared love our two countries have for good beer, creating new, imaginative brews and pushing the limits of what’s possible in a pint.”

Kiwi brewers take focus in Melbourne

The Australian link is not just about the prize. Australia is the largest export market for New Zealand’s independent breweries, accounting for around 70 per cent of exports.

That relationship will also be visible in Melbourne, where 12 Kiwi breweries connected to Beervana will appear at Pint of Origin Festival. Double Vision Brewing, Duncan’s, Garage Project, Urbanaut and Shining Peak will be among the breweries pouring at The Catfish in Fitzroy.

James Smith, Founder and Editor of Crafty Pint, said Kiwi brewers have become a major part of the Melbourne festival.

“A visit to The Catfish is a non-negotiable for festival regulars, and some of the events they host each year have become Pint of Origin staples. Personally, I’ve regularly been blown away by Kiwi beers ever since I moved to Melbourne almost 20 years ago and can’t wait to get stuck in again this year,” Smith said.

For the Wellington trip, Beervana will run alongside Visa Wellington On a Plate, giving the winner access to one of the city’s busiest food and drink periods.

Tickets for Beervana 2026 go on sale on 3rd June 2026.

Beervana 2026
Location: Hnry Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Dates: 21st and 22nd August 2026
Tickets: On sale from 3rd June 2026
Competition prize: Return flights, four nights’ accommodation, spending money and behind-the-scenes festival access

Entry information and T&Cs are available at beervana.co.nz/australias-biggest-beer-fan