The Best Beer Festivals in Victoria
Victoria craft beer events — Great Canadian Beer Festival, Victoria Beer Week, and taproom events across Rock Bay, Esquimalt and downtown. Updated weekly.
Victoria is home to the Great Canadian Beer Festival — the country's oldest and most storied craft-beer festival, held every September on Vancouver Island since 1993 — plus Victoria Beer Week in late February and a strong year-round taproom scene concentrated in the Rock Bay district and downtown. Local heavyweights Phillips, Driftwood, Vancouver Island Brewing and Moon Under Water anchor the city's beer identity.
Victoria's calendar peaks in September around the Great Canadian Beer Festival weekend and in late February for Beer Week; the rest of the year is driven by brewery-hosted tap takeovers, release nights and Vancouver Island trail-style brewery visits.
Victoria's signature beer festivals
Great Canadian Beer Festival
Signature Victoria festival. Dates confirmed as the 2026–2027 season is published — bookmark this page or join the newsletter for release announcements.
Victoria Beer Week
Signature Victoria festival. Dates confirmed as the 2026–2027 season is published — bookmark this page or join the newsletter for release announcements.
Vancouver Island craft-beer collaborations
Signature Victoria festival. Dates confirmed as the 2026–2027 season is published — bookmark this page or join the newsletter for release announcements.
Where Victoria’s craft-beer scene lives
- Rock Bay
- Downtown Victoria
- Esquimalt
Frequently asked
When is the Great Canadian Beer Festival?
The Great Canadian Beer Festival is held each September on Vancouver Island, running since 1993 — making it Canada's oldest craft-beer festival. It typically books 60+ Canadian breweries and features regional food producers.
When is Victoria Beer Week?
Victoria Beer Week is typically the last week of February, running about 10 days of tap takeovers, collaboration brews, tastings and paired dinners across Victoria's breweries and beer-focused pubs.
More Victoria craft beer
Every Victoria craft-beer event on one page — festivals, tap takeovers, brewery releases, live music, trivia and cask nights.