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Event Details
Welcome to the Kerstbierfestival 2026 in Essen
The 30th O.B.E.R. Kerstbierfestival takes place on 12 and 13 December 2026 at Heuvelhal, Kapelstraat 7, 2910 Essen, Belgium. The organiser is O.B.E.R. (Objective Beer Tasters Essen Region). Saturday runs 12:30–23:00, Sunday 12:00–19:00. Expect about 200 Belgian Christmas and winter beers, including draught pours and hot Gluhkriek. The day ticket costs 30 euros; online presale opens on 1 September 2026 at 10:00 on kerstbierfestival.be and usually sells out fast.
Highlights & Attractions at Kerstbierfestival in Essen
- Around 200 Belgian Christmas and winter beers in 15 cl tasting glasses
- About 20 beers on draught plus wood-aged winter beers
- Hot Gluhkriek as the festival signature pour
- Start package: entry, 6 tokens, 1 token for water, tasting glass and beer list
- International crowd, about 2,100 visitors, often from 25 countries
- Shuttle bus from Essen station (2 euros or 1 token each way)
- Cheese and salami plates inside, food trucks in the car park
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Free cancellation on most hotels
Program & Schedule: What to Expect in 2026
Saturday 12 December 2026: 12:30–23:00. Sunday 13 December 2026: 12:00–19:00. O.B.E.R. will publish the 2026 beer list later on kerstbierfestival.be; in 2025 it listed about 200 beers, including around 20 on draught. Most glasses cost 1 token (2.50 euros); rare beers cost 2 tokens or more. Tables in the hall favour sitting and tasting, not standing in a crush.
Without a presale ticket you can still enter on Saturday from 18:00 at the door (30 euros). O.B.E.R. members and members of Zythos, PINT, CAMRA and other EBCU groups get 1 free token for the weekend on showing a card. This is not a concert festival; the 2026 focus remains tasting, not a live music bill.
Tickets & Admission for Kerstbierfestival Essen
The official ticket is 30 euros plus a processing fee online, and 30 euros at the Saturday evening door according to the festival page. The package includes access, 6 tokens, 1 token for a bottle of water, the festival glass and the guide. Extra tokens: 2.50 euros (cash or card). Festival T-shirt 15 euros, keychain 2.50 euros. price_min and price_max are 30 euros for admission; drinks are extra. Use only kerstbierfestival.be and en.kerstbierfestival.be/festival for presale. Unused tickets are not refunded unless the organiser states otherwise.
Visitor Tips: Travel & Accommodation in Essen
- Train to Essen (Belgium): about 39 minutes from Antwerp, about 9 minutes from Roosendaal; then the shuttle or a 1.85 km walk to Heuvelhal
- Cold outdoors in December, warm inside; wear solid shoes and a jacket for the shuttle and food trucks
- Book beds in Essen, Kalmthout, Roosendaal or Antwerp early; the weekend fills up
- Presale opens 1 September 2026 at 10:00; previous editions sold out quickly
- Do not confuse this with Essen in Germany: Heuvelhal is in 2910 Essen, Antwerp province, Belgium
Note: The information on this page was researched at the time of writing and may have changed since then (e.g. date, venue, or program). Visit the organizer's official website →
The photo used is illustrative and does not necessarily depict the actual event.
