Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Guide: Bourbon Experiences, Rare Pours, Schedule & What to Know

If you love bourbon but have always looked at Bourbon & Beyond as primarily a music festival, 2026 might be the year to reconsider.

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 takes over the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, September 24–27, combining more than 100 musical acts across five stages with bourbon tastings, distiller discussions, culinary demonstrations, rare whiskey, cocktails and one of the more ambitious whiskey-focused festival programs in the country. Gates are scheduled to open at 11:00 a.m. each day.

And this year's bourbon side of the festival deserves more attention than simply grabbing an Old Fashioned between bands.

The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, Hunter's Club, revamped Fork & Flask program and a long list of distillers, whiskey personalities and culinary guests make Bourbon & Beyond 2026 capable of being a legitimate bourbon trip even before you factor in Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton and Dave Matthews Band.

Here is what bourbon drinkers need to know before heading to Louisville.

Information in this guide is current as of September 20, 2026. Festival schedules and availability are subject to change.

When Is Bourbon & Beyond 2026?

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 runs Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27, 2026.

The festival is being held at:

Kentucky Exposition Center
937 Phillips Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40209

The Kentucky Exposition Center sits near the intersection of I-65 and I-264 and immediately adjacent to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, making this an unusually accessible destination festival for anyone flying into town.

The four main musical headliners are:

• Thursday, September 24: Foo Fighters
• Friday, September 25: Mumford & Sons
• Saturday, September 26: Chris Stapleton
• Sunday, September 27: Dave Matthews Band

But we're here to talk whiskey.

And there's a lot of it.

Bourbon Experiences at Bourbon & Beyond 2026

One of the biggest mistakes a bourbon fan could make at Bourbon & Beyond is spending the entire afternoon parked in front of the music stages.

The festival has essentially built a miniature bourbon destination inside the grounds.

Three areas in particular should be on your radar.

1. The Hunter's Club: Where the Rare Bourbon Is

If you're hunting for something considerably more interesting than the standard festival whiskey pour, The Hunter's Club should probably be your first stop.

The festival describes the Hunter's Club as its destination for rare, vintage and experimental whiskey expressions.

The collection is expected to include whiskey connected to names such as:

Blanton's, Booker's, Bourbon Royal, Chapin & Gore, Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, Hill and Hill, Kentucky Owl, Old Grand-Dad and Weller, along with what the festival describes as a special taste of its own Pappyland collection.

That's a very different proposition from walking up to a normal festival bar.

For bourbon collectors, the interesting part isn't necessarily finding something allocated that you've already tasted. Vintage bottles can provide the opportunity to taste whiskey produced during entirely different eras of American distilling.

Are the rare pours included with admission?

Don't plan on your festival ticket being an all-you-can-drink bourbon pass.

General Admission provides access to the festival's bourbon programming and areas such as the Big Bourbon Bar, but beverages are purchased separately. Even Angel's Envy Beyond VIP—which includes beer, wine and cocktails within its VIP area—lists its ultra-premium and single-barrel bourbon offerings as an additional purchase.

For serious whiskey drinkers, our strategy would be simple:

Set a separate Hunter's Club budget before you arrive.

It is very easy for "I'll try one old bourbon" to turn into a considerably more expensive afternoon.

2. Kroger Big Bourbon Bar

The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar is the centerpiece for anyone wanting to explore Kentucky whiskey without spending several additional days driving the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Bourbon expert Chris Blandford curated the whiskey lineup along with a menu of cocktails made by Louisville-area mixologists.

This is where Bourbon & Beyond starts becoming interesting for a group with different levels of whiskey experience.

Your bourbon-obsessed friend can work through neat pours.

Someone newer to whiskey can order a cocktail.

And the person who only came because Dave Matthews Band is playing doesn't have to pretend that 130-proof barrel strength bourbon sounds refreshing in September.

For newcomers, the Big Bourbon Bar may actually be the better place to start before diving into the vintage bottles at Hunter's Club.

3. Fork & Flask: Bourbon Meets Food and Music

The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger program has been expanded for 2026 and may be the most interesting part of the festival for whiskey enthusiasts.

The concept combines cooking demonstrations, bourbon education, tastings, interviews and panels featuring distillers, chefs and musicians.

The program is hosted by celebrity chef Chris Santos on the food side and bourbon expert Chris Blandford on the spirits side. Participating whiskey brands include Old Rip Van Winkle, Angel's Envy, Woodford Reserve, Maker's Mark and Old Forester, among others.

And several sessions jump out immediately.

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Bourbon Schedule

The official festival app should be your final authority for times and last-minute changes. The festival has published the Fork & Flask programming by day, while schedules and set times remain subject to change.

Here are the bourbon events we'd circle first.

Thursday, September 24

The Search with Derek Trucks

Derek Trucks joins Chris Blandford for a conversation centered around Ass Pocket Whiskey and its new release.

The discussion will cover the development of the whiskey, its inspiration and the parallels between producing whiskey and making music.

That combination of whiskey launch and artist discussion is exactly the sort of event that makes Bourbon & Beyond different from a traditional tasting festival.

Building Bourbon Differently

This panel brings together Jane Bowie of Potter Jane, Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil of Pursuit Spirits, and Jason Brauner of Buzzard's Roost.

Rather than focusing on generations-old distilling families, the discussion looks at brands created in the modern bourbon boom and how newer producers have attempted to differentiate themselves.

The festival also says select audience members will have the opportunity to taste pours during the session.

For anyone interested in where American whiskey goes next rather than simply where it has been, this is one to watch.

Friday, September 25

Friday leans more heavily toward the culinary side of Fork & Flask, but bourbon fans still have worthwhile programming.

Chopped, Chilled & Distilled

Chef Amanda Freitag joins Elizabeth McCall of Woodford Reserve and Jane Bowie for a combination of cooking demonstration, bourbon discussion and whiskey pairing.

The session explores both culinary craft and modern bourbon production while pairing the food with selected bourbons.

Sean Brock Live

Chef Sean Brock takes over the Fork & Flask stage for a cooking demonstration built around live-fire cooking, Southern food traditions and drink pairings.

If your Bourbon & Beyond plans involve eating considerably better than a normal music festival, Friday deserves some attention.

Saturday Could Be the Best Bourbon Day of Bourbon & Beyond 2026

If you're buying a single-day ticket specifically because of bourbon, Saturday has an unusually deep whiskey lineup.

That isn't a ranking of the festival days so much as a look at the concentration of bourbon-specific programming on the published schedule.

Beyond the Rickhouse

Bourbon content creators, distillers and industry personalities come together for a discussion about bourbon's transformation from a largely regional American spirit into an international category and tourism industry.

Participants include Brewzle (TJ Gamble), Tyler Zoeller, Owen Martin of Angel's Envy and John Waddell of Kentucky Peerless, among others.

Expect less Bourbon 101 and more conversation about where the industry is heading.

Guardians of Great Bourbon

This could be one of the most interesting enthusiast panels of the weekend.

The session brings together representatives connected to Pappy Van Winkle, Woodford Reserve, 1792, Jefferson's and Maker's Mark to discuss the responsibility of maintaining historic whiskey brands and their identities.

For people who spend too much time debating whether brands change when a new master distiller arrives—or whether today's whiskey tastes like bottles released 15 years ago—this is exactly your kind of panel.

Bones, Bourbon & Bluegrass

Yes, there's apparently going to be a bourbon luge.

Pitmaster and butcher Dustin Olsen will combine whole-animal butchery and live-fire cooking with live bluegrass and Kentucky Peerless.

The session culminates with a roasted bone marrow Peerless Bourbon luge.

There are sentences you can only write about Kentucky.

That's one of them.

Bites & Barrels with Bardstown Bourbon Company

Chef Lawrence Weeks will pair a live cooking presentation with whiskey from Bardstown Bourbon Company, combining Kentucky ingredients with modern bourbon.

Chris Stapleton x Harlen Wheatley

And then there's the big one.

Chris Stapleton joins Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley for a discussion about Traveller Whiskey, covering the creation of the whiskey and the connection between music and whiskey-making.

Considering Stapleton headlines the Oak Stage later Saturday night, expect this to draw attention well outside the hardcore bourbon crowd.

Sunday Bourbon Experiences

Don't treat Sunday like the day to simply recover and wait for Dave Matthews Band.

There is still serious whiskey programming.

Fork, Flask & Flavor with Carrie Van Winkle

Carrie Van Winkle of Pappy & Co. joins Dan from Dan-O's for a food-and-bourbon session built around cooking, entertaining and paired whiskey.

Anything carrying the Van Winkle name will naturally get the attention of bourbon enthusiasts.

Bridging Bourbon Country

Chef Mike Bowe, Christian Huber of Starlight Distillery and members of Tonic combine food, music and bourbon from both sides of the Ohio River.

It's a nice reminder that some excellent whiskey is being produced just north of Kentucky as well.

Plates, Pours & Pop

Chef Mei Lin, musician Lisa Loeb and Melissa Rift of Old Forester combine food, bourbon pairings and conversation about their respective crafts.

The Firkin Podcast with Better Than Ezra

Chris Blandford hosts a live recording of The Firkin Podcast with members of Better Than Ezra and Greg Keeley of Larrikin Bourbon, discussing whiskey, music and the creation of Larrikin.

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Music Schedule: Headliners and Key Set Times

You could spend four days discussing bourbon and still miss the obvious point:

The music lineup is massive.

The official schedule includes more than 100 performers across five stages. Here are the biggest sets bourbon fans should build their tasting schedules around.

Thursday, September 24

Foo Fighters — 8:55 p.m., Oak Stage
Queens of the Stone Age — 7:50 p.m., Barrel Stage
The War on Drugs — 6:50 p.m., Oak Stage
Goose — 5:50 p.m., Barrel Stage
Gary Clark Jr. — 3:15 p.m., Oak Stage
Cheap Trick — 2:25 p.m., Barrel Stage

Friday, September 25

Mumford & Sons — 9:20 p.m., Oak Stage
Kacey Musgraves — 8:05 p.m., Barrel Stage
Foster the People — 7:00 p.m., Oak Stage
Of Monsters and Men — 6:05 p.m., Barrel Stage
Father John Misty — 5:10 p.m., Oak Stage

Saturday, September 26

Chris Stapleton — 9:20 p.m., Oak Stage
The Red Clay Strays — 8:05 p.m., Barrel Stage
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit — 7:00 p.m., Oak Stage
Jessie Murph — 5:55 p.m., Barrel Stage
Charley Crockett — 5:00 p.m., Oak Stage

Sunday, September 27

Dave Matthews Band — 8:05 p.m., Oak Stage
Hootie & the Blowfish — 7:00 p.m., Barrel Stage
Counting Crows — 6:05 p.m., Oak Stage
Jesse Welles — 5:15 p.m., Barrel Stage
Portugal. The Man — 4:30 p.m., Oak Stage

That leaves plenty of opportunities during the afternoon to explore Fork & Flask and the bourbon areas before settling in for the major evening sets.

Important: Festival schedules are always subject to change, so download the official Bourbon & Beyond app and build your daily itinerary there.

New for 2026: Kentucky Kingdom Is Inside Bourbon & Beyond

Here's a feature I didn't expect to be writing about in a bourbon guide:

You can ride a roller coaster between whiskey tastings and concerts.

For 2026, Kentucky Kingdom is incorporated into the Bourbon & Beyond festival experience and is available only to festival attendees during the event.

Admission includes access to 18 rides, including Lightning Run, Scream Extreme, Skycatcher and the Giant Wheel.

Most rides operate 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, while the Giant Wheel continues until 10:00 p.m. Hurricane Bay will not operate.

There are also concessions, shopping and—potentially very important during a warm September afternoon—air-conditioned indoor dining areas.

Maybe don't ride Lightning Run immediately after three barrel-proof pours.

Use your best judgment.

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Tickets

As of September 20, 2026, General Admission pricing listed by the festival starts around:

4-Day GA: $519 all-in
Single-Day GA: $225 all-in

The festival website says prices increase Monday, September 21. VIP inventory is substantially more limited, with some pass types already directing buyers toward official resale options.

General Admission includes access to the music stages, celebrity chef demonstrations, bourbon workshops, Big Bourbon Bar and other festival experiences.

Mint VIP adds preferred viewing, shaded areas, upgraded restrooms and dedicated bars, while Angel's Envy Beyond VIP adds additional hospitality, food and included beverages within the VIP area.

For a bourbon-focused trip, though, I wouldn't assume VIP automatically produces the better whiskey experience.

A GA pass plus a healthy Hunter's Club budget could be considerably more interesting for someone whose priority is tasting unusual bourbon rather than having premium concert amenities.

What to Know Before Going to Bourbon & Beyond 2026

There are a few festival rules worth knowing before you arrive.

Register Your Wristband

Festival entry uses RFID wristbands, and wristband registration is mandatory. The registration code is located on the back of the RFID saddle.

Don't wait until you're standing outside the gate to figure this out.

You Usually Cannot Leave and Come Back

This one matters.

Normal festival admission does not include daily re-entry.

Exceptions include qualifying onsite campers, certain Jampack Hotel + Admission packages and specified Costco multi-day passes. Otherwise, once you enter for the day, expect to stay inside.

Pack accordingly.

Bourbon & Beyond Is Cashless Inside

Food, beverages and merchandise inside the festival accept credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Tap to Pay and registered RFID wristbands.

Cash is not accepted inside the festival grounds, although day-of-show parking lots can accept cash.

Bring Water—But Bring the Right Bottle

Guests may bring either:

One factory-sealed water bottle up to 20 ounces, or
One empty refillable plastic water bottle.

Metal bottles such as Hydro Flasks and Yetis aren't permitted.

Free water refill stations will be available through Louisville Water Company.

This may be the most important bourbon tip in this entire guide.

If you're tasting whiskey outdoors for eight or ten hours, drink water constantly.

Chairs Require a Chair Pass

Personal lawn chairs are allowed only with a Lawn Chair Pass and only in designated General Admission areas.

Large chairs with rockers, footrests or side tables aren't permitted, and chairs cannot be placed inside the Mint VIP or Beyond VIP areas.

Check the Bag Policy Before Leaving the Hotel

Bourbon & Beyond strongly encourages attendees not to bring bags. Large backpacks, duffels and other prohibited bags will not be admitted, and there is no onsite storage for prohibited items.

Check the festival's current policy immediately before attending because security requirements can change.

Parking and Transportation

If you're driving, arrive early.

General parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is first come, first served, with access through Gates 1, 4 and 6. Leaving the parking lot means losing your original spot and paying again if you return. Overnight parking is prohibited outside designated camping areas.

A downtown festival shuttle operates between the Kentucky International Convention Center and Kentucky Expo Center from approximately 10:30 a.m. until midnight, running every 15–30 minutes and continuing return service until an hour after the show.

There's also designated rideshare/taxi service and public transit.

For visitors staying downtown, the shuttle may be far less stressful than trying to navigate festival traffic every night.

How Bourbon Drinkers Should Approach Bourbon & Beyond

Bourbon & Beyond isn't a traditional whiskey festival.

That's actually the appeal.

At a conventional bourbon festival, you can spend three hours sprinting between tasting tables trying to sample as many bottles as possible.

Bourbon & Beyond gives you four days.

Treat it differently.

Hit Hunter's Club early and find out what rare pours are available before spending money on bottles you can easily find elsewhere. Pick two or three Fork & Flask sessions each day rather than trying to attend everything. Use the Big Bourbon Bar for cocktails and more accessible whiskey.

And don't overlook the opportunity to talk to the people working the bourbon areas.

The best pour at a whiskey event isn't always the bottle with the highest secondary-market price. Sometimes it's an old brand you've never heard of, an experimental barrel you've never encountered or a producer who's pouring something that hasn't generated internet hype yet.

That's the fun part.

Is Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Worth Attending for Bourbon Drinkers?

If your only objective is to taste the maximum number of rare bourbons for the lowest possible admission price, a dedicated whiskey festival may make more financial sense.

But that's not really what Bourbon & Beyond is trying to be.

You're getting bourbon seminars, vintage pours, cocktails, culinary pairings and distiller conversations during the afternoon—and then seeing artists like Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton and Dave Matthews Band at night.

That's a combination few whiskey events can replicate.

The Hunter's Club is where collectors should spend their time.

The Fork & Flask stage is where bourbon nerds can actually learn something.

The Big Bourbon Bar gives everyone else an approachable entry point.

And when you've had enough whiskey talk, there's live music happening across five stages—and apparently a roller coaster waiting around the corner.

For bourbon drinkers heading to Louisville, Bourbon & Beyond 2026 looks much more like a four-day bourbon vacation with a massive music festival attached than simply a concert with a few whiskey booths.

And that's probably the best way to approach it.

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 FAQ

When is Bourbon & Beyond 2026?

Bourbon & Beyond takes place September 24–27, 2026, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Gates are scheduled to open at 11:00 a.m. each day.

What bourbon experiences are at Bourbon & Beyond 2026?

Major bourbon attractions include the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, Hunter's Club and Fork & Flask, along with brand activations, cocktails, bourbon panels, tastings and food-and-whiskey pairing demonstrations.

Does Bourbon & Beyond have rare bourbon?

Yes. The Hunter's Club is specifically designed around rare, vintage and experimental whiskey, with the festival advertising bottles and brands including George T. Stagg, Weller, Eagle Rare, Booker's, Kentucky Owl and others. Exact bottles and availability can vary.

Are bourbon pours included with a Bourbon & Beyond ticket?

Festival admission provides access to bourbon programming, but you should expect many whiskey pours and cocktails to require an additional purchase. Even Beyond VIP identifies certain ultra-premium and single-barrel offerings as additional purchases.

Who is playing Bourbon & Beyond 2026?

Major 2026 performers include Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band, Queens of the Stone Age, Kacey Musgraves, The Red Clay Strays, Hootie & the Blowfish, Goose, Foster the People, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Counting Crows and many more.

Is Kentucky Kingdom included with Bourbon & Beyond?

Yes. Festival attendees receive access to 18 operating Kentucky Kingdom rides during the event. Most rides operate from 2:00–9:00 p.m., with the Giant Wheel running until 10:00 p.m.

Can you leave Bourbon & Beyond and come back?

Generally, no. Standard ticket holders do not receive re-entry privileges. Certain campers, qualifying hotel packages and specified Costco passes are exceptions.

Is Bourbon & Beyond cashless?

Yes. Purchases inside the festival are cashless, with cards, mobile payments and registered RFID wristbands accepted. Cash can still be used for certain day-of-show parking purchases.