The Beer Culture Summit is the Beer Culture Center’s annual conference that embraces one very important aspect of our mission: that beer is more than a just a beverage. Beer has been a dynamic cultural force with the ability to bring people together and the power to influence change. Around the globe, an ever-growing community of researchers, professionals, and everyday beer enthusiasts strives to learn more about beer’s historic legacies and modern worth. The Beer Culture Summit is the forum that brings them all to the table for a pint and a discussion. It is also the most diverse, educational, and accessible gathering in various industries.
The first ever Beer Culture Summit debuted in 2019 and was presented in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Over the course of four days, people from all over the country gathered in Chicago to have conversations about beer and the role it has played in humanity, past and present. Each year, we continue that legacy.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The 8th Annual Beer Culture Summit happens May 7 - 9, 2026!
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Whether you're an academic, museum professional, member of the brewing industry, or everyday beer lover, we welcome any and all proposals that explore beer's centrality in the human experience, past and present. Sessions on other kinds of alcohol are welcome too!
The Beer Culture Summit is a hybrid conference including in-person evening events curated by the Beer Culture Center and daytime virtual presentations to provide accessibility to our global community. This Call for Proposals is intended only for daytime virtual presentation proposals. Deadline to submit is December 31, 2025.
Visit the Beer Culture Summit Archive page for detailed information about past Summit programs, sessions, and presenters.