1. Do I need to be a professional in the brewing industry to attend, or can passionate beer fans come?

This is a professional trade event and it is not open to the general public. The Brewers Association is explicit: CBC and BrewExpo America are industry-only gatherings for beverage alcohol producers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, and related trade professionals. That said, the definition of industry professional is broad and includes consultants, journalists covering the beer and food sector, educators at brewing programs, and members of related trade organizations. The minimum age for attendance is 21 and proof of age is required. If you are buying a BrewExpo America trade show only ticket rather than a full All Access registration, the cost is significantly lower: $99 for BA members during the Smart Savings pricing window. If you are unsure whether your role qualifies, contact the Brewers Association at cbc@brewersassociation.org before registering, as refunds are only partial within a few weeks of the event and are not issued at all after April 7.

2. What is the difference between All Access registration and the BrewExpo America Trade Show Only ticket?

All Access registration, priced from $349 for BA members with early pricing up to $799 for non-members buying on site, covers everything: all educational sessions across 12 tracks, both keynote addresses, the Welcome Reception, BrewExpo America trade show access, and all sponsor activations and hospitality suites. The BrewExpo America Trade Show Only ticket, priced from $99 for BA members in the Smart Savings window up to $299 for non-members on site, covers only the trade show floor, sponsored sessions, and hospitality suites. It does not include access to educational seminars, the opening keynote by Will Guidara, the State of the Industry address by Bart Watson, or the Welcome Reception. For suppliers and equipment manufacturers whose primary goal is working the trade show floor, the trade show only ticket represents a significant cost saving. For brewery owners and production staff who want the full educational program, All Access is the correct registration.

3.What changed about the conference format in 2026, and how should I plan my travel accordingly?

The 2026 CBC is three days instead of four, running Monday April 20 through Wednesday April 22. The Brewers Association made this change in direct response to feedback from independent brewery operators who cited time away from their facilities and travel costs as barriers. In practical terms: Monday April 20 starts with the keynote, includes a trade show preview from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, and closes with the Welcome Reception in the evening. Tuesday and Wednesday are the full trade show days, with the show running 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Wednesday. The World Beer Cup Awards Ceremony runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening, closing the conference. Registration badge pickup opens Sunday April 19 at 7:30 am. If you are traveling from outside the Philadelphia area, plan to arrive Sunday April 19 and depart Thursday April 23 to cover the full program without rushing.

4. Is the World Beer Cup the same thing as CBC, and how do competing breweries attend the awards?

The World Beer Cup is a separate competition organized by the Brewers Association that runs in conjunction with CBC, but the two events are distinct. Breweries enter their beers months in advance through a separate entry process, and judging is completed before the conference begins. The awards ceremony, where medals are presented across hundreds of style categories, takes place on Wednesday April 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. All competing breweries and cideries can reserve complimentary tickets to the awards ceremony through a dedicated reservation form at worldbeercup.org, without needing to purchase a full CBC conference registration. Should there be remaining capacity, the Brewers Association sends additional communications allowing competing entries to reserve more tickets. The ceremony is also live streamed via the Brewing Network for those attending remotely. Conference registration is entirely separate from World Beer Cup competition entry.

5. I am traveling from outside the United States. What do I need to know about entry and getting around Philadelphia?

Most travelers from Europe, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and dozens of other countries enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program using an ESTA authorization, applied for online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, which costs $21 and is typically approved within minutes. If your country is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, you will need a B-1 business visitor visa and should start the process as soon as you register, as consulate appointment wait times vary significantly by country and can run several months. Philadelphia International Airport is approximately 9 miles from the convention center, and the most convenient ground transport is the SEPTA Airport Regional Rail, which runs directly to Jefferson Station inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center complex for approximately $6 to $7 and takes around 22 minutes. Private transfers via Welcome Pickups are available if you prefer a fixed-price, meet-and-greet service that tracks your flight. Within the conference itself, everything is in one building, and English is the working language of all sessions and signage.

6. Can an international company exhibit at BrewExpo America, and what should I know about shipping materials into the US for the show?

Yes, international companies exhibit at BrewExpo America every year and represent a meaningful share of the exhibitor mix. The practical challenges are primarily logistical. Bringing physical product samples, particularly fermented or alcoholic beverages, into the United States as an exhibitor requires navigating Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau import requirements, US Customs declarations, and potentially state-level permitting depending on how the product will be handled at the show. For equipment, technology, or non-alcoholic promotional materials, standard commercial import procedures through US Customs and Border Protection apply. The show's official general services contractor is Freeman, and all exhibitor materials must route through the Freeman Marshalling Yard before being directed to the convention center for unloading. Budget for customs duties, a customs broker fee, and marshalling yard handling costs, and begin your logistics planning at minimum six to eight weeks before the show opens on April 20. Triumfo and comparable trade show booth builders with North American convention experience can also advise on exhibitor logistics as part of their turnkey services.