Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer and Barbeque Festival

At a Glance: The Information Hub

DetailInformation
Event NameKangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ Festival
DatesSeptember 19–20, 2026 (Free Launch Party Sep 18)
Exact LocationThe Friendly Inn, 159 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Entry CostTicketed entry (Passes via Oztix; kids under 12 free)
Best ForCraft beer enthusiasts, families, barbecue aficionados
Pet-FriendlyNo. Pets are not permitted at the festival.

The Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ Festival brings craft beer, barbecue competitions, food vendors, live music and family activities to The Friendly Inn on September 19–20, 2026. The event is an ABA-sanctioned competitive BBQ event and includes a range of activities for visitors of different ages.

Introduction

September brings the start of spring to the NSW South Coast, making the festival a useful addition to a weekend exploring Kangaroo Valley and the Jervis Bay region. Driving inland from Jervis Bay through Cambewarra Mountain, the landscape quickly shifts from eucalypt forest to the lush dairy pastures of Kangaroo Valley.

The region’s craft beer and barbecue gathering returns to the historic Friendly Inn on September 19–20, 2026. Visitors from Huskisson, Vincentia, Sydney and Canberra trade the coastal salt air for the smoky scent of ironbark drifting across shaded beer gardens. Groups in flannels arrive with folding chairs, ready for an afternoon of slow-cooked meats, local ales and mountain views.

The Deep Dive: Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ Festival

Organised in partnership with the Australian Barbecue Association (ABA), the weekend combines a serious competition for ranked pitmasters with a relaxed gathering celebrating regional food culture. The festival brings together independent brewers, South Coast barbecue teams, and agricultural producers shaped by the Shoalhaven climate. The festival combines barbecue competitions with craft beer, food vendors, live music and all-ages activities. The 2026 lineup includes barbecue operators such as Brazilian Flame Barbecue and Nomad Kitchen, alongside breweries and other food and market vendors.

The grounds naturally cater to different visitors. Families gravitate toward the upper lawns near the piglet racing and all-ages activities, while couples settle on the pub’s outer verandas or beneath mature jacarandas with regional beers from independents such as Jervis Bay Brewing Co and Philter. Solo visitors and barbecue enthusiasts head for the competition tents, watching pitmasters fine-tune rubs, meat temperatures, and airflow. Despite the competition’s high stakes, the festival retains an easygoing, communal atmosphere that makes it as much a South Coast food experience as a barbecue contest.

The Local Insider’s Edge

Arriving early is essential. Moss Vale Road, the valley’s main artery, bottlenecks as day-trippers arrive from the coast and highlands, while nearby parking fills by 10:00 am. Late arrivals may need to park several streets back and walk to the pub. For a timber table near the main smoke rings, be at the gates when they open. Spring temperatures can reach a comfortable 20°C by midday but drop sharply once the western sandstone escarpment blocks the sun around 3:30 pm, so bring a heavy windbreaker and wear closed-toe, water-resistant shoes. The grass can quickly become muddy under heavy foot traffic, particularly where morning dew lingers in shaded areas.

For unobstructed photos of the cooking pits, head to the southern boundary fence near the creek around 2:00 pm, when much of the crowd is watching the main stage and the lunch rush has eased.

Extend the Weekend: Where to Stay and What to Do Beyond the Festival

Although the festival takes place in Kangaroo Valley, visitors can combine it with a longer South Coast trip that includes Jervis Bay. Staying around Vincentia or Huskisson provides a coastal base for exploring local beaches and walking tracks before or after the event. Experience Jervis Bay has accommodation options in the area for visitors planning a stay near the bay.

On Sunday, visitors can explore Booderee National Park or follow coastal walking routes around Vincentia and Plantation Point. Hyams Beach is another option for a relaxed morning by the coast. Adding an extra night allows more time to explore Jervis Bay without trying to fit the festival and coastal activities into a single day.

Practicalities

  • Transit: Kangaroo Valley is approximately a 50–60-minute drive from Huskisson, depending on traffic and route conditions. From Jervis Bay, the journey heads inland toward Nowra before continuing to Kangaroo Valley. Visitors can also reach the festival by shuttle bus, with services available from Bendeela, Nowra and Bomaderry.

  • Access: The Friendly Inn grounds are entirely grassed and slightly sloped. Accessible parking exists on-site, but the terrain can become soft and difficult to navigate for mobility aids by late afternoon.

  • Direct Links: Review final competition schedules and secure entry passes at the official website.