Kirkstall Brewery’s Great Exhibition of Prize Ales finds a fitting new home at The Tetley for 2026 event
Brewers from across the UK are heading to Leeds city centre to recreate centuries-old recipes as a beloved beer festival takes over the city's most iconic brewing site.
Over 200 years since it was first founded, the iconic Tetley building is set to become the beating heart of Leeds’ brewing history once more...
Kirkstall Brewery has announced that its annual beer festival, The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales, is moving to the city centre for its 2026 edition, taking over the historic Tetley site and the sprawling outdoor sun-trap of Aire Park.
The move coincides with a major update for the beloved building: Kirkstall, who have operated the site since May 2022, confirmed that their stewardship of the legendary venue will continue through the summer of 2026 and beyond.
Now in its fourth year, the Great Exhibition is far from a standard beer festival. It acts as a challenge to breweries from across the UK to delve into their archives and recreate historic, often centuries-old, beer recipes that transport drinkers to a different era.
Chris Hall, Brand Manager at Kirkstall Brewery, said: “Bringing The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales to The Tetley feels very fitting indeed. The wonderful news that our lease of The Tetley has been extended offered an amazing opportunity to bring a celebration of historic beer to the home of brewing history in Leeds.
“We are thrilled to bring this festival of beer, food and live music to the centre of Leeds, and shine a light on amazing brewers from across the UK who are bringing their A-game this year.”
The festival will see traditional brewing titans pouring alongside forward-thinking contemporary craft brewers, creating a unique timeline of British beer.
The line-up includes Anthology, Timothy Taylor, Leeds Brewery, DEYA, Marble, DMC, Lost Cause, Allsopp's, and, of course, Kirkstall Brewery themselves.
A select panel of judges will be awarding 'Prize Medals' throughout the weekend. Last year’s heavy hitters included Braybrooke Keller Lager (Best Lagered Beer) and Theakston’s Old Peculier ‘from the wood’ (Overall Champion), which offered a rare chance to sample the 5.6% dark ale served directly from a traditional 9-gallon wooden cask.
Beyond the bar, the Aire Park space will be packed with Yorkshire’s finest independent food vendors, including Niko’s Comfort Kitchen, Flavour Fleet, Once Upon A Vine, The Aire Fryer, and The Pud Inn.
Elsie Franklin, The Old Time Rags, Alligator Gumbo, and Louis Louis Louis will provide live entertainment.
When is The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales taking place in 2026?
The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales 2026 will take place over the weekend of May 29 to 31.
The three-day festival will kick off Kirkstall Brewery’s summer plans, taking over the iconic Tetley building and the surrounding Aire Park space in the heart of Leeds city centre.
Where can I get tickets to The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales 2026?
Tickets are available now from the official The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales through the Design My Night website.
Tickets range from £8.80 for a Friday evening pass to £27.50 for a weekend pass
Due to the popularity of previous events, booking in advance is highly recommended.