TEN YEARS OF BEERS: CRAFTED FESTIVAL GOLD COAST CELEBRATES A DECADE OF GOOD TIMES
Ten years. Countless beers. One very good reason to celebrate.
Crafted Festival Gold Coast returned to Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach, on Saturday 12 September 2026, marking a major milestone for one of the Gold Coast's favourite homegrown festivals.
Celebrating 10 years of beers, the anniversary edition brought together an incredible lineup of Australian breweries, live music, delicious food and the community that has helped make Crafted what it is today.
And while the weather had a few ideas of its own, a little rain wasn't going to stop the Gold Coast from getting amongst it.
From the first pours to the final tunes, the festival was a celebration of everything Crafted has become over the past decade.
A DECADE IN THE MAKING
What began as a celebration of Australia's growing craft beer scene has evolved into a full-scale festival experience, bringing together independent breweries, Australian musicians, local food vendors and thousands of beer lovers over the years.
For its 10th anniversary, Crafted returned to where it all began: the Gold Coast.
With the Broadbeach coastline as its backdrop, Kurrawa Park once again became a meeting place for beer enthusiasts, music lovers and groups of mates ready for a proper Saturday session.
Ten years on, the heart of Crafted remains the same: great drinks, great people and an appreciation for the talented makers behind every pour.
GOOD BEER, GREAT BREWERS AND PLENTY OF NEW FAVOURITES
At the centre of the celebration was an impressive selection of more than 20 breweries from across Queensland and interstate.
Gold Coast favourites including Balter, Burleigh Brewing, Black Hops, Carbon 6 and Precinct Brewing joined breweries from further afield, giving festivalgoers the chance to revisit familiar favourites and discover something completely new.
From refreshing lagers and juicy hazies to bold IPAs, sours and experimental releases, the variety on offer showcased the creativity and quality of Australia's brewing community.
The anniversary also brought a uniquely Gold Coast collaboration to the festival: the limited-edition Tom Tate Tinnie, a Surf Lager created with Burleigh Brewing to celebrate a decade of Crafted.
It was a fitting tribute to the city, its local brewing industry and the community that has supported the festival since the beginning.
THE SOUNDTRACK TO TEN YEARS OF BEERS
Of course, no Crafted celebration would be complete without a seriously good soundtrack.
Headlining the anniversary edition were Australian indie-rock favourites The VANNS, bringing their signature energy to the Gold Coast.
Joining them were Selve, Phil and The Blanks, SPACE&AGES, Laurel Hill, ALLORA and Beatniks DJs, delivering a diverse lineup of Australian talent throughout the day.
From laid-back afternoon tunes to the energy of the headline performances, the music was a huge part of what made the festival atmosphere so special.
Because at Crafted, discovering your next favourite band is just as important as discovering your next favourite beer.
MORE THAN JUST A BEER FESTIVAL
While the brews may take centre stage, there's never a shortage of things to do between rounds.
The Crafted Smokeshow returned with its mouth-watering mix of barbecue action, cooking demonstrations and eating competitions, while food vendors kept the crowd well fed with everything from smoky meats to loaded fries and festival favourites.
Over in the activity areas, festivalgoers got involved in Beer Yoga, Line Dancing, Master of Puppets, Ping Pong and Granddad's Games.
There were questionable dance moves, friendly rivalries and plenty of moments that probably made their way into the group chat before the day was over.
It's these experiences that have helped Crafted grow beyond a traditional beer festival into a full day of food, music, entertainment and good times.
CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE BREWING COMMUNITY
Crafted's anniversary was also an opportunity to recognise the breweries that continue to push Australia's craft beer scene forward.
Congratulations to Grafton Brewing Co., who took home The Crafty Pint People's Choice Award for their NZ Hazy IPA, and Carbon 6 Brewing, winners of the Hotel Miami Brewer's Choice Award for their Hoposphere West Coast IPA.
These awards celebrate the creativity, passion and craftsmanship that sit at the heart of the festival.
From emerging breweries to established favourites, Crafted is proud to provide a platform for brewers to share their creations, connect with new audiences and celebrate the industry together.
TEN YEARS DOWN. PLENTY MORE TO COME.
As Crafted celebrates a decade on the Gold Coast, the festival is also entering an exciting new chapter.
Having expanded to Newcastle, Crafted is heading to Melbourne for the first time in November 2026, bringing its signature mix of Australian breweries, live music, delicious food and festival atmosphere to a third city.
It's an exciting step forward for a festival that started with a simple love of great beer and the people behind it.
But before we look ahead, there's one more round of thanks to be made.
To every brewery, musician, food vendor, sponsor, partner, volunteer and member of the Crafted crew who helped bring our 10th anniversary to life: thank you.
And to everyone who came along, braved the weather, raised a glass and celebrated with us, you're the reason we get to keep doing this.
Ten years of beers. Ten years of good times. And we're only getting started.
Cheers, Gold Coast. You've been a bloody good time.