By Katie Carrier
Director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild

Beer Under Glass returns to Millennium Park May 8

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is excited to announce the return of Illinois Craft Beer Week May 8-15, 2026. This year we’re continuing to focus our weeklong celebration on the enduring impact craft breweries have on our communities and neighborhoods with unique opportunities throughout the week for our members, partners, fans, retailers and followers to experience and support our awesome craft beer industry in Illinois.

This year, we’re opening Illinois Craft Beer Week with our cornerstone event hosted once again outdoors in the city of Chicago — under the glass-clad skyline overlooking Millennium Park on the rooftop of the Harris Theater. Please join us for an exploration of Illinois craft beer at our signature festival and fundraiser, Beer Under Glass (BUG), on Friday, May 8. This one-of-a-kind evening pairs samples from breweries from across Illinois in a setting that can’t be beat. Guests will go on a statewide craft beer adventure, mingling with brewers from their favorite craft beer spots, sampling timeless favorites and discovering new treasures. Beer Under Glass will celebrate the collaborations, partnerships and connections that define the Illinois craft beer industry and the brewers, suppliers and supporters who are instrumental to our community.

For more information and tickets to Beer Under Glass, head to IllinoisBeer.org/ICBW. As a reminder, our ImBIBE members get a free VIP upgrade at Beer Under Glass with the purchase of a ticket. To find out more about ImBIBE or to join this awesome program (and get Illinois Brewing magazine delivered to your home each quarter), visit IllinoisBeer.org/Imbibe.

Drink Illinois Passport

Also returning this year is the Drink Illinois Passport program. The summer passport encourages beer lovers to experience and explore the incredible breweries Illinois has to offer. Travel across the state, discover new taprooms, collect stamps and celebrate the craft beer community that makes Illinois special.

Start your journey during Illinois Craft Beer Week and make this summer all about supporting local breweries and enjoying great beer. Cheers to exploring Illinois, one brewery at a time!

Stop by a participating brewery to pick up a summer passport starting on Friday, May 8. Hurry, summer passports are available only while supplies last, so get yours early.

Drink Illinois pint glasses

Limited-edition Drink Illinois pint glasses will also be available at participating breweries starting Friday, May 8.

Keep an eye on social media to see if your favorite brewery has the glasses and to find out when their official Pint Day will be. These special releases are a great way to celebrate Illinois Craft Beer Week and kick off your Drink Illinois Summer Passport adventure.

Grab a glass, support local breweries and start exploring all the great craft beer Illinois has to offer.