Forget your usual Friday night drinks. This June, Brisbane is swapping pints for pours as the Brisbane Sake Festival returns for a three-day celebration of Japan’s most iconic beverage and trust us, this isn’t your average tasting event.
From June 19 to 21, the John Reid Pavilion at the Brisbane Showgrounds will transform into a Japanese food, drink and culture playground, bringing together more than 100 varieties of sake, breweries visiting directly from Japan, local distributors, street food vendors and artisan stalls all under one roof.
Whether you know your junmai from your daiginjo or you’re simply looking for an excuse to eat incredible Japanese food, this is the kind of event that rewards curiosity. Grab a tasting glass, wander between stalls and discover just how diverse sake can be. Crisp, fruity, rich, savoury, sparkling, there’s a style for every palate.
Of course, sake isn’t the only thing on the menu. Expect plenty of Japanese eats to keep you fuelled between tastings, along with cultural experiences, live demonstrations and the chance to chat directly with the people behind some of Japan’s most respected breweries.
As Brisbane’s food and drink scene continues to embrace Japanese flavours, the festival has quickly become one of the city’s most anticipated winter events. It’s a chance to slow down, try something new and spend an afternoon pretending you’re wandering through a food market somewhere in Tokyo.
So dust off that appetite, gather your fellow foodies and get ready to say kanpai. Winter might have arrived, but Brisbane’s sake scene is only just warming up.
Brisbane Sake Festival
John Reid Pavilion, Brisbane Showgrounds
Thu, Jun 19 – Sat, Jun 21, 2026
