Bier- en Hoppefeesten Poperinge
Triennial hop and beer festival with a Hop Queen election and a Sunday Hop Procession of 1,300+ participants portraying the global hop story.
Leverage a triennial heritage beer and hop festival with 1,300+ participants and ceremonial traditions to drive tourism, craft beverage sales, and experiential brand partnerships.
- Behind-the-scenes Hop Queen election coverage and candidate spotlights
- Virtual tour of the 1,300+ person Hop Procession showcasing global hop heritage
- Craft brewery and distillery takeovers tied to festival dates
- Hop farming heritage storytelling and agricultural sustainability angles
The Bier- en Hoppefeesten is a triennial celebration held in Poperinge on 18–20 September 2026, returning only once every three years. The festival features a packed festival marquee on the 'Oudstrijdersplein', a thrilling Hop Queen election, and the colourful Hop Parade. Hop culture is central, complemented by music, folklore and atmospheric entertainment throughout the entire weekend. The celebrations trace back to 1956 and have grown into one of the most important cultural events of the Westhoek region.
Friday 18 September
13:30–14:30 Children's parade; evening fraternisation with Munich beer hall atmosphere and Poperinge's twin towns
Saturday 19 September
Afternoon: marching bands parade through town centre, Taptoe performance on Paardenmarkt; evening: Hop Queen election (4 trios compete); Hop Museum exhibits and regional products market
Sunday 20 September
Afternoon: Hop Procession (1,300+ participants, 50+ groups); evening: Hommelpap feast on main square; hop farm visits, demonstrations, and children's village throughout day
- Children's parade kicks off Friday, followed by a Munich-style fraternisation evening with Poperinge's twin towns
- Saturday features marching bands from home and abroad filling town streets, culminating in a Taptoe performance; evening brings the Hop Queen election with four competing trios
- Sunday's Hop Procession highlight: 1,300+ participants portraying the global hop journey, hop-picking history, and manual harvesting traditions
- Hommelpap feast on the main square Sunday evening, Hop Museum free entry, local hop farm visits and harvesting demonstrations
- Festival tent on Oudstrijdersplein with beer, street animation, and family-friendly activities including a children's village