Norwich Beer Festival’s return to The Halls will be built on more than the drinks behind the bar. Volunteers handle the organising, serving and behind-the-scenes staffing that turn the venue into a festival.

The 47th festival is scheduled for 26–31 October 2026, with Norwich & District CAMRA bringing the event back to its traditional home.

Before the doors open

The public sessions are only part of the volunteer commitment. CAMRA also needs people to help set up during the preceding weekend and take everything down on the Sunday afterwards.

During the festival, roles include bar work, stewarding, staffing the entrance and organising the staff behind the scenes.

That range matters: someone interested in helping does not have to picture themselves only pouring a pint. There are jobs involved in getting people through the door and keeping the volunteer operation working.

CAMRA says many volunteers take a week’s holiday to be there, while its FAQ acknowledges that others can spare only a few hours.

The organising and bar teams are volunteers, but that does not mean every person working at the event is unpaid. Council employees managing The Halls and the food caterers are separate paid staff.

A charity returning too

Keeping Abreast is again the branch’s charity for 2026. The Norfolk-based organisation supports women considering or undergoing breast reconstruction after breast cancer.

CAMRA says it invited the charity back because the 2025 festival was smaller than usual. The return to The Halls should not be confused with a claim that no festival took place last year.

No fundraising total has been announced in the evidence used for this preview. The confirmed connection is the charity’s return, rather than a promised donation outcome.

Getting involved or planning a visit

Volunteers do not have to be CAMRA members. Anyone interested should check the organiser’s current requirements and staffing arrangements before committing to a shift.

For visitors, the event is strictly over-18s: children, including babies, cannot be admitted. The official FAQ says only support dogs are allowed.

Use CAMRA’s official festival website for session details, ticket options and volunteering information. Check the terms for the session you want rather than assume a ticket package is simply an admission price or that space remains.

Behind the return to a familiar Norwich venue is a practical collective effort, extending from the first preparations to the final clear-up.