Denver – September 08, 2026 -- The Mile High City has released its fall 2026 calendar, packed with art exhibits, beer festivals and new restaurant openings running from September through mid-November.
The Denver Art Museum opens "DIVA" on October 4
The exhibit runs through January 10, 2027, and features more than 200 objects and over 50 costumes worn by performers including Maria Callas, Cher, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, RuPaul, Prince, Tina Turner and Marilyn Monroe.
Soccer fans get a free fan festival at Union Station
NBC Sports and USA Sports partner for the Premier League Mornings Live event on October 10-11, 2026, at Denver Union Station. Attendance is free but requires advance registration.
The Great American Beer Festival moves to a new venue October 10-11
GABF debuts at Levitt Pavilion in the Ruby Hill neighborhood, bringing hundreds of breweries and the PAIRED beer-and-food event featuring chefs Carrie Baird, Cody Cheetham and Gabe Wyman alongside breweries The Post Brewing, Outer Range Brewing Company and Westbound & Down Brewing Company.
Larimer Square debuts a new literary festival
The Heritage Harvest celebration on October 10 coincides with the inaugural Blue Book Festival, hosted by new bookstore Little Blue Pigeon Books, featuring bestselling authors and a ticketed Headline Author Event in Apollo Hall.
The Denver Film Festival marks its 49th year
Running October 22 through November 1, 2026, the festival traces back to its 1978 founding as one of the country's first film festivals.
Denver Oktoberfest turns 56 with two weekends of events
Held September 18-20 and 25-27 on Larimer Street, the festival now draws more than 350,000 attendees annually for activities including Stein Hoisting, Keg Bowling and a sausage-eating contest. Separately, the Highlands Oktoberfest returns September 12 for its third year, and the Bavarian Guild's Denver Wiesn runs October 16-18 and 22-25 with the National Western Center.
Two Denver bars earn national Spirited Awards nominations
Rougarou in Five Points, from the team behind Yacht Club (Mclain Hedges, Mary Allison Wright and JohnDavid Wright), and RiNo's Peach Crease Club, founded by Alex Jump and Stuart Jensen, were named among the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Top Ten Regional Honoree bars in the U.S.
New restaurant concepts arrive across the city this season
Chef Frank Bonanno opens Romyo in Larimer Square, blending Japanese and Italian cuisine following his six-week research trip to Japan. Nocturne's owners launch La Vie En Rose, a Parisian-inspired Champagne and cocktail bar, while New York's Soda Club opens its first Denver location this fall.
Denver Arts Week runs November 6-15
The week opens with expanded First Friday Art Walks and includes Free Night at the Museums on November 7, when major cultural institutions open without charge.