Smoke, Sound and Stone Beer: Festival of the Stone Returns
Stone & Wood Announces Festival of the Stone 2026
Winter in Byron comes with its own rhythm - crisp afternoons, slower days and the kind of gatherings that warm you from the inside out. On Saturday 20 June, Stone & Wood’s much-loved Festival of the Stone returns for its 12th year, inviting music and beer lovers back to the brewery for an afternoon and evening of tradition, community and great live music.
Running from 3pm to 10pm at the Stone & Wood brewery in Byron Bay, the festival marks the ceremonial tapping of the brewery’s annual Stone Beer - a limited release brewed using glowing hot stones, in homage to ancient brewing techniques. It’s a ritual that sits at the heart of the event and one that locals have come to look forward to each winter.
The celebration begins well before the festival gates open. A month out, Stone & Wood’s brewing team and community gather for Stone Brew Day, where stones are heated over a woodfire before being lowered into the brew kettle. The process caramelises the malt sugars, creating the rich, smoky depth that defines Stone Beer and connects the modern brewery back to centuries-old craft.
Following another standout event in 2025, Festival of the Stone 2026 promises a curated lineup of top Australian talent (to be announced soon), alongside freshly poured brews and a strong showing of local food vendors. It’s the kind of Byron gathering that feels equal parts festival and reunion.
Importantly, the day also carries purpose. With the latest NSW Street Count recording 291 people sleeping rough in Byron Shire in 2025 - the second highest figure in the state - Festival of the Stone will once again proudly support Fletcher Street Cottage through the Ingrained Foundation. Funds raised help sustain the Cottage’s essential services, advocacy and practical support for people experiencing homelessness across the Northern Rivers.
Festival of the Stone has always been about more than beer. It’s about tradition, connection and backing the community that makes Byron what it is.
Mark the date. Book your leave. Rally your crew.
Lineup announcements and ticket releases are coming soon.
