Beer, Footy & Food Festival 2026: Marking 10 Year's at Henson Park

Sydney’s Beer, Footy & Food Festival returns to Henson Park, Marrickville for its 10-year anniversary - with rugby league, craft beer, street food and the iconic Henson Park Hill atmosphere.

Each year since 2015, Henson Park has transformed into a celebration of everything Sydneysiders love: rugby league, independent beer, great street food and the unmistakable atmosphere of a day spent on the hill.

What began a decade ago as a community rugby league event attracting around 2,000 people has grown into one of Sydney's most anticipated annual sporting festivals, drawing crowds approaching 20,000. Its winning formula hasn't changed – live rugby league, outstanding local breweries, incredible food and plenty of quirky entertainment – but each year the event finds new ways to make the experience bigger, louder and more memorable.

Having had a hugely successful preliminary event at North Sydney Oval in May, the festival is coming home to Marrickville for a birthday grand finale.

An exciting entertainment schedule has been planned around a centrepiece rugby league match. The Newtown Jets, who have called Henson Park home since 1936, will host the Newcastle Knights in a blockbuster clash, with fans packing the famous grassy hill to soak up one of the game's most nostalgic settings. Few grounds capture the spirit of suburban rugby league quite like Henson Park. Generations of supporters have watched football from its iconic hill, and the festival has helped introduce a whole new audience to one of Sydney's most cherished sporting venues.

Even for those who don't follow rugby league every weekend, the atmosphere is reason enough to be there. Big-screen coverage keeps the football rolling throughout the day, while the relaxed, family-friendly vibe encourages visitors to settle in for hours rather than rushing home after full-time.

Of course, beer remains one of the festival's biggest drawcards. More than 35 independent breweries from around Australia will be pouring throughout the day, creating one of Sydney's largest celebrations of craft brewing. Festival favourites including Young Henrys, Grifter, Hawkes, Philter and Heaps Normal will be joined by a host of other brewers, offering everything from classic lagers to hazy IPAs and alcohol-free options.

The food offering has grown just as dramatically over the past decade. A sprawling collection of Sydney's favourite street food vendors will serve everything from gourmet burgers and smoked barbecue to international flavours and sweet treats, ensuring no one goes hungry between beers and football.

Entertainment extends well beyond the playing field. Returning crowd favourite Pro Wrestling Australia will once again set up ringside on the hill, bringing its trademark mix of athleticism, theatre and over-the-top personalities to thousands of cheering spectators. This year's event comes with extra bragging rights, as wrestlers battle for the inaugural Beer, Footy & Food Championship belt created especially for the festival's 10th birthday.

Then there's the event everyone talks about long after the day is over.

The Streaker Bullrush has become something of a festival institution. Inspired by the classic schoolyard game, costumed participants attempt to sprint across the field while being chased by an enthusiastic mock security team. Equal parts comedy, nostalgia and organised chaos, it has become one of the festival's most photographed and talked-about traditions.

Adding to the anniversary celebrations are two high-profile ambassadors from the NRL.

Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley returns as a long-time supporter of the festival and, many would argue, its perfect representative. His famously enthusiastic post-premiership celebration — declaring his plans involved "beers, beers and more beers" — has become part of rugby league folklore, making him an obvious fit for an event built around good times and great company.

Joining him is Penrith Panthers premiership hooker Mitch Kenny, whose recent passion for birdwatching has earned him comparisons to a future Steve Irwin. At the festival, however, he'll be putting those observation skills to a different use. As the official "retro jumper watcher", Kenny will roam the hill searching for the best vintage rugby league jerseys, with his favourite outfits winning double passes to the 2027 festival.

The Beer, Footy & Food Festival has always been about more than simply watching a game of football. It celebrates the culture that surrounds suburban rugby league – mates gathering on the hill, discovering a new local brewery, sharing great food and enjoying a uniquely Australian day out that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.

Ten years on, the festival continues to prove that some of the best sporting experiences aren't found inside giant stadiums. They're found on a grassy hill, surrounded by thousands of people enjoying great football, cold beer, delicious food and the unmistakable community spirit that has made Henson Park one of Sydney's most beloved sporting landmarks.

If there was ever a year to experience the Beer, Footy & Food Festival, this is it. Ten years of memories deserve one unforgettable birthday party. Get you tickets HERE.

Beer Footy & Food Festival

July 18th, 2026

Henson Park | 32 Centennial St, Marrickville