Time is running out for tickets to Brew at the Zoo

Sip on SweetWater Brewing Company’s 2026 exclusive brew, the giraffe-inspired Long Neck Lager, and samples from more than 30 breweries on May 23

Atlanta’s wildest longtime Memorial Day Weekend festival tradition returns at Brew at the Zoo on Saturday, May 23, 2026, and time is running out for tickets. The 21-and-up event will feature samples from more than 30 of Georgia’s top breweries and cideries, with nearly 100 individual samples; live music at venues throughout the Zoo; evening wildlife viewing until dusk; and special Keeper Talks. Guests will also enjoy classic yard games and complimentary rides on the Endangered Species Carousel.

The 2026 music lineup will feature The Geeks, returning to the Grand Pavilion main stage for their third Brew at the Zoo, joined by DJ Dmark with beats in Flamingo Plaza; The Cherry Bomb with covers of Joan Jett and other 80s favorites in Zambezi Elephant Plaza; and Ben Wade Band, with the perfect acoustic sounds to welcome guests to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Entry Plaza. VIP ticketholders will enjoy tunes from DJ Kate in the Michael & Thalia Carlos Ballroom in Savanna Hall.

NEW for 2026 are free, unlimited sessions with custom photo strips at two Robot Booth photo booths inside the Zoo and the new Brew Challenge, a digital scavenger hunt with the chance to enter to win prizes. Also new to Brew this year is an opportunity to feed a giraffe. Giraffe feeding will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for VIP ticketholders ($4 for Zoo Atlanta Members; $5 for non-Members) and is dependent upon weather and animal care needs. Brew-goers should also plan to pick up an exclusive 2026 event T-shirt and animal-painted pint glasses, available only at the event.

Making its exclusive debut at Brew at the Zoo this year is Long Neck Lager. Created by SweetWater Brewing Company in tribute to Zoo Atlanta’s giraffes, this limited-time brew is an apricot lager perfect for summer sipping. Long Neck Lager will be available through the summer at Zoo Atlanta’s SweetWater Beer Garden and at the SweetWater Atlanta Taproom.

General admission tickets are available at $60 for Zoo Atlanta Members; $70 for non-Members. VIP tickets are available at $130 and include early entry beginning at 4:30 p.m.; exclusive access to the VIP Lounge in the Michael & Thalia Carlos Ballroom; music from DJ Kate; a curated charcuterie box from Graze Craze; access to private restrooms and air conditioning; exclusive beer and wine tastings; a swag bag featuring a Brew at the Zoo bag, event T-shirt, bottled water and snacks; and a limited-edition Brew at the Zoo pint glass. New for VIP guests is the Pavilion VIP Outpost, a dedicated VIP beer station in the Grand Pavilion.

Brew at the Zoo has been known to sell out. Advance ticket purchases are strongly encouraged, as day-of availability cannot be guaranteed. Get tickets at zooatlanta.org/brew.

Signature events such as Brew at the Zoo benefit Zoo Atlanta operations that support conservation programs and partnerships around the world. Learn more at zooatlanta.org/conservation.

Brew at the Zoo is open to ages 21 and up only; guests under 21 will not be admitted.

WHEN:
Saturday, May 23, 2026, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; last entry at 7:30 p.m.                          

WHERE:                 
Zoo Atlanta
800 Cherokee Avenue, S.E.
Atlanta, GA  30315

CONTACT:         
Rachel Davis, Director of Communications
404.624.2812
rdavis@zooatlanta.org

 Gavin Johnson, Public Relations Manager
404.624.5980
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org

About Zoo Atlanta

A proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for animal care and welfare, Zoo Atlanta has a mission to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The Zoo is home to hundreds of animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them endangered or critically endangered. Highlights include a transformed African Savanna featuring expanded habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostrich, warthogs, meerkats, and rhinos; one of North America’s largest populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Recent transformations include a newly updated African lion complex, opened in April 2025, and the state-of-the-art Rollins Animal Health Center, completed in 2024. In April 2026, Zoo Atlanta announced that through a new International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation, initiated between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, two new giant pandas will be traveling to Atlanta. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.