Are you still bummed about the cancellation ofOktoberfest XXL, which was supposed to take place this weekend in Toulouse? Cheer up! From October 12 to 17, 2026, the “Pink City” will be all about craft beer with the 11th edition of L’Octobière. For an entire week, 26 breweries will take over the city’s bars, wine cellars, and restaurants for more than 50 events, including tastings, food-and-beer pairings, and Tap Takeover nights. And to wrap up the festivities in style, head to Le Layup on Saturday for a Grand Finale that’s expected to see a few thousand liters of beer flowing. Everything you need to know about this event that’s a delight for lovers of fresh beer.
Five days to tour Toulouse’s bars
From Monday through Friday, 26 partner venues will take part in the festivities, from the Biérographe to Hectare Brewpub, including Boudu Pont, Rooster & Beer, La Mécanique des fluides, Holocène, and L’Heure de Pinte. On the program: more than 50 events to discover local, French, and international breweries, right alongside the people who brew their beers.
The Tap Take Overs (TTOs) are the week’s must-see events: a brewery takes over a bar’s taps for an evening to showcase its selection. Beer lovers can also participate in small-group tastings or try food-and-beer pairings, just to prove that beer, too, can hold its own at the dinner table.
And to add a little challenge to your pub crawl, the festival is launching the “LOCTO Grid.” The concept is simple: one venue, one stamp, a grid to fill out, and—depending on the level you reach— a reward to claim at the Grand Finale.
Another event to note: the TTO Tour, featuring a curated mix of women beer enthusiasts from Les Buveuses de Bières, on Wednesday, October 15. Reservations can be made online. The full program is available on the festival’s official website. A printed flyer will also be available at participating bars, and a mobile app is making its debut this year.
This Saturday, it’s time for the Grand Finale at the Layup
After five days of crisscrossing Toulouse, the festival will set up shop at the Layup event, located at 22 Boulevard de la Marquette, for a grand closing day. From 2:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., the 26 participating breweries will offer tastings of their beers on tap or in cans, including Sabotage, Zoumaï, La Débauche, Basqueland, Brasseurs de la Jonte, Game Over Brewing, and Chubby Brewing.
Admission costs €6 with a returnable eco-cup or €10 with a screen-printed glass, and several tasting workshops are also available by reservation.
Activities Between Two Pints
Because people don’t just come to drink beer, the Grand Final also has a few activities in store . Illustrator Morgane Mlynarski will be creating five-minute express portraits , while Nawak Sérigraphie will offer the chance to customize a piece of clothing with the design of your choice.
Curious visitors can also watch a live brewing demonstration with the Forces du Malt association or take part in a giant scavenger hunt created by Les Poulpies to explore the building and try to “free Poulpie.” And to round out the experience, several food trucks will be on site.
