Three Days Celebrating Grain, Craft and Community
Australia’s grain and fermentation industries will come together again this October in the Riverina as Grainstock returns for its second year, following the strong success of its inaugural event.
Grainstock 2026 will take place across three days:
- Grainstock Fields: Thursday 15 October 2026 – Riverina/Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
- Grainstock Ferment: Friday 16 October 2026 – Whitton
- Grainstock Festival: Saturday 17 October 2026 – Griffith
Set in the heart of the Riverina at the beginning of grain harvest, Grainstock is a unique event that brings together farmers, breeders, maltsters, brewers, distillers, bakers, industry suppliers and processors to celebrate the journey from field to ferment and grain to glass/plate.
The three-day program combines industry learning, supply chain exploration, networking and public celebration.
Event founder Stu Whytcross says the original plan was to run Grainstock as a biennial event, but the response to the first year made organisers reconsider.
“The plan was that if successful, we’d look to run Grainstock every second year, but the response to the inaugural event was really encouraging,” Whytcross said.
“We really wanted to build on the momentum and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, and also capture many people who missed out on attending the inaugural event.”
Whytcross said the team has taken on board what they learned from the first event and are already planning some creative, exciting new additions for 2026.
“2025 was the first time we’d run anything like this, so there were plenty of lessons learned along the way.” he said.
“We’ve taken those on board and are planning a few surprises that will make Grainstock 2026 more polished and even more memorable for everyone who attends.”
Day 1 – Grainstock: Fields
The opening day will feature bus tours exploring the grain supply chain, taking attendees into the paddocks and facilities that underpin Australia’s brewing, distilling and baking industries.
Tours will visit a range of locations including:
- Local grain farms
- Trial and breeding sites
- Grain processing and fermentation facilities
The day provides a rare opportunity to see how grain moves from field to malt house, distillery, brewery and bakery.
Day 2 – Grainstock: Ferment
The second day will bring the industry together for a full-day symposium featuring:
- Expert speakers and industry panels
- Hands-on demonstrations
- Sensory tastings
- Trade show exhibitors
The Ferment symposium is designed to connect producers, makers and suppliers across the brewing, distilling and baking sectors.
Day 3 – Grainstock: Festival
The final day will open Grainstock to the public with a consumer festival in Griffith, celebrating craft beer, spirits, food and live entertainment.
The festival showcases the region’s producers alongside brewers, distillers, chefs and artisans who transform grain into some of Australia’s most exciting food and drink.
Additional events, collaborations and entertainment will be announced as the full program is released.
Following strong demand in the first year, organisers are encouraging visitors to book accommodation early, with Griffith and surrounding areas expected to fill quickly.
Tickets
Earlybird ticket sales will open on 1st June 2026.
Sponsorship
Grainstock 2026 sponsorship prospectus is now live and anyone interested in supporting this year’s event should visit https://www.grainstock.com.au/fieldsandferment or email info@grainstock.com.au.
