2025–2026: European Beer Market – Overview and Key Trends

On 9 July 2026, The Brewers of Europe published its updated report on the beer market in the European Union, presenting statistics on beer production, consumption, and the key industry trends for 2026.

Key Findings: The EU Beer Market

Despite a continued decline in both beer production and consumption in 2025, Europe’s brewers are adapting to changing consumer preferences through innovation. In particular, the non-alcoholic beer segment continues to demonstrate strong and sustained growth, while the on-trade share of the beer market has shown early signs of stabilisation after years of decline.

Across the European Union, beer production declined by 2.9%, while beer consumption fell by 3.2% compared with 2024, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty and cautious consumer spending. Since 2019, beer production has decreased by 8.6%, while consumption has fallen by 9.2%, highlighting the persistent challenges facing the European brewing industry.

The report also points to encouraging developments for Europe’s hospitality sector. Following several years of declining on-premise consumption, the share of beer consumed in pubs, bars, and restaurants stabilised again in 2025, underlining beer’s important contribution to the hospitality industry and Europe’s social life.

Despite these challenges, brewing remains one of Europe’s leading agri-food industries. Around 10,000 breweries operate across Europe, supporting approximately 2 million direct and indirect jobs and generating around €52 billion in annual value added through strong links with agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, and tourism.

The industry’s resilience is particularly evident in the rapid expansion of the non-alcoholic beer category, now one of the fastest-growing segments of the market. Across the EU, non-alcoholic beer production increased by 5.87% between 2024 and 2025 and by 38.3% since 2020. Non-alcoholic beer now accounts for 8.2% of the EU beer market—equivalent to one in every twelve beers consumed. This growth reflects both evolving consumer preferences and the brewing sector’s ability to innovate while preserving the quality and heritage that define European brewing.

Key Highlights from the European Beer Trends 2026 Report

•  — Beer production in the EU declined by 2.9% in 2025
•  — Beer consumption fell by 3.2% compared with the previous year
•  — Non-alcoholic beer grew by 5.9% and now represents one out of every twelve beers consumed in the EU
•  — The hospitality sector’s share of total beer consumption stabilised again in 2025, although significant differences remain across individual markets
•  — Exports of European beer fell to their lowest level since 2014
•  — Around 10,000 breweries continue to support Europe’s agri-food economy, hospitality sector, and local communities.

The report concludes that beer is far more than a refreshing beverage. It is an agri-food product deeply rooted in European agriculture, a driver of the hospitality and tourism industries, a source of innovation and consumer choice, and an important contributor to vibrant local economies and communities across the continent.

Source: The Brewers of Europe