When is Kentucky Bourbon Festival open in 2026?

The 2026 season runs Sep 10 – Sep 13. Four-day festival at Spalding Hall, 21 and over. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.

When does Kentucky Bourbon Festival peak in 2026?

Peak color is predicted for October 23–October 27 (best estimate October 25). Color starts around October 14 and is mostly bare by November 17.

How do I get to Kentucky Bourbon Festival?

Kentucky Bourbon Festival is in Bardstown. The closest city is Louisville, about 34 mi away. It's part of Kentucky's fall lineup.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Fall festival · Bardstown · Kentucky

Bardstown calls itself the Bourbon Capital of the World, and this four-day festival each September proves the point with tastings from the surrounding distilleries, a barrel relay in the street, and food booths around historic Spalding Hall. The 2026 dates are September 10 through 13, 21 and over only.

Best for: Bourbon-country visitors, 21 and over

Don’t miss

Distillery tastings
Bourbon Barrel Relay
Spalding Hall grounds

Plan your visit

2026 season: Sep 10 – Sep 13.

Four-day festival at Spalding Hall, 21 and over

Website ↗

Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.

2026 Forecast

Color nearby peaks: October 23–October 27

Color builds from October 14 · mostly bare by November 17

Sampled at Kentucky Bourbon Festival’s own coordinates and elevation (196 m) rather than a regional average.

Kentucky is sampled at 20 weather points, then moved 3 days earlier so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. This year's weather has the peak running 4 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works

When to go to Kentucky Bourbon Festival

You get about 20 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly November 3. That is about 1 day earlier than Kentucky as a whole.

Figure about 34 mi from Louisville.