Bourbon & Belonging Returns for Third Year as Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Celebration Set for October 1-4, 2026 Across the Commonwealth.
Queer Kentucky recently announced the return of Bourbon & Belonging: Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week, set for October 1-4, 2026 across multiple cities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Now in its third year, Bourbon & Belonging is the only LGBTQ+ inclusive bourbon week in the country.
The 2026 event brings together LGBTQ+ travelers, bourbon lovers, and Kentucky locals for a long weekend of curated distillery experiences, exclusive tastings, drag performances, culinary events, and community gatherings across the cities of Northern Kentucky, Louisville, Lexington, and Paducah.
This year's event features partnerships with some of the most celebrated names in American whiskey, including Angel's Envy, James Beam Distilling Company, Kentucky Peerless Distilling, New Riff Distilling, and Bespoken Spirits, among others. Visiting groups could expect exclusive barrel tastings, behind-the-scenes distillery access, drag brunches, upscale dinners, and one-time-only experiences across all four cities, with a full event lineup of events and additional partner announcements coming soon.
"Three years in, and the caliber of partners we're bringing to the table speaks for itself,” said Missy Spears, Executive Director of Queer Kentucky. “Angel's Envy, James Beam, Peerless, New Riff, Bespoken … these are serious brands hosting and uplifting our community, and that matters. Bourbon & Belonging has always been about proving that Kentucky's most iconic industry belongs to everyone. We're just getting started.”
Bourbon & Belonging was built on a straightforward idea: Kentucky's bourbon industry belongs to everyone. Since its inception, the event has welcomed visitors from across the globe and built lasting partnerships with Kentucky's top bourbon brands, tourism bureaus, and hospitality providers.
Tickets and the full event calendar will be available at bourbonandbelonging.com. Follow along at @bourbonandbelonging on Instagram.
Courtesy of Groups Today.
Photos courtesy of Louisville Tourism.
