The American Cider Association (ACA) has announced a major change for CiderCon 2027, moving the annual conference from its expected return to Chicago and co-locating the event with the Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® in San Antonio, Texas, April 5–7, 2027.
Both events will take place at the Henry B. González Convention Center in downtown San Antonio. Hotel room blocks and attendee booking information are expected to be released in July.
The move marks one of the most significant shifts in CiderCon’s history, placing the cider industry’s flagship gathering alongside one of the largest beverage industry trade events in North America.
According to the joint announcement, CiderCon will maintain its cider-focused programming, technical education, networking events, and traditions while sharing a convention campus with thousands of brewers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, and beverage industry professionals attending the Brewers Conference.
“Independent beverage producers are navigating many of the same opportunities and challenges,” said Brewers Association President and CEO Bart Watson. “By bringing these communities together under one roof, we can create more opportunities for learning, connection, and business growth while preserving the unique culture and purpose of each event.”
ACA Board President Christine Walter described the partnership as an opportunity to expand networking, educational resources, and trade show access while preserving the cider-specific experiences that have defined CiderCon.
Why the Change?
The ACA has been unusually candid about the reasons behind the move.
In a June 16 message to members, the organization cited rising venue, labor, food, and travel costs, changing exhibitor expectations, increased operational complexity, and the growing financial risks associated with hosting a standalone national conference. The association also pointed to member requests for more affordable registration options, warmer destinations, expanded educational opportunities, and greater access to suppliers, buyers, and industry partners.
The organization framed the decision as part of a broader effort to keep CiderCon financially sustainable while continuing to provide a national gathering for the cider industry.
More Than a Shared Convention Center
One of the most interesting details in the ACA announcement is that the partnership extends beyond simply sharing a venue.
According to the association, portions of the educational program will be developed collaboratively with the Brewers Association, and the call for session proposals and research posters will be released jointly by the two organizations later this summer. While the ACA says it will continue leading cider-specific educational programming, including technical cidermaking, orcharding, and sensory education, the relationship appears to go beyond a simple co-location arrangement.
That distinction matters.
Sharing hotel space is one thing. Sharing aspects of conference programming suggests a deeper partnership between the two organizations and raises new questions about how cider and brewing industries may interact in the years ahead.
A New Audience for Cider Education
The partnership could also create opportunities for cider education.
The ACA has continued expanding its Certified Pommelier™ program, while the Cider Institute of North America works closely with the cider industry to provide technical education and professional development opportunities.
By bringing thousands of brewing professionals into the same conference environment, both programs could gain access to a new audience.
As breweries look for ways to diversify their beverage portfolios, cider has become an increasingly common addition to brewery taprooms and production schedules. For brewers interested in developing their cider knowledge, CiderCon 2027 could become an entry point into more advanced cider education, production training, and certification programs.
The Identity Question
The ACA clearly anticipated concerns about cider’s identity.
In its announcement, the organization emphasized that “maintaining a distinct cider identity is our top priority” and described the arrangement as “a partnership with the Brewers Association, not a blending of categories.”
Yet the move inevitably raises questions.
Does this partnership elevate cider by placing it before a larger audience of buyers, distributors, retailers, and beverage professionals?
Or does it primarily create new opportunities for brewers looking beyond beer as consumer preferences continue to evolve?
For many orchard-based cider makers, the question is especially relevant. While cider shares distributors and retail channels with beer, it also remains deeply connected to agriculture, orchards, apple varieties, terroir, and harvest conditions. As conversations around orchard preservation and cider-specific fruit continue to grow, some producers increasingly see cider as closer to wine and agriculture than to beer.
That makes another question difficult to ignore:
Why beer and not wine?
The ACA’s decision to partner with the Brewers Association may ultimately prove to be a smart and sustainable move. But it also signals that the organization sees cider’s future closely connected to the broader brewing industry.
Looking Ahead
For now, the ACA is presenting the move as an effort to reduce costs, increase opportunities, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of both CiderCon and the association itself.
Whether the partnership ultimately expands cider’s influence, creates new educational pathways, strengthens industry finances, or reshapes how cider is perceived remains to be seen.
What is certain is that CiderCon 2027 will look very different from previous years, and the decision may reveal as much about where the cider industry is headed as where its annual conference will be held.
eCiderNews will continue following this story and seeking reaction from cidermakers, orchardists, educators, and industry leaders across Ciderville.
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