Now in its second year under the stewardship of Women On Tap CIC – the UK-based social enterprise championing gender equality in beer – IWCBD has grown into a genuine global movement. From local taprooms in Yorkshire to brewery collectives in Switzerland, South Africa, Canada and the USA, the annual International Women’s Day brew event has become one of the most meaningful campaigns in the independent beer calendar.
Participating breweries were asked to commit to donating a minimum of £100 to a women’s cause of their choosing, with funds flowing to a breadth of organisations. Domestic abuse charities, women’s aid networks, freedom and empowerment projects, and industry-specific bodies all received donations, from StrutSafe and Solace Women’s Aid, to Women in Beer UK, Pink Boots Society, Freedom 4 Girls, and Women for Refugee Women.
Of the 75 brew days that completed the post-campaign report, 62 were UK-based and 13 were international, with projects in the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, South Africa and the Cayman Islands.
Women On Tap CIC founder, Rachel Auty said “The growth we’ve seen in 2026 is genuinely extraordinary, but what moves me most isn’t the numbers, it’s the stories. Women coming together in breweries, taking up space, supporting each other, and turning their passion for beer into lasting impact for the causes that need us. This is exactly what IWCBD is for.”
The headline numbers for 2026:
Looking ahead to 2027
With 85% of this year’s participants already confirming their return, plans for IWCBD 2027 are taking shape. Initial ‘commitment to brew’ sign-ups are expected to open in autumn 2026, with Women On Tap continuing to develop the campaign’s international reach, its partnerships, and its bursary programme.
Sponsorship opportunities for 2027 are now open. Organisations interested in aligning with one of the most impactful campaigns in independent beer should get in touch directly.
Women On Tap CIC is a UK-based Community Interest Company working to advance gender equality in the beer and brewing industry. It runs IWCBD, a national bursary programme, beer education events, and campaigns advocating for women and non-binary people in beer.
The International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) was first created by Sophie de Ronde of Burnt Mill Brewery in 2014. Women On Tap CIC took on the campaign from 2025 onwards. IWCBD takes place annually around International Women’s Day (8 March).
All figures cited are drawn from the IWCBD 2026 post-campaign participant survey. 75 of 88 IWCBD 2026 projects completed the final report (85%), and three respondents had not yet confirmed final donation totals at time of publication; the 1,153 participants and the £33,889 figure may therefore be a slight understatement.
