New Brand Finance data reveals the 50 most valuable beer brands globally grow by 1% to $118.8 billion
LONDON, 8 October 2026 – According to a new report by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy, the 50 most valuable beer brands globally are collectively worth USD118.8 billion in 2026. The latest Brand Finance Beers 50 2026 ranking shows that growth is increasingly coming from outside the US, with beer brands across Latin America, Asia and Europe gaining value while several established US lagers come under pressure.
Corona Extra retains its position as the world’s most valuable beer brand, with its brand value up 4% to USD13.9 billion. Heineken ranks second, with its brand value up 7% to USD13.8 billion. Modelo Especial has strengthened its position in the global top five, with its brand value up 14% to USD8 billion, moving it ahead of Budweiser. The performance reinforces the growing importance of Mexican beer brands in the global ranking, with Corona Extra and Modelo Especial both among the world’s four most valuable beer brands.
Brahma is the fastest-growing beer brand in the ranking, with its brand value rising 65% to USD1.9 billion, climbing six places to 19th. The Brazilian brand benefits from stronger pricing, premiumisation and sustained brand investment in a market where beer brands continue to benefit from mainstream relevance and celebratory drinking occasions.
Chang is the second-fastest-growing beer brand in the ranking, up 50% to USD1.4 billion and climbing to 25th. Alongside Saigon, up 37% to USD845 million, its performance shows the continued strength of regional beer brands in South-East Asia as demand expands across fast-growing Asian markets.
In China, the world’s largest beer market, Tsingtao is up 30% to USD4.7 billion and moves from ninth to sixth, while Snow is up 13% to USD5.3 billion. Tsingtao is also the strongest beer brand globally in 2026, achieving a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.7/100 and an AAA+ brand strength rating, supported by demand for mid-to-high-end products, innovation, broader distribution and overseas expansion.
The growth story is not limited to emerging markets. European brands including Desperados, Amstel, Guinness, Tuborg and Peroni are also among the top 10 fastest growers, showing that beer brand value growth is being recorded across several markets outside the US. Guinness had one of the strongest years among established brands, with its brand value up 26% to USD4.3 billion, lifting it to ninth.
US heritage lagers have moved in the opposite direction. Budweiser lost 35% of its brand value, ranking fourth with USD7.7 billion, while Bud Light is down 19% to USD4.7 billion and falls from fifth to eighth in 2026. Busch, down 26% to USD1.2 billion, is also sharply lower in brand value, reflecting broader pressure on traditional beer consumption in the US as consumers respond to changing preferences and competition from other beverage categories.
Henry Farr, Global Sector Head for Alcoholic Drinks, Brand Finance, commented:
"The geography of beer brand growth is shifting. This year’s ranking shows a clear contrast between gains across Latin America, Asia, and Europe and the decline of several traditional American lagers. Brahma and Chang demonstrate the momentum of brands in emerging markets, while Guinness and Desperados show that established markets can still deliver strong brand value growth when brands remain distinctive and relevant. Meanwhile, Budweiser, Bud Light, and Busch highlight the challenges facing traditional US beer brands as consumer preferences continue to evolve.
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
