10 Things You Don't Want to Miss at the 2026 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
It's that time again, Memphis. The smoke is about to rise over Liberty Park, over 200 teams from 27 states and 7 countries are fired up, and the 2026 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is shaping up to be the biggest one yet.
It's that time again, Memphis. The smoke is about to rise over Liberty Park, over 200 teams from 27 states and 7 countries are fired up, and the 2026 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is shaping up to be the biggest one yet.
You already know what this is so let's skip the intro and get straight to what's new, what's can't-miss, and what you need to have on your radar this year.
Is this your first time planning to attend the WCBCC? This guide will break down what it's all about.
1. The Inaugural Open Fire World Championship
This is THE headline for 2026. Memphis in May is launching an entirely new competition dedicated to the ancient art of open-flame cooking and they brought in internationally acclaimed Argentine-born chef and live-fire specialist Al Frugoni to headline it. Fifteen of the world's best open-fire teams will battle it out across Liberty Park, cooking up beef, pork, chicken, lamb, alligator, octopus, and more over blazing open-fire stations from Thursday evening through Saturday. This is a whole new chapter for the WCBCC. And yes, festivalgoers can taste the results. More on that below.
2. Casey Webb from Man v. Food
The host of Man v. Food is coming to Liberty Park. Casey Webb will judge the Open Fire Competition on Thursday at noon, then head to the MSH Booth at 2 PM for a meet-and-greet and autograph session. On Friday, he'll judge the Sam's Club Flava Faceoff at 5 PM and emcee the Rib Rumble at 6 PM. Webb has also teamed up with MSH Seasonings to create his "Flavor Reserve" line of signature spices, so keep an eye out for those at the booth.
3. Bill Goldberg at Liberty Park
Wrestling legend and 4x World Champion Bill Goldberg is making a special appearance on Friday, May 15. Stop by the Patriot Tactical Booth at 2 PM for photos and autographs, and expect to spot him making appearances throughout the day.
4. Live Music on the Cattlemen's Main Stage
The entertainment lineup this year goes hard:
- Thursday night — "Line Dancing King" Cupid is turning Liberty Park into the biggest backyard line dancing party of the summer.
- Friday night — Grammy award-winning blues artist Cedric Burnside headlines a "Blues, Brews and Barbecue" evening.
- Saturday night — DJ Mic Tee closes out the whole contest with the official WCBCC After-Party.
Plus daily sets from DJ Tree, DJ Sketchz, and DJ Mad EFX keeping the energy up all weekend long.
5. NEW: The Open Fire Tasting Experience
You don't just have to watch the Open Fire World Championship, you can taste it too! Multiple blazing open-fire stations will be serving up beef, pork, chicken, lamb, alligator, octopus, and more, prepared right in front of you. This is a combo ticket add-on and one of the most exciting new food experiences at the contest this year. Get your ticket and come hungry.
Heads up that you can enjoy $1.50 Budweisers in BBQ Alley and the Open Fire Experience area this year!
6. The Flava Faceoff on the Main Stage
Back for year two and bigger than before, the Sam's Club Flava Faceoff moves to the Cattlemen's Main Stage this year. Memphis' top chefs and mixologists go head-to-head in categories like Bacon, Sandwich, Chef's Choice, and Cocktail across Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The crowd gets samples, and winners earn a Golden Ticket to the 2026 World Food Championships in Indianapolis this October.
7. The Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen
This fan-favorite is back and loaded with live food demonstrations, grilling tips, tastings, and the latest outdoor cooking gear. Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or just dreaming about your next backyard setup, the Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen is an interactive experience worth spending time in. Best part? It's included with any WCBCC ticket.
8. NEW & Returning Activations You Need to Know About
A few more new additions worth flagging:
- "A Taste of Ireland" with Smokin' Soul — Ireland's own barbecue team is setting up in the Open Fire Experience area with tastings, cooking demos, and live-fire technique classes. International flavor, literally.
- Family Fun Zone presented by TVA — A dedicated space for families with inflatable games, picnic areas, and interactive activities for all ages.
- The BBQ Marketplace — Browse and buy sauces, rubs, merchandise, and unique creations directly from pitmasters and vendors.
9. Taste the 'Cue: Food Experiences
If you want to actually eat championship-level barbecue (and you do), these are your ticket options:
- VIPit Experience — Behind-the-scenes access, exclusive tastings, and insider moments with the competing teams.
- Kingsford Tour of Champions — Sample entries from top teams and cast your vote to help crown the People's Choice Champion.
- BBQ Alley — The ultimate backyard-style barbecue party. It's a vibe. DJ Mad EFX on the decks. Enjoy $1.50 Budweisers on Wednesday night.
- Open Fire Experience — The brand-new tasting experience described above. Don't sleep on this one.
10. The Ultimate BBQ Scavenger Hunt — National Barbecue Day (Saturday, May 16)
Saturday is National Barbecue Day, and Memphis in May is celebrating with an all-day social media scavenger hunt led by Rasheed Philips of Philips Barbecue Company. Here's how it works: follow @MemphisInMay and @WorldChampionshipBarbecue, then watch for hourly prize clues dropping from 11 AM to 6 PM. Solve the clue, find the prize location inside Liberty Park, snap a photo, and tag them. Prizes include a Weber 26-inch Kettle Grill, a CUTCO engraved knife, a Breeo leather apron, grilling sets, and more.
Don't-Miss Moments by Day
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
- 5:00 PM — Gates open
- 5:15 PM — Opening Ceremony Parade of Champions led by the Budweiser Clydesdales. Arrive early and line up along Early Maxwell Blvd. to catch all the action. This is where your barbecue weekend officially begins.
- 5:30 PM — Lighting of the Grill
- 6:00 PM — Sauce Wrestling presented by Dude Wipes — WCBCC teams and wrestlers go head-to-head in a boxing ring for 3 minutes of sauce-sloshing chaos. The winner takes home the WCBCC Championship Belt. Yes, it's exactly as wild as it sounds.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
- 12:00 PM — DJ Tree
- 12:00 PM — Casey Webb judges the Open Fire Competition
- 2:00 PM — Casey Webb meet-and-greet at the MSH Booth
- 4:00 PM — Flava Faceoff: Bacon (Main Stage)
- 5:00 PM — Flava Faceoff: Cocktail (Main Stage)
- 6:00 PM — Ms. Piggy Idol on the Main Stage — Dubbed "the funniest talent competition in town," this fan-favorite returns to the Cattlemen's Main Stage.
- 7:00 PM — Awards Ceremony
- 8:30 PM — Cupid takes the stage for the biggest backyard line dancing party of the summer
FRIDAY, MAY 15
- 12:00 PM — DJ Sketchz
- 2:00 PM — Bill Goldberg meet-and-greet at the Patriot Tactical Booth
- 4:00 PM — Flava Faceoff: Sandwich (Main Stage)
- 5:00 PM — Casey Webb judges the Flava Faceoff: Cocktail
- 6:00 PM — Rib Rumble presented by Dude Wipes (emceed by Casey Webb)
- 7:00 PM — Awards Ceremony
- 8:30 PM — Cedric Burnside headlines Blues, Brews and Barbecue
SATURDAY, MAY 16 — National Barbecue Day
- 11:00 AM–6:00 PM — Ultimate BBQ Scavenger Hunt (hourly clues on social)
- 12:00 PM — DJ Tree
- 4:00 PM — Flava Faceoff: Chef's Choice (Main Stage)
- 5:00 PM — Flava Faceoff: Cocktail (Main Stage)
- 6:00 PM — Rib Rumble presented by Dude Wipes
- 7:00 PM — Awards Ceremony
- 8:30 PM — WCBCC After-Party with DJ Mic Tee
Tickets and full details at memphisinmay.org. See you at Liberty Park.
