Tennessee cook-offs
Tennessee BBQ centers on Memphis, where the Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) sanctions the regional whole-hog and pork-shoulder calendar. The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest each May is one of the country's marquee BBQ events. Beyond Memphis, KCBS-sanctioned contests run from Nashville to the eastern mountains; outdoor season is May through October.
Big BBQ Bash
Sep 25 – Sep 26, 2026
Townsend, TN
Townsend, TN
Bartlett Festival, BBQ Contest & Car Show
Oct 2 – Oct 3, 2026
Bartlett, TN
Bartlett, TN
Hub City BBQ Fest
Oct 2 – Oct 3, 2026
Hub City Brewing
Jackson, TN
Arlington BBQ Burnout
Fri, Oct 2, 2026
Arlington, TN
Arlington, TN
Arlington BBQ Burnout
Sat, Oct 3, 2026
Arlington, TN
Arlington, TN
Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series)
Oct 9 – Oct 10, 2026
Lynchburg, TN
Lynchburg, TN
Fall Fest Memphis BBQ Cook-Off
Oct 16 – Oct 17, 2026
Collierville, TN
Collierville, TN
The Lodge Steak Cookoff
Fri, Oct 16, 2026
Gray, TN
Gray, TN
Whole Hog Festival Cookoff
Sat, Oct 17, 2026
Spring Hill, TN
Spring Hill, TN
The Lodge Steak Cookoff
Sat, Oct 17, 2026
Gray, TN
Gray, TN
Bolivar BBQ Blowout
Oct 23 – Oct 24, 2026
Bolivar, TN
Bolivar, TN
Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1)
Oct 23 – Oct 24, 2026
Hub City Brewing
Jackson, TN
Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
Hub City Brewing
Jackson, TN
Humboldt, TN Veterans Home Activities Fundraiser
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
Humboldt, TN
Humboldt, TN
Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2)
Oct 24 – Oct 25, 2026
Hub City Brewing
Jackson, TN
Humboldt, TN Veterans Home Activities Fundraiser
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
Humboldt, TN
Humboldt, TN
Frosty Butts BBQ Throwdown
Nov 6 – Nov 7, 2026
Hub City Brewing
Jackson, TN
Warriors & Wisdom 4: Return the Favor Steak Cookoff
Fri, Nov 6, 2026
Collierville, TN
Collierville, TN
Warriors & Wisdom 4: Return the Favor Steak Cookoff
Sat, Nov 7, 2026
Collierville, TN
Collierville, TN
901 Hot Wing Festival
Sat, Nov 7, 2026
Memphis, TN
Memphis, TN
Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
Mar 19 – Mar 20, 2027
Lebanon, TN
Lebanon, TN
Dr. George Smith BBQ Brawl
Apr 30 – May 1, 2027
Murfreesboro, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
It's Still Chili Chili Cook-off #1
Sat, May 1, 2027
Lynchburg Welcome Center
Lynchburg, TN
It's Still Chili Chili Cook-off #2
Sun, May 2, 2027
Lynchburg Welcome Center
Lynchburg, TN
Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival
May 14 – May 15, 2027
Sevierville, TN
Sevierville, TN