Annual National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge

in Gulf Shores, AL on August 30-31, 2017

The Restaurant Challenge is the official cooking competition of the Annual National Shrimp Festival. The 10th Annual Restaurant Challenge, sponsored by Zatarain's, will feature the best chefs that Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and the surrounding area has to offer. Chefs will be battling for bragging rights, Royal Prestige cookware, prize money and an invitation to the World Food Championships. VIEW SITE

Bacon Bash

in River Falls, WI on September 16-17, 2017

Celebrate all things bacon! The Bacon Bash in River Falls—just 30 minutes east of St. Paul—is the largest free bacon festival in the U.S. where over 15,000 attendees are expected in 2017. The winner of the Bacon Bash will receive a Golden Ticket, paid entry to the World Food Championships competition and a $1,000 travel stipend. Bacon Bash is a two-day, family-friendly event featuring a variety of bacon-inspired food booths, cook-offs, and pig-themed activities for the entire family with live music, an arts & crafts fair, local microbrews and more! VIEW SITE

Saucy Mama's 2017 Recipe Contest

online on April 26-June 22, 2017

Saucy Mama’s 2017 Recipe Contest features some of the best home cooks and food bloggers in the nation! The first 25 qualified participants will receive any six Saucy Mama products to use during recipe creation and will have the opportunity to host a Saucy Mama giveaway to their own followers. A trip to the World Food Championships is awarded for the best recipe! Application deadline to be announced. VIEW SITE

Canadian Food Championships

in Edmonton, AB on July 21-23, 2017

Events Edmonton has partnered with the World Food Championships to host one exclusive qualifying event in 2017 for Canadian residents. The Canadian Food Championships is a year long search for Canada’s best cooks. The search has produced two world champions so far, and promises to discover even more talented cooks as it expands in 2017. VIEW SITE

Jubilee Festival of the Arts - (Chef competition)

in Old Towne Daphne, AL on September 23-24, 2017

The Jubilee Festival is held the last full weekend in September and takes place on the streets of Olde Towne Daphne. Now in its 29th year, the Festival is a celebration of the arts, the city of Daphne and the Jubilee spirit. This year, we will incorporate more than fine arts. The performing arts, the spirit of the Southern Maker and the culinary arts will be integral elements of the Jubilee Festival this year and moving forward. Nearly 15,000 patrons from along the gulf coast attend this event every year. The festival hosts more than 100 artisans. We're excited to offer two opportunities to win Golden Tickets -- one for the World Chef Challenge and one for the World Sandwich Championship. VIEW SITE

Atlanta Burger Wars - Judge's Choice

in Atlanta, GA on May 6, 2017

Atlanta Burger Wars is a new and exciting event hosted at Atlanta Motor Speedway where the competition pits some of the area's greatest burger masters against one another. All proceeds benefit the Speedway Charities. So bring out the whole family to enjoy a fun-packed day eating the state's best burgers! The grand prize winner of the Judge's Choice will win a waived entry and travel stipend to compete in the World Burger Championship! The Individual Category winner will have a waived entry fee. VIEW SITE

Jubilee Festival of the Arts - (Sandwich competition)

in Old Towne Daphne, AL on September 23-24, 2017

The Jubilee Festival is held the last full weekend in September and takes place on the streets of Olde Towne Daphne. Now in its 29th year, the Festival is a celebration of the arts, the city of Daphne and the Jubilee spirit. This year, we will incorporate more than fine arts. The performing arts, the spirit of the Southern Maker and the culinary arts will be integral elements of the Jubilee Festival this year and moving forward. Nearly 15,000 patrons from along the gulf coast attend this event every year. The festival hosts more than 100 artisans. We're excited to offer two opportunities to win Golden Tickets -- one for the World Chef Challenge and one for the World Sandwich Championship. VIEW SITE

Cumberland Plateau BBQ Cookoff & Cruise-In - Day 1 and Day 2

in Jamestown, TN on July 8-9, 2017

Located on the Cumberland Plateau 1800 feet above the heat, the Cumberland Plateau BBQ Cookoff & Cruise-In is the fastest growing KCBS competition in Tennessee! Two days, July 8-9, 2017 – surrounded by 12,000 wilderness acres with campsites and cabins – Car Show! Tractor Show! Arts & Crafts! Live Music! $20K in prize money. Register at www.eastforkstables.com > Events. One Golden Ticket with waived entry to each day's winner as well as a $500 travel stipend. VIEW SITE

Wild Card Elite Division

online on April 5-October 1, 2017

No qualifying. No category restriction. And NO excuses! To be the best, you've simply got to claim it and PROVE it! There will be 25 Wild Card Elite Golden Tickets available in 2017, each available at $1,000 and leading up to a bonus prize purse during the Main Event. Yes, it's a tournament within a tournament and raising the bar to a whole new level of competition! Link for How to Register, Rules, and Prizes: https://worldfoodchampionships.com/news/668/wfc-announces-the-wild-card VIEW SITE

The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival

in Orange Beach, AL on September 14-16, 2017

The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival features tastings of delicious food and tantalizing wines, demos from renowned chefs, live and silent auctions benefiting Make-A-Wish® Alabama, wine auctions and sales and more! Some of the top chefs on the Gulf Coast will put their skills to the test in our cooking competitions. It’s a fun weekend of wining and dining at The Wharf! VIEW SITE

Zoofari -- Burgers, Brews and Bands

in Billings, MT on August 18, 2017

Get ready for a wild evening and take your taste buds on an adventure with local brews and incredible culinary creations from area vendors featuring the beloved beef burger, all while enjoying great live music by Steve Earle, The Dukes and The Mastersons! The restaurant who wins Best Burger gets a Golden Ticket with waived entry and a travel stipend to the 2017 WFC. VIEW SITE

#Taste of America - 1st Place

online on July 21, 2017

Now in its second year, our #Taste of America is a United States qualifier to discover the best flavors and dishes American cooks have to offer! So get out your appliances, sharpen your skills and strap on those aprons. It’s time to cook your way into representing your state at the Ultimate Food Fight! Visit our facebook page for more details. Also, this year, WFC will launch a new online qualifier system to discover the best international flavors! It will work like #Taste of America, but will be devoted to foreign chefs and cooks who want to make their debut at WFC. Be on the lookout for our official announcement! VIEW SITE

Caribbean Food Championships - Date TBA

in Coco Beach, PR - 2018

The Caribbean Food Championships (CFC) is a high stakes and high energy food fight. Held in Coco Beach, Puerto Rico and scheduled for 2018, it features the best chefs in the Caribbean. Each winning CFC local Culinary Team will qualify to compete in their category at the World Food Championships for the $350,000 prize purse and honors as the best chefs in the world. The CFC is the primary international qualifier in the Caribbean. VIEW SITE

Michigan Apple Recipe Contest

in Lansing, MI on January 25, 2017

The Michigan Apple Committee has sponsored the annual Michigan Apple Recipe Contest in Frankenmuth during Zehnder’s Snowfest for more than a decade. The 2017 Apple Recipe Contest includes three categories: pasta, desserts and sandwiches. Prizes are awarded in each category for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners and the 1st place winner will also get a Golden Ticket to the 2017 World Food Championships. The Michigan Apple Committee sponsors this contest to celebrate the flavor and versatility of apples as an ingredient in many dishes. VIEW SITE

Battle of the Bones

in Central Point, OR on September 15-17, 2017

Battle of the Bones is the premier Southern Oregon people’s choice BBQ competition. Teams compete over 3 days and several categories for the people’s votes! We encourage uniqueness, good food, good fun and comradery! The event is held at the Jackson County Expo and coincides with Brew Fest! Bones and Brew cannot be beat! VIEW SITE

Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown

in Huntsville, TX on February 16-18, 2017

Our friend "Shotgun Fred” Pirkle (inventor of the BBQ Guru temperature control units) passed away from ALS on March 9, 2012. Before he died he asked several friends to make sure that a KCBS sanctioned BBQ Cook Off took place in Huntsville, Texas each year to raise scholarship funds for his Scholarship Endowment at SHSU. We are pleased to be a Preferred Qualifier of the WFC for the second year in a row. VIEW SITE

"Red Hot and Blue" Food Champ Online Recipe Contest presented by Grilla Grills

online on July 4-25, 2017

In celebration of the 4th of July, we invite all first responders/military to submit their best grilling recipe (with photo) into the "Red Hot and Blue" Food Champ Online Recipe Contest presented by Grilla Grills! For this contest, the rules are simple! (1) The contest is open to ALL past and present first responders, active and reserve military service members and veterans! (2) The submitted recipes are the competitor’s best signature dish that can be cooked on a grill/smoker (preferably a Grilla Grill) that represents their interpretation of “Red Hot & Blue.” That’s it! The rest is up to you! This contest is a qualifier for the "Thrilla at the Grilla" Challenge sponsored by Grilla Grills at the 2017 World Food Championships. Gather your best grilling recipe: the competition closes July 25 at 11:59 PM CST. (10) competitors will be selected for the live event and the winner of that event will get a Golden Ticket for the 2018 World Food Championships. VIEW SITE

Door County Coffee 2017 Recipe Contest

online on March 7-May 31, 2017

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!! Share Your Recipe in the Door County Coffee 4th Annual On-line Recipe Contest for a chance to win up to $1,000 in coffee prizes! We bet you have a favorite recipe that uses coffee and we would LOVE for you to share it with us, using Door County Coffee as an ingredient. 6 total winners will be chosen, with one 1st place winner qualifying to compete in the World Dessert Championship! Be sure to meet the deadline of May 31st in order to participate in this Preferred Qualifier Golden Ticket with waived entry fee and a $1,000 travel stipend. VIEW SITE

Dominican Food Championships

in Santo Domingo, on September 23, 2017

The Dominican Food Championships will qualify two competitors for the World Burger Championship and one competitor for Barbecue category at the 2017 World Food Championships. Located in the beautiful Dominican Republic, we welcome these winners to compete in the biggest food competition on the planet. VIEW SITE

Mammoth Burger Battle (previously 395 Burger Battle)

in Mammoth Lakes, CA on July 30, 2017

The Mammoth Burger Battle takes place in Mammoth Lakes, California in the Eastern Sierra neighboring Yosemite National Park. Qualified chefs up and down the Highway 395 corridor who are serious about their burgers and want to compete get invited to win the Golden Ticket that allows them to attend and compete at the 2017 World Food Championships. VIEW SITE

BBQ Gives Back - KCBS Grand Champion

in Urbanna, VA on March 24-25, 2017

On March 24-25, 2017, the BBQ Gives Back contest will crown THREE GRAND CHAMPIONS: the KCBS contest Grand Champion, the 2016 Virginia Grands Champion, and the 2016 MABA Cup Grand Champion. This contest helps support Team Thanksgiving and gives a monetary donation to Operation BBQ Relief. The Golden Ticket for the BBQ Gives Back - KCBS Grand Champion receives a waived entry fee and travel stipend for the 2017 World Barbecue Championship. VIEW SITE

Feeding the Gulf Coast Chef Challenge CSPIRE Grand Champion Award presented by Alabama Coasting

in Mobile, AL on September 22, 2017

Chef Challenge is Feeding the Gulf Coast’s fundraiser that brings together some of our area’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants to compete in the name of ending hunger. There are three Chef Challenge events: Mobile, AL (Thursday, 8/31/17), Pensacola, FL (Thursday, 9/7/17) and Biloxi, MS (Thursday, 9/21/17). This year, a new twist has been added – The Grand Champion Award. The chef who presents the single “best” dish will earn bragging rights across three Gulf Coast states and be awarded a Golden Ticket to the 2017 World Food Championships with a waived entry and $1,000 expense stipend. In addition, the Grand Champion and the three People’s Choice winners will be featured in the Fall issue of Alabama Coasting Magazine. VIEW SITE

Shrimp on the Barbie Shrimp Throwdown

in Charleston, SC on October 1, 2017

Who will be named Charleston's 2017 Shrimp on the Barbie Champion and go on to compete at the World Food Championships' Seafood competition in November? Watch your favorite restaurants battle it out Sunday, October 1st on the beach at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. The best seafood chefs in the area will showcase their originality and creativity to compete for the Shrimp on the Barbie title. VIEW SITE

Atlanta Burger Wars - People's Choice

in Atlanta, GA on May 6, 2017

Atlanta Burger Wars is a new and exciting event hosted at Atlanta Motor Speedway where the competition pits some of the area's greatest burger masters against one another. All proceeds benefit the Speedway Charities. So bring out the whole family to enjoy a fun-packed day eating the state's best burgers! The grand prize winner of the People’s Choice will win a waived entry and travel stipend to compete in the World Burger Championship! The Individual Category winner will have a waived entry fee. VIEW SITE

Food Champ Online Recipe Contests

online - February-August, 2017

Every year, WFC partners with key brands to bring you an online way to cook your way to a Golden Ticket. We will begin announcing these contests in February and they will run through August of 2017. VIEW SITE

Barbeques Galore Australian Barbecue Championship Series Winner

in Various Locations, - (AUS and NZL) in 2016

The Australasian Barbecue Alliance is the largest BBQ competition sanctioning body in Australia and has 30 barbecue competitions in Australia and New Zealand. In 2016 the ABA held its first-ever Barbeques Galore Australian Barbecue Championship Series where more than 200 teams competed in a points chase throughout the season. Australia is proud to send its #1 Ranked Team to the WFC to compete alongside some of the best barbecue teams in the world. VIEW SITE

Gulf Coast Chili Cookoff

in Biloxi, MS on March 4, 2017

This year’s Cookoff event is a preferred qualifier for the 2017 World Food Championships in Orange Beach, AL. To register a team to compete, or to register as a vendor or 5K run participant, Visit http://www.gulfcoastchilicookoff.com or email Dynne.Easterling@mgccc.edu. Cookoff starts at 3PM. Admission and chili tasting tickets are $10 each and can also be purchased online or at the event. Like our Facebook Page “Gulf Coast Chili Cook Off” for updates. VIEW SITE

Culinary Fight Club

in Various Locations, - Various Dates

Think Top Chef meets Fight Club meets pop-up restaurant. If you can cook, then you can cook anywhere, with limited ingredients and on a time-crunch! Home chefs, students, moms, caterers, whoever you are, if you like to cook (and you think you're good at it), then step out of your kitchen and into the ring. Contact Culinary Fight Club for a list of qualifying events for the 2017 World Food Championships. VIEW SITE

Bands, Burgers & Brews Burger Throwdown

in Charleston, SC on May 22, 2017

Who will be the LowCountry's 2017 Burger Throwdown Champion? Come watch your favorite LowCountry Chefs battle it out at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. George Motz, host of the Travel Channel's Burger Land, and our panel of chefs and culinary gurus will decide which restaurant will represent the LowCountry at the 2017 WFC! VIEW SITE