COMPETITION OVERVIEW
NOVEMBER 7-11, 2018
ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA
The World Barbecue Championship will bring the greatest competition barbecue teams, cooks and chefs together in Orange Beach, AL, to settle the score and name the World Barbecue Champion. The World Barbecue Champion will advance to the Final Table and see if ‘America’s Cuisine’ will rule the world.
Alabama State Qualifier / Alabama Coasting Multi-Media – 2018 - Various Locations in Alabama
California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition – 10/13/18-10/14/18 - Hollywood, California
Missouri State Qualifier / The Show Me Series (ACWW) – 2018 – Various Locations in Missouri
Tennessee State Qualifier / Beast Feast® BBQ Festival – 9/2/18 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
The following competitions are Preferred Qualifiers for the 2018 World Barbecue Championship:
Smokin' on the Pecos - (BBQ competition - Day 2) - 6/24/18 - Artesia, New Mexico
Eggs on the Beach hosted by Bay Breeze Patio - Judge's Choice - 9/29/18 - Miramar Beach, Florida
Kitchen Ambush - KA PitMaster Invitational - 9/29/18 - Virginia Beach, Virginia
NBC (Italian National BBQ Championship) - Best Overall Score in BBQ Category - 3/1/18-8/31/18 - Italy
Special International BBQ Invitation - American Speedfest - 6/9/18-6/10/18 - Brandshatch, Kent - United Kingdom
Special International BBQ Invitation - Shrewsbury Food Festival - 6/23/18-6/24/18 - Shrewsbury, Shropshire - United Kingdom
Special International BBQ Invitation - The Big Meat - 8/27/18-8/28/18 - Guildford, Surrey - United Kingdom
Special International BBQ Invitation - The Maldon Smoke & Fire Festival - 8/18/18-8/19/18 - Maldon, Essex - United Kingdom
Walmart Online Recipe Contest "Food Champ Fresh"/Wild Card Elite Division – 7/20/18-7/30/18 – ONLINE
Wild Card Elite Division – 2/1/18-8/31/18 – ONLINE
The following competitions are Elite Qualifiers for the 2019 World Barbecue Championship:
Special International BBQ Invitation - Guy Fawkin' Hot & Fast - 11/3/18-11/4/18 - Henfield, West Sussex - United Kingdom
The following competitions are International Qualifiers for the 2019 World Barbecue Championship:
Caribbean Food Championships - 8/18/18-8/19/18 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
The following competitions are State Partner Authorized Qualifiers for the 2019 World Barbecue Championship:
Backyard BBQ Contest - 10/20/18 - McDonough, Georgia
The following competitions are automatic qualifiers for the 2018 World Barbecue Championship:
United States Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| KCBS: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Kansas City Barbeque Society Master's Series | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| MBN: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Memphis Barbecue Network | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| PNWBA: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Pacific Northwest BBQ Association | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| St Louis BBQ Society: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - St Louis BBQ Society | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| FBA: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Florida BBQ Association | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| SBN: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Southern BBQ Network | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| SCBA: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - South Carolina BBQ Association | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| BCA: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Barbecue Competitors Alliance | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| IBCA: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - International Barbeque Cookers Association | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| Culinary Fight Club - 2017 | Various Locations, US | |
| Culinary Fight Club - 2018 | Various Locations, US | Jan 1, 2018 |
| 2017 BBQ IBCA Open Registration - Kit Parten | US | |
| 2017 BBQ Open Registration in KCBS and IBCA - Jeff Petkevicius | US | |
| 2017 KCBS Open BBQ Registration - Huddie Lee Stokes | Various Locations, US | |
| International BBQ Team Invitations | Various Locations, US | Aug 30, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Brad Orrison | US | Jul 2, 2018 |
| Walmart Online Recipe Contest "Food Champ Fresh" | Various Locations, US | Jul 20, 2018 |
| Bo’s Burgers Online Recipe Contest “Bo’s All-American Burger Battle” - 2nd-3rd Place | US | Jun 29, 2018 |
| Wild Card Elite Division - John Hokanson | US | |
| KCBS: 2018 BBQ Reserve Grand Champions | Various Locations, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| IBCA: IBCA Division - Add-on BBQ Registration for 2018 | US | |
| WFC: EAT Division - Add-on BBQ Registration for 2018 | US | |
| 2017 Open BBQ Registration - Huddie Lee Stokes | Various Locations, US | |
| Hog Eye BBQ | US | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Alabama Barbecue Association - Chester Lewis | US | |
| Special Invitation - Brad Orrison | US | Jul 2, 2018 |
| WFC: 2017 WFC Top Ten Bacon | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| WFC: 2017 WFC Top Ten Barbecue | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| WFC: 2017 WFC Top Ten Seafood | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| WFC: 2017 World Barbecue Champion - EAT - Fred Robles | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| WFC: 2016 World Food Champion - Kari Luke | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| WFC: 2016 World Barbecue Champion - Luke Darnell | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| Thrilla at the Grilla - 2017 | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 11, 2017 |
| Alabama State Qualifier / WFC Team Alabama | Various Locations, AL, US | |
| Cowboy Charcoal Fire & Ice Women's Championship Barbeque Series - EAT | Orange Beach, AL, US | Sep 16, 2018 |
| ABA: 2018 BBQ Grand Champions - Alabama Barbecue Association | Various Locations, AL, US | Oct 1, 2017 |
| Cowboy Charcoal Fire & Ice Women's Championship Barbeque Series - Hot Pass - EAT | Orange Beach, AL, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| Birmingham BurgerFest 2018 | Birmingham, AL, US | Jun 2, 2018 |
| WFC: 2017 World Food Champion - Lisa Gwatney | Orange Beach, AL, US | |
| The BBQ Jelly Queens Jam - 2017 | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 9, 2017 |
| Bill E’s Small Batch Bacon - 2017 | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 9, 2017 |
| Bolner's Fiesta Challenge - 2017 | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 9, 2017 |
| Smithfield Pork Loin Challenge - 2017 | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 9, 2017 |
| WFC: 2017 WFC Top Ten Burger - Adam Pritchett | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| Alabama State Qualifier / AHERO | TBA, AL, US | |
| WFC: 2017 World Barbecue Champion - IBCA - Fred Robles | Orange Beach, AL, US | Nov 12, 2017 |
| Cowboy Charcoal Fire & Ice Women's Championship Barbeque Series - IBCA | Orange Beach, AL, US | Sep 27, 2018 |
| Delta Smoke Steak Contest | Wynne, AR, US | Jun 8, 2018 |
| Special Invitation - Tammy Stanger | Phoenix, AZ, US | Mar 19, 2018 |
| California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition | Hollywood, CA, US | |
| California State Qualifier / Cali Cooking Competition | Hollywood, CA, US | |
| WFC: 2015 World Food Champion - Loren Hill | Kissimmee, FL, US | |
| Eggs on the Beach hosted by Bay Breeze Patio - People's Choice | Miramar Beach, FL, US | Sep 29, 2018 |
| Eggs on the Beach hosted by Bay Breeze Patio - Judge's Choice | Miramar Beach, FL, US | Sep 29, 2018 |
| Eggs on the Beach hosted by Bay Breeze Patio - Non-Profit | Miramar Beach, FL, US | Sep 29, 2018 |
| Georgia State Partner Authorized Golden Ticket / ABC | Atlanta, GA, US | Apr 29, 2018 |
| Georgia State Qualifier / Atlanta Food Wars | Various Locations, GA, US | |
| Sunrise Grilling Season Opener - Andy Skahill | Bettendorf, IA, US | |
| Central Iowa Expo BBQ & Cruise - Day 1 - 2017 | Boone, IA, US | |
| Bay State BBQ Championship | Monsoon, MA, US | Oct 15, 2017 |
| WFC Special Invitation - Heather Manley | Hopkins, MN, US | |
| Missouri State Qualifier / The Show Me Series | Various Locations, MO, US | |
| Montana BBQ Cook-off (Dessert competition) | Absarokee, MT, US | Jun 24, 2018 |
| GW Grand Opening Golden Ticket Challenge | Ramsey, NJ, US | Oct 7, 2017 |
| SMOKIN’ ON THE PECOS | Artesia, NM, US | Jun 24, 2018 |
| Smokin' on the Pecos (Day 1) | Artesia, NM, US | Jun 22, 2018 |
| WFC: 2013 World Food Champion - Dave Elliott | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| WFC: 2014 World Food Champion - Ricardo Heredia | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| WFC: 2013 World Barbecue Champion - Victor Howard | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| WFC: 2014 World Barbecue Champion - Jim Elser | Las Vegas, NV, US | |
| WFC: WILD CARD ELITE DIVISION | ONLINE, US | Feb 1, 2018 |
| WFC: #Taste of America - Burger - 2nd-3rd Place | ONLINE, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| WFC: #Taste of America - Chicken - 2nd-3rd Place | ONLINE, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown | ONLINE, US | Apr 2, 2018 |
| WFC: #Taste of America - Seafood - 2nd-3rd Place | ONLINE, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| WFC: #Taste of America - BBQ - 1st Place | ONLINE, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| WFC: #Taste of America - BBQ - 2nd-3rd Place | ONLINE, US | Jun 1, 2018 |
| WILD CARD ELITE DIVISION - WALMART | ONLINE, US | |
| Smoke on the Harbor BBQ Throwdown | Charleston, SC, US | Nov 11, 2016 |
| Tennessee State Qualifier / The Lamar Johnson Classic | Chattanooga, TN, US | Oct 6, 2018 |
| Nashville Scene - Best of Nashville 2017 - BBQ | Nashville, TN, US | |
| Tennessee State Qualifier / Beast Feast® BBQ Festival | Chattanooga, TN, US | Sep 2, 2018 |
| Memphis in May | Memphis, TN, US | May 16, 2018 |
| Big BBQ Bash (Wampler's Golden Ticket) | Maryville, TN, US | Jun 22, 2018 |
| Tennessee State Qualifier / Beast Feast® BBQ Festival | Chattanooga, TN, US | Sep 2, 2018 |
| Big BBQ Bash - IBCA | Maryville, TN, US | Jun 22, 2018 |
| Tennessee State Qualifier / The Lamar Johnson Classic - Shawn Causby | Chattanooga, TN, US | Oct 6, 2018 |
| Texas State Qualifier / Super Chef Series | Port Aransas, TX, US | Oct 3, 2018 |
| State of Texas High School BBQ Cook Off | Burnet, TX, US | May 5, 2018 |
| IBCA: Texas State Qualifier / IBCA Division - Carlos Salaza | Port Aransas, TX, US | Oct 3, 2018 |
| BBQ Gives Back | Urbanna, VA, US | Mar 23, 2018 |
| Kitchen Ambush - KA PitMaster Invitational | Virginia Beach, VA, US | Sep 29, 2018 |
| 2017 Green Mountain BBQ Championship | Randolph, VT, US | Sep 9, 2017 |
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| AUSTRALIAN FOOD CHAMPIONSHIPS | TBA, AU | |
| KCBS: Vienna Barbeque Days | Vienna, AT | Jul 14, 2018 |
| CANADIAN BBQ SOCIETY | Various Locations, CA | Feb 1, 2018 |
| International BBQ Team Invitations | DE | |
| WBQA: NBC ITALIAN NATIONAL BBQ COMPETITION - BEST OVERALL SCORE IN CATEGORY | Various Locations, IT | Mar 1, 2018 |
| CARIBBEAN FOOD CHAMPIONSHIPS | San Juan, PR, PR | |
| IBQN: SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL BBQ INVITATION - THE MALDON SMOKE & FIRE FESTIVAL | Maldon, Essex, GB | Aug 18, 2018 |
| IBQN: SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL BBQ INVITATION - AMERICAN SPEEDFEST | Brandshatch, Kent, GB | Jun 9, 2018 |
| IBQN: SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL BBQ INVITATION - SHREWSBURY FOOD FESTIVAL | Shrewsbury, Shropshire, GB | Jun 23, 2018 |
| IBQN: SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL BBQ INVITATION - THE BIG MEAT | Guildford, Surrey, GB | Aug 27, 2018 |
| IBQN: SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL BBQ INVITATION - GUY FAWKIN' HOT & FAST (for 2019) | Henfield, West Sussex, GB | Nov 3, 2018 |