An online recipe challenge open across all ten WFC categories.
Online
The world's largest steak cookoff, crowning the SCA's global champion.
Fort Worth, TX
Panama's longest-running, KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition.
Panama City, Panama
South Korea's biggest burger event and Golden Ticket qualifier, held in Seoul.
Seoul, Korea
WFC's largest online recipe challenge, presented by Sam's Club.
Online
A charity burger competition supporting the Miracle League of Arkansas.
Little Rock, AR
A live faceoff for sandwich, bacon and chef honors at Memphis in May.
Memphis, TN
Japan's seaside barbecue championship featuring top teams from across the country.
Chiba, Japan
France's official WFC burger qualifier, with six chefs competing in Provence.
Chateauneuf-de-Gadagne, France
A one-day showcase of top chefs, mixologists and artisans in St. Louis.
St. Louis, MO
An all-category showdown uniting Texas pitmasters, chefs and home cooks as Team Texas.
Corpus Christi, TXA select group of qualifying events that each award multiple Golden Tickets — among the fastest tracks to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis.
Team Texas unites pitmasters and chefs for an all-category championship on the Gulf Coast.
A one-day culinary extravaganza spotlighting top chefs and artisans.
An online recipe challenge open across all ten WFC categories.
WFC's largest online recipe challenge, presented by Sam's Club.
An online recipe challenge awarding Golden Tickets in Live Fire, Noodle and Vegetarian.
A nationwide BBQ series connecting local cooks to Food Sport across many tour stops.
A five-stop Washington series awarding Golden Tickets across categories.
Some competitors skip the qualifier round entirely. Reigning and recent champions, prior year finalists and special invitees earn an automatic berth at the World Food Championships.
Every World Champion starts somewhere. Search official WFC qualifying events across the U.S. and internationally to find your chance to compete for food, fame, and fortune in Indianapolis.
| Date | Event | Categories | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 152025 | Top Tastes of Washington State | BaconSandwichSeafood | Ocean Shores, WA | Preferred |
| January 112026 | FYAHOUSE Flavor Showdown! | BaconDessertLive FireNoodleSandwichVegetarian | Online | Preferred |
| January 162026 | The Atlanta BBQ Store Classic | BBQ | Atlanta, GA | Preferred |
| January 172026 | 14th Annual Tailgate Chef's Challenge | Sandwich | Orange Beach, AL | Preferred |
| January 272026 | Taste of Elegance | BaconChef | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| February 212026 | Top Tastes of Washington State | BurgerNoodleVegetarian | Ocean Shores, WA | Preferred |
| February 242026 | Bolner's Fiesta Products and World Food Championships Recipe Challenge | BaconBBQBurgerChefDessertLive FireNoodleSandwichSeafoodVegetarian | Online | Preferred |
| February 272026 | Joint Culinary Training Exercise | Vegetarian | Fort Gregg-Adams, VA | Preferred |
| March 12026 | Baconfest MKE | Bacon | Milwaukee, WI | Preferred |
| March 12026 | Sunday Dinner at The Duce | Chef | Phoenix, AZ | Preferred |
| March 72026 | Greater Indy ACF Gala Annual Bite Challenge | Live FireNoodleVegetarian | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| March 72026 | Rotary Club of Azle Steak Cookoff | Live Fire | Lakeside, TX | Preferred |
| March 92026 | OCHMRA Trade Expo | Seafood | Ocean City, MD | Preferred |
| March 122026 | SCA World Championships - Ancillary World Championship | BaconDessertLive FireNoodleSandwichVegetarian | Fort Worth, TX | Preferred |
| March 122026 | SCA World Championships - Steak World Championship | Live Fire | Fort Worth, TX | Preferred |
| March 132026 | Gulf Coast Beer and Bacon Festival AKA Beer, Bacon & Beyond | BaconBBQ | Long Beach, MS | Preferred |
| March 202026 | Smoke on the Shores | BBQDessert | Nashville, TN | Preferred |
| March 212026 | BBQ Fest Panama 2026 | BBQBurger | Panama City, Panama | International |
| April 42026 | Greater Indy ACF April Fools Mystery Basket Challenge | ChefDessert | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| April 42026 | Porkmania 2026 | Live Fire | Franklin, WI | Preferred |
| April 92026 | Korea Burger Championship 2026 | Burger | Seoul, Korea | International |
| April 182026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Indianapolis | BBQ | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| April 212026 | Taste of America: Presented by Sam's Club | NoodleSandwichVegetarian | Online | Preferred |
| April 252026 | Arkansas Pie Festival | Dessert | Cherokee Village, AR | Preferred |
| April 252026 | BBQ Battle & Block Party - Houston | BBQ | Houston, TX | Preferred |
| April 252026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Rancho Cucamonga | BBQ | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Preferred |
| April 252026 | Lancaster BBQ Supply Spring Steak Cookoff | Live Fire | Lancaster, PA | Preferred |
| April 262026 | Dallas College Bits & Bites | Chef | Dallas, TX | Preferred |
| May 22026 | Roanoke Roundup | Live Fire | Roanoke, TX | Preferred |
| May 32026 | Miracle League Burger Competition - Little Rock | Burger | Little Rock, AR | Preferred |
| May 82026 | Get Wild with Wild Rice Recipe Contest | Bacon | Online | Preferred |
| May 92026 | Hometown Showdown | BBQ | Yakima, WA | Preferred |
| May 142026 | Memphis in May - Ancillaries | BBQ | Memphis, TN | Preferred |
| May 142026 | Memphis in May Flava Faceoff | BaconChefSandwich | Memphis, TN | Preferred |
| May 142026 | Nashville Lifestyles Battle of the Burger 2026 | Burger | Nashville, TN | Preferred |
| May 162026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Union Gap | BBQ | Union Gap, WA | Preferred |
| May 162026 | Top Tastes of Washington State | ChefDessert | Ocean Shores, WA | Preferred |
| May 172026 | Flavor Forays Championship BBQ | Chef | Chicago, IL | Preferred |
| May 222026 | Grate Sauces & Rubs Bring the Heat Sizzler Steak Cookoff | Live Fire | Goldsboro, NC | Preferred |
| May 232026 | Best of Bill-E's Bacon | Bacon | Fairhope, AL | Preferred |
| May 242026 | Japan BBQ Championship 2026 | BBQ | Chiba, Japan | International |
| May 302026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Las Vegas | BBQ | Las Vegas, NV | Preferred |
| June 62026 | Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Fest | Live FireNoodleVegetarian | Crown Point, IN | Preferred |
| June 62026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - El Paso | BBQ | El Paso, TX | Preferred |
| June 62026 | Spa City Steak Showdown | Live Fire | Hot Springs, AR | Preferred |
| June 62026 | Coyote Country Steak Cookoff | Live Fire | Lake Tahoe, CA | Preferred |
| June 72026 | Sunday Dinner at Carcara | Seafood | Phoenix, AZ | Preferred |
| June 122026 | Japan Burger Championship 2026 | Burger | Yokohama, Japan | International |
| June 122026 | Zoobilation | NoodleVegetarian | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| June 132026 | Beer, Bacon & Beyond Volunteer & Sponsor Appreciation | Burger | Gulfport, MS | Preferred |
| June 132026 | Car-B-Que Steak Cookoff | Live Fire | Folkston, GA | Preferred |
| June 132026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Modesto | BBQ | Modesto, CA | Preferred |
| June 132026 | Miller Lite BBQ Grilling Wars Festival | BBQ | San Juan, Puerto Rico | International |
| June 142026 | WFC Burger France | Burger | Chateauneuf-de-Gadagne, France | International |
| June 202026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Colorado Springs | BBQ | Colorado Springs, CO | Preferred |
| June 232026 | Taste of Croix Valley Online Recipe Challenge | Live FireNoodleVegetarian | Online | Preferred |
| June 272026 | BBQ Battle & Block Party - Austin | BBQ | Austin, TX | Preferred |
| June 272026 | Famous Dave's All-Star BBQ Series - Hermitage | BBQ | Hermitage, TN | Preferred |
| June 272026 | Frontier Days Steak Cookoff | Live Fire | Lynchburg, TN | Preferred |
| June 282026 | Meat Cake Invitational | ChefLive Fire | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| June 302026 | ACF National Convention 2026 | BaconChefDessertNoodle | Grand Rapids, MI | Preferred |
| Summer 20262026 | Epicure The Event | BaconChefLive FireSeafood | St. Louis, MO | Preferred |
| Summer 20262026 | Top Tastes of Washington State | BBQ | Ocean Shores, WA | Preferred |
| Summer 20262026 | Restaurant Association of Maryland | ChefSeafood | Maryland | Preferred |
| July 42026 | River City Steak Challenge 10th Anniversary | Live Fire | Mason City, IA | Preferred |
| July 112026 | Magic City Grill Fest | Burger | Colon, MI | Preferred |
| July 182026 | Bourbon & BBQ Festival | BBQ | Nashville, IN | Preferred |
| July 182026 | Charred Truth | Live Fire | Nashville, IN | Preferred |
| July 182026 | Kirkland Uncorked | BBQ | Kirkland, WA | Preferred |
| July 252026 | Nachos Showdown at the Holy Cross Wine and Cheese Festival | Sandwich | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| August 12026 | Vegetarian Taco Challenge - Presented by Cooking Contest Central | Vegetarian | Online | Preferred |
| August 22026 | Reisterstown Farmers' Market | Chef | Reisterstown, MD | Preferred |
| August 152026 | Big Beef Showdown | BaconBurgerDessertLive Fire | Lebanon, TN | Preferred |
| August 212026 | Stackin' Racks at Seven Clans Casino | BBQ | MN | Preferred |
| August 222026 | Coastal Alabama Tailgate Cook-Off Challenge | Bacon | Orange Beach, AL | Preferred |
| September 132026 | Maryland Seafood Festival | Seafood | Annapolis, MD | Preferred |
| September 192026 | Top Tastes of Washington State | Live Fire | Ocean Shores, WA | Preferred |
| September 202026 | Perfect Bite Championships | DessertNoodleVegetarian | Indianapolis, IN | Preferred |
| September 202026 | Miracle League Burger Competition - NWA | Burger | Springdale, AR | Preferred |
| September 252026 | Texas Food Championship | BaconBBQBurgerChefDessertLive FireNoodleSandwichSeafoodVegetarian | Corpus Christi, TX | Preferred |
| October 242026 | Premier Chef NWA | Chef | Rogers, AR | Preferred |
More WFC qualifying events by category — including 2025 events not shown in the 2026 schedule above.
