Bacon 
BBQ 
Burger 
Chef 
Dessert 
Live Fire 
Noodle 
Sandwich 
Seafood 
Vegetarian Featured Qualifiers
Jan
11
12th Annual Tailgate Chef's Challenge
Sat, Jan 11
Orange Beach, AL
Orange Beach, AL
1 Golden Ticket (Chef)
Feb
11
Taste of America: Elevated with Marcel's Modern Pantry
Tue, Feb 11 - Mon, Feb 24
Online,
Online,
3 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Chef, Dessert, Live Fire, Noodle, Sandwich, Seafood, Vegetarian)
Mar
1
ACF Greater Indianapolis President's Gala Small Bite Challenge
Sat, Mar 1
Carmel, IN
Carmel, IN
2 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Chef, Dessert, Live Fire, Noodle, Sandwich, Seafood, Vegetarian)
Apr
5
ACF Greater Indy April Fools Mystery Basket Competition
Sat, Apr 5
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN
4 Golden Tickets (Live Fire, Vegetarian)
Apr
12
BBQ Pit Stop Steak Championship Thermoworks
Sat, Apr 12
American Fork, UT
American Fork, UT
1 Golden Ticket (Live Fire)
Apr
13
Dallas College Bits & Bites
Sun, Apr 13
Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX
7 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Dessert, Live Fire, Noodle, Sandwich, Vegetarian)
Apr
15
Bolner's Fiesta Products and World Food Championships Recipe Challenge
Tue, Apr 15 - Mon, Apr 28
Online,
Online,
3 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Dessert, Noodle, Sandwich, Vegetarian)
Apr
26
Nashville Scene's Iron Fork Chef Competition at the Music City Food & Wine Festival
Sat, Apr 26
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN
1 Golden Ticket (Chef)
May
15
SmokeSlam
Thu, May 15 - Sat, May 17
Memphis, TN
Memphis, TN
10 Golden Tickets (Bacon, BBQ, Burger, Dessert, Live Fire, Seafood)
May
15
Memphis in May
Thu, May 15 - Sat, May 17
Memphis, TN
Memphis, TN
5 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Chef, Dessert, Noodle, Sandwich, Vegetarian)
May
31
Best of Bill-E's Bacon
Sat, May 31
Fairhope, AL
Fairhope, AL
1 Golden Ticket (Bacon)
Jun
7
88 BBQ Festival - Pork Belly Edition
Sat, Jun 7
San Jose,
San Jose,
1 Golden Ticket (Bacon)
Jun
14
Famous Dave's All-Star Contest - Colorado Springs
Sat, Jun 14
Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
3 Golden Tickets (BBQ)
Jun
21
Famous Dave's All-Star Contest - Rancho Cucamonga
Sat, Jun 21
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3 Golden Tickets (BBQ)
Jun
21
South Shore Food Bank’s Food Fight
Sat, Jun 21
Hanover, MA
Hanover, MA
1 Golden Ticket (Bacon, Dessert, Noodle, Sandwich, Vegetarian)
Jun
23
HANTX HOT Chef Throwdown
Mon, Jun 23
Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX
5 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Chef, Noodle, Vegetarian)
Jun
27
Charred Truth: A WFC Live Fire Invitational
Fri, Jun 27 - Sat, Jun 28
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN
2 Golden Tickets (Live Fire)
Jun
29
Meatstock Brazil
Sun, Jun 29 - Mon, Jun 30
1 Golden Ticket (Live Fire)
Jun
29
Japan Barbeque Championship 2025
Sun, Jun 29
Chiba,
Chiba,
1 Golden Ticket (BBQ)
Jul
25
Curley Que Classic
Fri, Jul 25 - Sat, Jul 26
Oahu, HI
Oahu, HI
4 Golden Tickets (BBQ, Dessert, Noodle, Seafood)
Jul
26
Holy Cross Wine & Cheese Festival
Sat, Jul 26
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN
1 Golden Ticket (Bacon, Chef, Dessert, Live Fire, Noodle, Sandwich, Seafood, Vegetarian)
Aug
16
Taste of Tennessee Big Beef Showdown
Sat, Aug 16
Lebanon, TN
Lebanon, TN
4 Golden Tickets (Bacon, Burger, Dessert, Live Fire)
Aug
30
88 BBQ festival 2025
Sat, Aug 30
1 Golden Ticket (BBQ)
Aug
31
Big Kahuna Wing Festival
Sun, Aug 31
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville, TN
1 Golden Ticket (Bacon, Chef, Dessert, Noodle, Sandwich, Seafood, Vegetarian)
Sep
21
Perfect Bite Championships
Sun, Sep 21
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN
3 Golden Tickets (Burger, Noodle, Vegetarian)
