Memphis to Host 50th Barbecue Contest in May 2027
The annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest returns to Liberty Park from May 12th through May 15th, 2027.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Barbecue
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The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Liberty Park next spring. The competition runs from May 12th through May 15th, 2027.
Why it matters
The event serves as a milestone celebration for a long-standing culinary tradition that draws competitors from across the globe. It highlights the city's status as a major hub for barbecue culture and competitive pit mastering.
The contest features three primary categories for ribs, shoulder, and whole hog, while the Junior World Championship invites pit masters ages 9-17 to compete. The 2026 iteration hosted teams from 27 states and seven countries.
The players
Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
This annual culinary event is a prestigious competition that celebrates professional and amateur barbecue techniques in Memphis.
The Great American River Run
This is a recurring athletic event held in downtown Memphis that coincides with broader city-wide festival activities.
The details
Held at Liberty Park, the multi-day festival showcases traditional barbecue techniques across various professional and junior divisions. Alongside the barbecue competition, the downtown area will host the return of The Great American River Run.
Timeline
November 5th, 2026: Team applications and race registration go live.
May 12th-15th, 2027: Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
Culture Shift
The festival marks a half-century of tradition that has helped institutionalize barbecue as a major competitive sport. This event serves as a focal point for the broader trend of culinary tourism that drives annual visitor engagement in Southern cities.
Residents should prepare for the return of major festival crowds to Liberty Park and downtown during the mid-May event window. Interested participants can begin their registration process for teams and the associated river run on November 5th, 2026.
The takeaway
The 50th-anniversary celebration highlights the enduring popularity of competitive barbecue as both a professional and youth-oriented activity. Those planning to compete or attend should note that application portals open well in advance of the May 2027 dates.
Further reading
Learn more about the local competitive scene by visiting the Barbecue section.
More information
To apply for the competition, visit the Memphis in May barbecue team application portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Memphis Flyer.
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