Tennessee Barbecue Festivals and Cook-Offs

Yearly Barbecue Festivals and Cook-Offs

Listed by the month they usually run. Organizer pages are linked; each date is as the organizer printed it.

• Smoke on the Shores BBQ ChampionshipLebanon · usually MarchA Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned contest run by a nonprofit, with a 140-team professional field cooking ribs, chicken, pork and brisket, a 60-team backyard field and a Kids Q, per its site. Next date: March 19-20, 2027, per the organizer.
• Boro BBQ FestivalMurfreesboro (Hop Springs Park) · usually Late April or early MayA festival built around the Dr. George Smith BBQ Brawl, a KCBS cook-off of about 50 teams, with People’s Choice tasting, vendors, live music and family activities. Its FAQ says the festival is free and open to the public. Next date: April 30, 2027 to May 1, 2027, per the organizer.
• Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking ContestMemphis (Liberty Park) · usually MayMemphis in May International Festival runs it and calls it the world’s largest pork barbecue cooking contest; it says the 2026 contest had more than 200 teams from 27 states and seven other countries. Ticket prices are not printed on the barbecue page Not confirmed Next date: May 12-15, 2027 (Wednesday to Saturday), at Liberty Park, per the organizer (one heading on its site says May 12-17 Not confirmed). Last held: May 13-16, 2026, at Liberty Park.
• Bloomin’ BBQ Festival and Tennessee State Championship BBQ Cook OffSevierville (historic downtown) · usually MayRun by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and visitors bureau, with free admission and free concerts, per its site. Its KCBS-sanctioned cook-off crowns the Tennessee State Champion. Next date: Friday, May 14, 2027, 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, May 15, 2027, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., per the organizer.
• Depot District BBQ FestivalSmyrna (Depot District, Front Street) · usually AugustA Town of Smyrna evening of barbecue on Front Street. The town says admission is free; food is bought from vendors. Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 6 to 9 in the evening.
• Blooms, Bluegrass & BBQ FestivalSweetwater (historic downtown) · usually SeptemberA downtown festival of bluegrass music, Main Street topiaries, food and vendors with a barbecue competition; in 2026 the judges bought pulled pork plates from competing vendors, per its site. Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: September 18-19, 2026.
• Chester County BBQ FestivalHenderson (Chester County Courthouse lawn) · usually September (fourth weekend)Held every year since 1978 on the fourth weekend of September, run by volunteers for the Henderson and Chester County Chamber of Commerce, per its site. No admission fee; it also hosts the Tennessee State Hog Callin’ Championship and kids’ activities. Henderson sits in West Tennessee whole hog country. Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: Friday and Saturday, September 25-26, 2026 (the 48th).
• Big BBQ BashTownsend (Greater Smokies Event Center) · usually SeptemberA Helen Ross McNabb Foundation fundraiser and KCBS-sanctioned contest in pork, chicken, ribs and brisket, with a People’s Choice pork vote, per the foundation’s page. Admission is not stated Not confirmed Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: September 25-26, 2026.
• Bartlett Festival, BBQ Contest & Car ShowBartlett (W. J. Freeman Park) · usually Early OctoberA City of Bartlett festival that puts a barbecue contest, a car show and live music together in W. J. Freeman Park, with a 5K on the Saturday morning, per the city’s page. Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2026.
• Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BarbecueLynchburg (Wiseman Park) · usually OctoberAn invitation-only contest hosted by the Jack Daniel Distillery, billed as the last big competition of the year, with teams from across the country and abroad. The host is a whiskey maker; its site asks visitors to confirm they are of legal drinking age. Next date: October 8-9, 2027, per the organizer. Last held: October 8-10, 2026.
• PigFest TNHendersonville · usually OctoberA charity festival with a barbecue competition, a kids’ zone, cornhole and pig races; it says it has raised over $350,000 for local charities since 2019. The Saturday barbecue day is free; some other events are ticketed, per its site. Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: October 22-24, 2026.
• Hub City BBQ FestJackson (downtown) · usually VariesA KCBS-sanctioned contest in downtown Jackson. Its site says the 2026 contest was cancelled and a spring 2027 announcement is coming. Next date: date not yet announced Not confirmed. Last held: 2025 (dates not printed on its site).