Bryant Bank Wins Top Prize at Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff

The bank's "Serious Chili Situation" team took home the Grand Champion title.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Bryant Bank's "Serious Chili Situation" team claimed the top prize at the 18th annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff, hosted by the Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa. The bank's chili recipe earned them the Grand Champion honors for 2026, beating out dozens of other teams competing across creative, people's choice, and overall chili categories.

Why it matters

The annual Tuscaloosa chili cookoff is a highly anticipated community event that showcases the culinary talents of local businesses, organizations, and residents. Bryant Bank's Grand Champion win highlights their commitment to the Tuscaloosa community and their ability to stand out in a competitive field of chili recipes.

The details

In addition to the Grand Champion title, Bryant Bank also received an honorable mention for Best Booth in the creative awards division. Other category winners included Alabama Ag Credit's "Limp Brizkit" team in second place and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office "TCSO The Posse" team in third place for the Grand Champion division. The People's Choice awards went to Capstone Village's "Legends of the Chili Trail" in first place, Northport Fire & Rescue's "Northport Firefighters" in second, and Alabama Ag Credit's "Limp Brizkit" in third. Creative award winners included the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office "TCSO Posse" for Best Booth, the Sons of the American Revolution "Don't Tread On Me Chili" for Best Costume, and OLLI's "Love At First Bite" for the David Reynolds Showmanship Award.

  • The 18th annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff was held in 2026.

The players

Bryant Bank

A local bank in Tuscaloosa that won the Grand Champion title at the 18th annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff with its "Serious Chili Situation" team.

Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa

The organization that hosted the 18th annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff.

Alabama Ag Credit

A financial services company that had its "Limp Brizkit" team place second in the Grand Champion division and third in the People's Choice awards.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency whose "TCSO The Posse" team placed third in the Grand Champion division and won the Best Booth creative award.

Capstone Village

A local organization whose "Legends of the Chili Trail" team won first place in the People's Choice awards.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The annual Tuscaloosa chili cookoff showcases the community's culinary talents and brings local businesses, organizations, and residents together in a spirited competition. Bryant Bank's Grand Champion win demonstrates their commitment to the Tuscaloosa community and their ability to stand out in a crowded field of chili recipes.