Memphis in May BBQ Contest Brings Music, Sauce Wrestling, and Rib-Eating to Liberty Park

The annual barbecue competition returns May 13-16 with a lineup of live entertainment, food competitions, and family-friendly activities.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:57am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stack of barbecue ribs repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the iconic food and festive energy of the Memphis in May barbecue celebration.The Memphis in May barbecue festival celebrates the city's rich culinary heritage with a lineup of music, food competitions, and family-friendly activities.Memphis Today

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is set to take over Liberty Park from May 13-16, featuring a diverse lineup of musical acts, sauce wrestling, a rib-eating contest, and other food-focused competitions and festivities. The event will showcase the city's rich barbecue culture and draw thousands of visitors to celebrate National Barbecue Day on May 16.

Why it matters

The Memphis in May barbecue contest is one of the city's most anticipated annual events, drawing barbecue enthusiasts from around the world to experience the unique blend of music, food, and Southern culture that makes Memphis a premier culinary destination. The festival also serves as an economic driver, generating millions in revenue for local businesses and showcasing Memphis' status as the 'Barbecue Capital of the World'.

The details

The 2026 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will feature a variety of live entertainment and food-focused competitions. Rapper and 'Cupid Shuffle' creator Cupid will host a line dancing party on May 14, while Grammy-winning blues artist Cedric Burnside will perform on May 15. The festival will also include the return of the popular sauce wrestling competition, where nearly 100 gallons of sauce will fly as contestants grapple on May 13. New this year is the Rib Rumble, a 5-minute rib-eating contest where participants will compete to consume as many ribs as possible.

  • The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will take place from May 13-16, 2026.
  • The Parade of Champions, led by Budweiser's famous Clydesdale horses, will kick off the festivities at 5:15 p.m. on May 13.
  • The sauce wrestling competition will begin at 6:30 p.m. on May 13.
  • Ms. Piggie Idol, where teams sing and dance in pig-related attire, will start at 6:30 p.m. on May 14.
  • National Barbecue Day will be celebrated on May 16, the final day of the festival.

The players

Cupid

A rapper and songwriter best known for creating the 'Cupid Shuffle' line dance, who will host the entertainment on May 14.

Cedric Burnside

A Grammy Award-winning blues artist from Memphis who will perform on May 15.

DJ Mic Tee

A local iHeart Radio K97 FM host and the official DJ for the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers, who will close out the festival on May 16.

DJ Tree

A DJ who will kick off the festivities at noon on May 14 and May 16.

DJ Sketchz

A DJ who will perform at noon on May 15.

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What’s next

The full schedule of events and activities for the 2026 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be announced in the coming weeks, with tickets and vendor information made available to the public.

The takeaway

The Memphis in May barbecue festival is a celebration of the city's rich culinary heritage and vibrant cultural scene, offering a unique blend of music, food, and family-friendly entertainment that draws visitors from around the world to experience the 'Barbecue Capital of the World'.