Meet and learn from the biggest names in barbecue at the city of Memphis’ backyard barbecue party of the year!
Memphis in May officials have announced an action-packed lineup of activities for the 2024 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, which was first held in 1978. The 46th edition of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be held May 15-18, 2024 at Liberty Park in Memphis, Tennessee.
Nightly entertainment will feature fan-favorite Barbecue Sauce Wrestling on Wednesday; alternative pop hits from Marcy Playground on Thursday; local favorite rockers Ingram Hill on Friday; and DJ MicTee from 901’s own K97 keeping the party going on Saturday, all on the Cattlemen’s Main Stage.
Already the most prestigious, and original barbecue cooking contest, Memphis in May has expanded expert-led demonstrations to sharpen your grilling skills, learning directly from famous pitmasters.
The Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen will present free star-studded demonstrations including a meet & greet with free samples following the demos. Learn from legendary pitmasters like Moe Cason, Joe Davidson, Megan & Jason Day, Chris Lilly, “Grill Girl” Robyn Lindars, Rasheed Phillips, Mike Starr, Tuffy Stone, “Bama Grill Master” Tim Van Doren, “BBQ Ninja” Craig Verhage & Leslie Scott, Tim Van Doren and many more. Full list at memphisinmay.org/barbecue
The McCormick Demo Stage brings a wide variety of take-home culinary tips that will make you the hit of the neighborhood with dishes to complement traditional barbecue, like Triple Pickle Gold Chicken Thighs, Smoked Pork Cowboy Sushi, and more. Special meet & greet with Rocky Stubblefield of Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce with free samples.
The Cooker Caravan with Heath Riles BBQ is an escorted tour to visit and learn directly from competition teams, right at their cookers as they pull back the curtains on what it takes to make championship ‘cue. Thursday and Friday between 11 AM – 3 PM, no charge.
Back again this year are the fan-favorite ways to enjoy barbecue at the World Championship like:
The Kingsford Tour of Champions is the opportunity to judge competition barbecue! Like a people’s choice award, guests on the tour will visit teams, sample their barbecue and cast their ballot. The winner revealed at the Grand Awards on Saturday. Teams include Grand Champions like Blues Hog, Willingham’s, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, and The Shed and more! It’s a tour, sampling and judging all rolled into one! By reservation only with a separate add-on ticket.
BBQ Alley with Big Green Egg and Friends is ‘cue for the people and they mean it! Four well-known barbecue restaurants and pitmasters will serve a variety of barbecue including pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, poultry with sides. It’s a barbecue party all to the tunes of DJ MadEFX, plus the chance to win a Big Green Egg!
Plus an amazing selection of food vendors like barbecue from Big G’s, Yancey’s and Matai’z Polynesian Grill with additional options from Al Forno Pizza, Pronto Pups, and top off with Mempops!
The VIPit Experience – the greatest VIP experience in all of barbecue. Featuring a curated itinerary lead by industry insiders it’s the ultimate ticket for barbecue fans. Private VIPit-only area, custom tours and up-close meet and greet with the greatest names in barbecue like Myron Mixon, Tuffy Stone, Moe Cason, Heath Riles and much more. With VIPit, just sit back and let the experts guide you! VIPit ticket is just $549 for all four days.
The future of barbecue.
Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is proud to promote the future of Memphis’ premiere culinary claim to fame, barbecue. Introducing the Future of Q, in partnership with the National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) and Barbecue News Magazine, junior pitmasters will showcase their skills and creativity (and share free samples!) at special demonstrations Thursday and Friday at Noon, 2 PM, 3 PM and 4 PM.
The culinary school at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis is stepping up to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to learn the ins and outs of professional grilling and competition barbecue. Young cooks-in-training will shadow experienced pitmasters to pass on knowledge of their craft, sparking careers and maybe a future Memphis in May Grand Champion. Catch the demonstrations at the Home Depot Outdoor Kitchen at 3 PM on Friday.
Team Competition
The competition is expected to be spectacular with 129 competition teams from 22 states and 4 foreign countries, including an impressive collection of championship-winning teams returning to the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to vie for the coveted title of Memphis in May World Champion at Liberty Park.
“Memphis in May is authentically the heart and soul of Memphis and our World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest has an unparalleled global reputation for over four and a half decades,” said Mack Weaver, the non-profit’s new President & CEO. “Memphis in May is always our city’s most diverse party and the WCBCC becomes the biggest, friendliest backyard barbecue in Memphis so everyone is welcome. Plus, everyone already knows, we know how to throw a party.”
Presenting sponsors include Cattlemen’s Barbecue Sauce, Kingsford, and Home Depot.
