IT HAPPENED AND IT WAS HISTORIC.
For the first time ever, open fire cooking took center stage at Memphis in May — the most iconic BBQ event in the world.
More than 50,000 people attended the Open Fire Experience across three days at Liberty Park, Memphis, TN — watching international pitmasters cook whole animals over open flame and tasting incredible dishes cooked entirely over live fire. Over 100 pitmasters and content creators brought the fire to millions of screens around the world. 30+ sponsors made it all possible.
And at the heart of it all: The first ever Open Fire World Championship. Over 24 hours, 20 elite teams from 7 countries competed. They ooked complete multi-course menus — soup, appetizer, entrée, and dessert — entirely over live fire. A panel of world-class judges evaluated every dish on presentation, technique, flavor, and overall impression.
THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER!
2026 OPEN FIRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
THE WEBER KIDS QUE
WINNER - RAE BARKER / @thelilgringa
It was one of the best events I’ve ever been to. I came up doing camp barbecue, and it was always “you can;t feed the crowd”. So it never was fan friendly. This event flipped the script on it. It was all about the people coming. You expected to feed the crowd. " Malcolm reed.
I’ve been going to these Open Fire Meat Ups since the very beginning. Every year the event gets bigger and bigger. It’s an event I look forward to the most because this is the only event in Texas that I can hang out with some of biggest BBQ names in this industry. No egos just pure love and camaraderie. Some of which are my Best friends in my personal life. Doing what you love with some of the ones you love is the best thing ever!
On a rustic ranch surrounded by flames pitmasters from around the world gather every year to cook meat raise glasses and share stories on the bbq trail. This intimate and epic event is unlike any other with hands on experience and cooks that make the cover of magazines! You don’t want to miss this!
