The Best BBQ Festivals in the Southeast
The Southeast does more than eat barbecue. People here compete over it. They debate it. Many of the largest BBQ festivals in the region also raise money for good causes. This guide lists the BBQ festivals worth a trip in 2026. It also names the cause each festival supports.
Quick answer: The best BBQ festivals in the Southeast are the Carolina BBQ Festival in Charlotte (April), Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (May), EGGtoberfest in Atlanta (October), Holy Smokes Lowcountry Barbecue Festival in Charleston (November), and Pensacola EggFest (November).
Carolina BBQ Festival. Charlotte, NC
When: April 17 to 18, 2026
Where: Victoria Yards, Uptown Charlotte
Cause: Operation BBQ Relief and AltruSpirit
The Carolina BBQ Festival is in its fifth year. It opens the Southeast festival season. More than 25 pitmasters serve whole hog, brisket, and other Carolina dishes. The festival theme is “Divided by Sauce, United by Coal.” The event supports Operation BBQ Relief. This nonprofit served over one million meals after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A new 2026 partner, AltruSpirit, supports young people in Charlotte through sports programs.
Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Memphis, TN
When: May 13 to 16, 2026
Where: Memphis, TN
Cause: The civic mission of the Memphis in May International Festival
Memphis in May is the largest and most famous BBQ competition in the Southeast. USA Today has called it the most prestigious barbecue contest in the country. Elite teams from around the world compete for more than $145,000 in prize money. Categories include whole hog, ribs, and shoulder.
A Pensacola based team competes here every year. The team cooks as part of Team Moe Cason, led by pitmaster Big Moe Cason. Cason also serves as a celebrity judge at Pensacola EggFest. In 2023, the team placed third for Pork Shoulder. Doug Jolly, a Pensacola EggFest co-founder, said the team was proud to compete against the best teams in the world, many of them close friends. Pensacola has a direct connection to the largest stage in competitive barbecue.
EGGtoberfest. Atlanta, GA
When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11 AM to 3 PM
Where: Gwinnett Field, Lawrenceville, GA, near Big Green Egg’s Atlanta headquarters
Purpose: Community, not charity. This is the largest gathering of Big Green Egg cooks in the country.
Big Green Egg started EGGtoberfest in 1998 to thank loyal customers. The first event had 15 cooks. The festival now includes more than 300 Big Green Eggs and draws over 3,000 attendees each year. Cook teams follow rules similar to Pensacola EggFest. A refundable deposit reserves a spot. Big Green Egg provides the cooking equipment. Each team is asked to prepare at least 500 bite sized samples. Anyone thinking about forming a cook team for Pensacola EggFest can use EGGtoberfest as a preview.
Holy Smokes Lowcountry Barbecue Festival. Charleston, SC
When: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Where: Riverfront Park, North Charleston, SC
Cause: Hogs for the Cause and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston
Holy Smokes is the only barbecue festival in Charleston. More than 40 pitmasters attend from across the country. The event is organized into four sections: Traditional, Texas, New School, and Coastal. In six years, Holy Smokes has raised more than $460,000. The funds support families whose children are being treated for pediatric brain cancer.
Holy Smokes takes place on Saturday, November 14, 2026. This falls between Pensacola EggFest’s VIP Dinner on Friday, November 13, and its main competition on Sunday, November 15. Charleston and Pensacola are on opposite sides of the Southeast. The same November weekend supports two separate charity BBQ festivals, over a thousand miles apart. Both raise money through barbecue.
Pensacola EggFest. Pensacola, FL
When: VIP Dinner on Friday, November 13, 2026. Competition on Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Where: Hadji Shrine Temple, 800 W 9 Mile Rd, Pensacola, FL 32534
Cause: Local Gulf Coast charities. Over $1,000,000 given since 2013.
Pensacola EggFest is the Gulf Coast’s own charity BBQ festival. It is 100 percent volunteer led. Cook teams compete only on Big Green Eggs. Award categories include Judges Choice, People’s Choice, First Responders, Ministry or Nonprofit, Professional Team, and Spirit of EggFest. In 13 years, the event has grown from a backyard cook off into a festival that has given more than $1,000,000 to local nonprofits.
Pensacola EggFest also has a direct link to Memphis in May. The same crew that competes each year with Team Moe Cason also runs the pits at Pensacola EggFest. It is a small event with a strong record in competitive barbecue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest BBQ festival in the Southeast?
Memphis in May’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the most prestigious BBQ competition in the country. It draws elite teams from around the world each May.
Are there BBQ festivals that support charity?
Yes. Most major Southeast BBQ festivals raise money for charity. Examples include the Carolina BBQ Festival, which supports Operation BBQ Relief, Holy Smokes Lowcountry Barbecue Festival, which supports Hogs for the Cause and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston, and Pensacola EggFest, which has raised over $1,000,000 since 2013.
Is there a Big Green Egg festival?
Yes. EGGtoberfest in Atlanta is Big Green Egg’s main community festival. It features more than 300 Big Green Eggs. Pensacola EggFest is a similar event on the Gulf Coast that also uses only Big Green Eggs.
Is there a BBQ festival in Florida?
Pensacola EggFest is a 100 percent volunteer led charity BBQ festival. It is held every November at the Hadji Shrine Temple. Cook teams compete using Big Green Eggs.
When is Pensacola EggFest 2026?
The VIP Dinner is on Friday, November 13, 2026. The main competition is on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The event takes place at the Hadji Shrine Temple in Pensacola, FL.