Average Joe BBQ Team
Contests & events calendar
The BBQ contests across Europe and the events worth marking, hand-picked by us — with a link to every contest to sign up or learn more.
Different from the calendar on the Home page (there you'll find where we compete): here, the wider picture of the scene. Filter by circuit.
Get an alert when a new date drops Pick circuits, countries and type: we only email you when something you care about shows up.
10 Jan2026
Orange Butcher
Meppel, Netherlands
Double Steak
SCA
28 Feb – 1 Mar2026
KCBS
28 Feb2026
World Championship Practice Steak Cookoff
Ede, Netherlands
Double Steak
SCA
7–8 Mar2026
W.E.S.T. — Winter Extreme South Tyrol
Selva di Molini (BZ), Italy
Double One Meat (Sat) + Master Series (Sun)
Contest website →
KCBS
21 Mar2026
KCBS
18 Apr2026
BanBQ Tavaszi Marhaskodás
Lakitelek-Tőserdő, Hungary
Double Steak
SCA
25–26 Apr2026
Spitsbroek on Fire IV
Eede, Netherlands
Master Series
KCBS
25 Apr2026
Thüringer Grill Battle
Bad Langensalza, Germany
Double Steak
SCA
2 May2026
Marchfelder Feuerfest
Orth an der Donau, Austria
Double Steak
SCA
3 May2026
KCBS
9–10 May2026
KCBS
9 May2026
Transylvanian Steak & BBQ Fest
Târgu Mureș, Romania
Double Steak
SCA
16 May2026
Twin Smoke Steak Cookoff
Vilnius, Lithuania
Double Steak
SCA
17 May2026
I. Nagymarosi BBQ Festival
Nagymaros, Hungary
Whole Hog
SCA
23–24 May2026
BBQ Knife Clash
Romano di Lombardia (BG), Italy
Double One Meat (Sat) + Master Series (Sun)
KCBS
23–24 May2026
KCBS
23 May2026
Meat Me BBQ Festival
Zierikzee, Netherlands
Double Steak
SCA
5–6 Jun2026
Polish Open Grill and BBQ Championships
Radom, Poland
Master Series
KCBS
18–21 Jun2026
BBQ Festival
Forte Papa, Peschiera del Garda (VR), Italy
American-style BBQ festival — four days of cooks, food, courses and live music. Home of The War of Barbeque.
Event website →
Event
20 Jun2026
Van den Berk Rib Cook Off Outdoor Cup — Part 1
Someren, Netherlands
RCOA
20–21 Jun2026
The War of Barbeque
Peschiera del Garda (VR), Italy
Double One Meat (Sat) + Master Series (Sun)
Event page →
KCBS
20 Jun2026
The Longest Day Steak Cookoff
Lunteren, Netherlands
Double Steak
SCA
4 Jul2026
The Italian Rib Cookoff
Castelnovo del Friuli, Italy
Double Ribs + Steak
RCOA
4 Jul2026
The Independence BBQ Party
BBQ Lab — Via Valassina 14, Arosio (CO), Italy
Fourth of July party (250 years of US independence) — American BBQ, beer, live music. Rain date 5 July.
Info & tickets →
Event
11 Jul2026
Viking of the Grill Steak Cookoff
Torsby, Sweden
Steak
SCA
17–18 Jul2026
KCBS
18 Jul2026
Freestyle BBQ Valhalla — SCA Steak Viking Edition
IJmuiden, Netherlands
Double Steak
SCA
25 Jul2026
MedeuzSCA
Medeuzza, Italy
Double Steak
SCA
7–9 Aug2026
Wild West Fest on Fire
Lake Zbilje (Medvode), Slovenia
Slovenian country & BBQ festival — three days of music, fire and grills. Home of the Wild West Fest KCBS contest.
Event website →
Event
8–9 Aug2026
Wild West Fest on Fire 2026
Medvode, Slovenia
Double One Meat (Sat) + Master Series (Sun)
Contest website →
KCBS
22 Aug2026
Mill's Country Rib Cookoff 2026
Tielt, Belgium
RCOA
29–30 Aug2026
Vuur en Vlees
Deurne, Netherlands
Master Series
KCBS
5 Sep2026
Van den Berk Rib Cook Off Outdoor Cup — Part 2
Someren, Netherlands
RCOA
5 Sep2026
BBQ & Speedway 2026 Steak Cookoff
Krško, Slovenia
Double Steak
SCA
12 Sep2026
Vaartse Hoeve Rib Contest
Dongen, Netherlands
RCOA
12 Sep2026
Vaartse Hoeve BBQ Contest
Dongen, Netherlands
Double Steak
SCA
13 Sep2026
Agri Brianza BBQ School — Il Campionato, 11th edition
Agri Brianza — Via Dante Alighieri 191, Concorezzo (MB), Italy
Free-choice barbecue dish contest, from 10:30 am. Teams of 2 or 3, €50 entry, fresh raw ingredients only. Organisers provide a 3x3 gazebo, a side table and fuel; prizes for the top three and beyond. Open to Agri Brianza BBQ School students and invited customers.
Rules & entries →
Event
19–20 Sep2026
KCBS
26 Sep2026
KCBS
27 Sep2026
Big Flavour — Butcher Edition 2026
BBQ Lab — Via Valassina 14, Arosio (CO), Italy
A day where the BBQ world meets the butchers': live show cooking by master butchers, free tastings, games and prizes, music and sponsor stands. Check-in 11:30 am, kick-off 12:30 pm. €79 ticket including entry, drinks and all tastings — limited places.
Info & tickets →
Event
17 Oct2026
Fossalta Is on Fire
Fossalta di Piave (VE), Italy
Double One Meat · Chicken & Ribs
Contest website →
KCBS
24 Oct2026
Grilled Rib Contest 2026
Dordrecht, Netherlands
No longer on the official RCOA calendar — to be confirmed
RCOA
24–25 Oct2026
MoB — Master Of Barbecue 2026
Al Casale — Via Garlate, Campoleone, 04011 Aprilia (LT), Italy
Two-day annual masterclass with international pitmasters and guests, 10:00 am Saturday to 4:00 pm Sunday. Includes teaching sessions, workshops and handouts, lunch and tastings, overnight cooks and a certificate. From €229 per person, limited places; guests and programme announced from 7 September.
Info & booking →
Event
20–22 Nov2026
KCBS
KCBS
21 Nov2026
RCOA
RCOA
28 Nov2026
RCOA
RCOA
11–12 Dec2026
Freestyle BBQ Christmas SCA Cookoff
IJmuiden, Netherlands
Double Steak + Whole Hog (European Championship) + side ancillaries
SCA contest page →
SCA
19 Dec2026
ChristmaSCA Steak Cookoff
Lido di Camaiore (LU), Italy
Double Steak + ribs ancillary
SCA contest page →
SCA
20–21 Feb2027
W.E.S.T. — Winter Extreme South Tyrol
Selva di Molini (BZ), Italy
Double One Meat (Sat) + Master Series (Sun)
Contest website →
KCBS
19–21 Mar2027
Rauch&Glut
Messe Freiburg, Germany
BBQ trade fair: three days of grills, exhibitors and barbecue culture.
Event website →
Event
3–6 Apr2027
BBQ Expo — Outdoor Cooking
Fiere di Parma, Italy
Outdoor cooking trade fair — exhibitors, show cooking and BBQ Academy.
Event website →
Event
15–18 Apr2027
BBQ Days
Messe Stuttgart, Germany
BBQ and outdoor trade fair, with the BBQ Republic Invitational championship and the Butcher Wars.
Event website →
Event
17–18 Apr2027
KCBS
23–24 Apr2027
KCBS
17–20 Jun2027
BBQ Festival
Forte Papa, Peschiera del Garda (VR), Italy
American-style BBQ festival — four days of cooks, food, courses and live music. Home of The War of Barbeque.
Event website →
Event
19–20 Jun2027
KCBS
3–4 Jul2027
KCBS
9–11 Jul2027
No Smoke, No Glory 2
Velika Gorica (Zagreb), Croatia
One Meat Ribs + One Meat Brisket + double Master Series
Contest website →
KCBS
6–8 Aug2027
Wild West Fest
Vista, Velenje, Slovenia
Slovenian country & BBQ festival — three days of music, fire and grills. New venue in 2027: from Medvode to Velenje.
Event website →
Event
7–8 Aug2027
Meat up North — first edition
Manchester, United Kingdom
Master Series
KCBS