BBQ Competition

The heart of the 2026 Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival is the fierce barbecue competition featuring the nation’s finest pitmasters. Competitors will fire up their grills and smokers to deliver a range of expertly prepared meats, from brisket to ribs, chicken, and pork butt. VIP attendees can sample each competitor’s briskets and cast their vote for the Brisket Bay VIP Award. With every bite, you’ll experience the unique flavors and techniques that make each competitor stand out. Whether you’re a BBQ aficionado or just a fan of great food, this is your chance to savor the best barbecue Florida has to offer!

Rules and Details

More details on the Barbecue Competition will be made available soon.

Contestant Application

Agreement*

2025 Competition Results

Brisket:

  1. Southern Smoked by JP
  2. Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ
  3. Uncle G’s BBQ

Ribs:

  1. Uncle G’s BBQ
  2. Southern Smoked by JP
  3. Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ

Pork:

  1. Drice’s Backwoods BBQ
  2. Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ
  3. Son of a Brisket

Chicken:

  1. Silver & Smoke
  2. Just 1 Taste of STL
  3. Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ

VIP Brisket:

  1. The Liberty Smokehouse
  2. Cason’s Que
  3. Southern Smoked by JP

2024 Competition Results

Saturday Grand Champion:

  1. Mistah Lee’s Barbecue
  2. Smokin’ Me Crazy
  3. Silver & Smoke

Sunday Grand Champion:

  1. Sauce Gawd
  2. Mistah Lee’s Barbecue
  3. Smokin’ Me Crazy

Saturday – Brisket

  1. Mistah Lee’s
  2. Barefoot Redneck
  3. Smokin Me Crazy

Saturday – Pork/Bacon

  1. Jett’s Barbeque
  2. Drice’s Backwoods BBQ
  3. Smokin Me Crazy

Saturday – Sauce

  1. Creative Coastal Cuisine
  2. Jett’s Barbeque
  3. Mistah Lee’s Barbecue

Sunday – Chicken

  1. Smokin Me Crazy
  2. Sauce Gawd
  3. Mistah Lee’s Barbecue

Sunday – Wild Card

  1. Sauce Gawd – (Smoked Ribs)
  2. Mistah Lee’s – (16 day brined beef pastrami rib)
  3. Smokin me Crazy (Bone-in smoked Ribs)
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