2027 Awards of Excellence Entry Rules

Deadline: All entries, physical and digital, must be received in our Douglas, Georgia office by Monday, November 23, 2026.

General Entry Rules

To enter, all products, media, and similar items must be commercially available. Unfortunately, homemade and small-batch items that do not meet FDA requirements are not eligible.

Once a physical product is provided for entry to the Awards of Excellence, the NBBQA becomes the rightful owner of the items entered, unless otherwise agreed to in writing beforehand.

Once a non-physical item is provided for entry to the Awards of Excellence, the NBBQA gains permission to publish and share it within the context of the NBBQA Awards of Excellence but does not gain any ownership rights or similar. All ownership, copyright, and similar rights remain the property of the owner/submitter unless otherwise agreed to in writing beforehand.

Your completed entry constitutes your agreement to be bound by these rules and conditions. Failure to comply with these rules and conditions will result in entries being judged accordingly.

Category Entry Rules

Physical Items Being Shipped

Including barbecues, accessories, fuel, artwork, hard copy publications, apparel, sauces, rubs, injections, marinades, sides and condiments, drinks, cured meats, and sausage

• You may enter the same product in different subcategories.
• All product entries must be commercially available to the general public through wholesale, retail, website, or direct market outlets. Judging starts with the guest in mind.
• Food and drink entries must be professionally labeled with the product name, ingredients, and all current FDA-required nutritional information.
• Entries must be properly processed and sealed. Any entry received with a broken seal will not be eligible for judging.
• All shipments must be packed carefully with cushioned shipping materials to avoid damage, no different than you would ship to a customer. Any shipment received with broken or damaged components will be presented for judging in that state.
• The following minimum quantities must be provided for judging:
  • BBQ Tool/Accessory: a minimum of one
  • Apparel: a minimum of one
  • Product Label Design: a minimum of one labeled product or printed label
  • Publication and Book: a minimum of three copies
  • Marketing Material: a minimum of three items/color copies
• The following food and drink minimum quantities must be provided for judging in their commercial sealed packaging:
  • Sauce: minimum 12 oz
  • Rubs: minimum 6 oz
  • Marinade: minimum 6 oz
  • Sausage/Cured Meat: minimum 1 lb
  • Gift Pack: a minimum of one item only
  • Drinks: minimum of 6 servings UPDATED

BBQ DrinksUPDATED

• Drink mixers must be premade and ready to pour. No recipe or preparation required.
• Every drink entry is served exactly as packaged.
• Alcoholic beverages are not accepted.

BBQ FuelNEW

• Send two unopened retail packages per entry, in the original, unaltered retail packaging:
  • Lump Charcoal / Briquettes: 2 bags, at least 8 lb each
  • Wood Pellets: 2 bags, at least 20 lb each
  • Wood Chunks, Chips & Splits: 2 packages, at least 10 lb total
  • Fire Starters: 2 packages, at least 24 starters total
• Mark the outside of your shipping box “AOE FUEL ENTRY.”
• Fuel entries are burn-tested and used to cook for a blind flavor judging, so product will not be returned.

BBQ ArtNEW

• Fill out one Art entry form per piece. Artwork must be original, made by the named artist, have a barbecue or grilling theme, and be available for purchase.
• Artwork made mainly with AI image tools is not eligible. Photography is entered in the BBQ Photography category.
• Size limit: 36 inches on any side and 40 lb. For anything larger, call before shipping.
• 2-D art should arrive ready to hang (framed or gallery-wrapped, with hanging wire).
• Cover or tape over any signature on the front for judging. Pack artwork in a reusable box marked “AOE ART ENTRY.”
• After judging, artwork is returned (prepaid return label required), picked up, or donated to an NBBQA fundraiser, as chosen on the entry form. Artwork with no return arrangement that is not claimed by April 30, 2027 may be donated.
• NBBQA will handle artwork with care but is not responsible for loss or damage during shipping, handling, or display. Entrants are responsible for insuring their artwork.

Digital Items

Including websites, blogs, photos, videos, audio, and articles

• You may enter multiple pieces of material per subcategory, and the same material in any other subcategory, as long as it meets the qualifications of that category.
• All entries must be available to the general public. This includes ‘personal’ photos and social media entries that are shared in a public forum such as social media, a gallery, or a public display.
• Published from December 1, 2025 to November 23, 2026, when referring to a series, means:
  • at least three of the episodes were released between December 1, 2025 and November 23, 2026;
  • if a fixed-count series spans two years, it was not previously entered in the Awards of Excellence in a prior year;
  • if an ongoing series has no formal ‘season’ (such as an ongoing YouTube channel or podcast), only episodes broadcast for the first time between December 1, 2025 and November 23, 2026 may be entered.
• All media will be provided electronically by email. It is the entrant’s responsibility to make sure the email is received and that the attached documents, images, and/or links are correct and working. Email all information to admin@nbbqa.org.
• The following minimum quantities must be provided for judging:
  • Photos: one electronic copy of the image
  • Websites/Blogs: a minimum of 3 links to the website/blog
  • Writing/Articles: one electronic copy and/or link to the writing/article
  • Audio/Video Series: a minimum of 3 links to different episodes within the series
  • Single Video and Short-Form Video: one link or file per video (short-form videos must be 60 seconds or less)

Special AwardsNEW

• New Product of the Year: Any entry first launched for sale between December 1, 2025 and November 23, 2026 may be considered. List the product on your Contestant Entry Form and include the add-on fee ($25 members / $35 non-members per product).
• Community Impact Award: Submit the nomination form with the $10 nomination fee by Monday, November 23, 2026. Supporting photos, news stories, or links are optional and will not be returned.

AOE Entry Process

Do not send anything to the Byhalia, Mississippi judging location. Get entry forms, fees and key dates »