Awards Of Excellence - CATEGORIES

Every year the National BBQ and Grilling Association runs the Awards of Excellence,

acknowledging the commercial side of BBQ. 

Explore all the categories to see what opportunities exist for your business, products, marketing,

media, and photos. There is something for everyone.

BBQ SAUCE CATEGORY

Fruit BBQ Sauce

The key foundation ingredient must be fruit and must be reflected in the product's top 3 ingredients. Tomato is not considered a fruit in this case.  We have a special category for Tomato-based entries below.  

Mustard BBQ Sauce

The key foundation ingredient must be mustard and must be reflected in the product's top 3 ingredients. 

Tomato Mild BBQ Sauce

The key foundation ingredient must be tomato, i.e., ketchup, tomato paste, etc.  The top 3 ingredients must have tomato and a mild component. 

Tomato Spicy BBQ Sauce

The key foundation ingredient must be tomato, i.e., ketchup, tomato paste, etc. The top 3 ingredients must have tomato and a spicy component. 

Vinegar Mild BBQ Sauce

The key foundation style must be vinegar and must be reflected in the product's top 3 ingredients and flavor. It should have a mild disposition.

Vinegar Spicy BBQ Sauce

The key foundation style must be vinegar and must be reflected in the product's top 3 ingredients. It should have a spicy disposition.

Original BBQ Sauce

This category is for sauces that do not fit into other categories and has a unique or distinct flavor profile such as, but not limited, to Korean Barbecue Sauce, Curry Sauce, Mole, Worcestershire Sauce and similar.

RUB CATEGORY

Beef Rub

A rub designed to be cooked with beef, whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.

Pork Rub

A rub designed to be cooked with pork, whether barbecued low and slow on smoke or hot and fast grilled.

Poultry Rub

A rub designed to be cooked with poultry, e.g. chicken, turkey, or similar, whether barbecued low and slow on smoke, or hot and fast grilled.

Seafood Rub

A rub designed to be cooked with seafood, e.g. fish, crustacean or similar, whether barbecued low and slow on smoke, or hot and fast grilled.

Spicy Rub

A rub designed to be spicy and have a kick to it. The spice must be reflected in the product's top 3 ingredients and flavor. 

Original BBQ Rub

This category is for rubs that do not fit into other categories and has a unique or distinct flavor profile such as, but not limited to, base rubs, finishing rubs, game rubs, and similar.

BBQ FOOD CATEGORY

BBQ Gift Pack

This is to be a gift pack consisting of at least three items; at least two of these must be edible items. The gift pack must be available for commercial sale

BBQ Snacks

This is to be a barbecue-related snack (e.g. jerky, meat sticks, bbq flavor chips, crackers, etc.).  It must be available for commercial sale and packed to meet health and safety standards. 

BBQ Marinade

This is to be a barbecue-related marinade that is utilized in the cooking of BBQ. It may be for beef, pork, poultry, or other product.

EQUIPMENT CATEGORY

BBQ Tool/Accessory

This is a tool, or accessory used in the preparation or cooking of barbecue in all its shapes and forms, including but not limited to smoking and grilling.

Apparel

An item of BBQ apparel such as, but not limited to, shirts, aprons, caps, or similar, associated with BBQ in any way shape or form including but not limited to products, brands, individuals, restaurants, or similar.

Product Label Design

This may be a product label of any BBQ product including but not limited to the sauce, rub, equipment, or similar

BBQ DIGITAL MEDIA

BBQ Blog

Includes solely a blog, or a blog as part of a larger website. A blog authored by a single person, either as an independent entity or an extension of an existing media brand, OR a blog authored by a group of individuals, either as an independent entity or an extension of an existing media brand.   

BBQ Website

Includes, product, produce, personality, e-commerce, or similar. A BBQ-related online webpage that is produced by one or more individuals. To differentiate from a blog, entrants in this category are more likely to be database-driven rather than simply organized by post or in a journal format. The focus of the site may be primarily news, information, and entertainment, and may also be a product or retail site. The site may or may not contain recipes.

BBQ Audio Series

Includes radio, podcast or similar. A series is defined as a minimum of six audio programs that originally were broadcast within 2025. Each individual audio broadcast may be of any length. Three episodes must be submitted for consideration.

BBQ Video Series

Includes, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, television or similar
A series is defined as a minimum of six video programs that originally were broadcast within 2024. Each individual video may be of any length. Three episodes must be submitted for consideration.

Single BBQ Focused Video

Includes, a feature film, an episode from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, or similar video may be any length and may focus on news, entertainment (including humor), instruction, or another subject. While submissions to this category may have been part of a series, please note that any video entered in the BBQ Video Series is not eligible to be re-entered into this category.

BBQ PUBLICATIONS AND LITERARY WORKS

Educational Writing

Includes magazine, newspaper, webpage, blog, or similar
Articles may be any length and must include an educational component that was published in 2025.

BBQ Focus Article

Includes magazine, newspaper, webpage, blog, or similar
Articles may be of any length and may focus on news, entertainment (including humor), instruction or another subject that was published in 2025. 

BBQ Book of the Year

Includes any BBQ book published in the year 2025 BBQ books may or may not include recipes and be released in any country.

Marketing Material

Includes any marketing material used during the year 2025 may include items such as calendars, handouts, trinkets, drink coolers, stickers, recipe cards, or similar.

BBQ PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

BBQ Commercial Photograph

Includes any photographs that are commissioned and used in any advertising or marketing campaign, print or online, or in product packaging, collateral, or on a corporate or business website throughout 2025.

BBQ Blog/Personal Photograph

Includes any non-paid photograph shared on a blog, webpage, or social media throughout 2025.

BBQ Character Photo

Includes cooking, joints/restaurants, characters, competitions, and similar in 2025.

BBQ Food Photo

Includes any image where the food is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2025.

Live Fire Photo

Includes any image where the fire is the topic and accounts for 70+ of the image taken in 2025.

BBQ DRINKS

BBQ Drink Mixers, Alcohol, and Nonalcoholic Beverages

This category recognizes exceptional beverages designed to complement or enhance the barbecue and grilling experience. Entries may include ready-to-use drink mixers, cocktail bases, craft beers, wines, spirits, nonalcoholic beverages such as mocktails, sodas, teas, or other drinks created
specifically for pairing with barbecue cuisine. Products will be judged on flavor, originality, and suitability for BBQ-themed occasions.