2027 NBBQA Awards of Excellence
The NBBQA Awards of Excellence recognize the best in the commercial barbecue and grilling industry. Awards go to outstanding products, brands and creative work in sauces, rubs, food products, equipment, fuel, apparel, publications, photography, art, digital media, beverages and other BBQ-related content.
Who can enter: Any product that’s available for purchase in stores or online.
Key Dates
Date
What Happens
Monday, September 21, 2026
Entries open
Monday, November 23, 2026
DEADLINE: All entries, physical and digital, must be received in our office in Douglas, Georgia
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Judging kicks off at Sweet Swine O’Mine in Byhalia, Mississippi
December 13, 2026
Status updates sent to all entrants
Monday, January 4, 2027
Judging of all categories completed
Wednesday, January 6, 2027
All Top 5 category winners notified by this date. No placement information will be given out at this time.
March 17–20, 2027
Awards ceremony at the National Barbecue & Grilling Association Conference (location to be announced)
How to Enter
- Download the forms listed below.
- Fill out one Contestant Entry Form. Put a copy of it with every category form you send.
- Fill out a category form for each entry.
- Mail everything together (forms, payment and entries) to Douglas, Georgia so it arrives by Monday, November 23, 2026. This applies to both physical and digital entries.
Read the Entry Rules Minimum quantities, packing, digital submissions and more.
Heads up: We no longer use the online entry and payment system from past years. All forms must be downloaded, completed and mailed in. Digital entries have the same deadline and must be received by our Douglas, Georgia office by Monday, November 23, 2026. Judging kicks off in Byhalia, Mississippi, but do not send anything there.
MAIL TO
National Barbecue & Grilling Association
336 Phelps Road
Douglas, GA 31533
PAYMENT
Check or credit card
Entry Forms & Fees
Start here. Every entrant needs this form.
Download Contestant Entry Form (PDF) Contestant Entry Form Page 2 (PDF)
Click a category name to download its PDF entry form.
Category Form
Member
Non-Member
BBQ Sauce
$45 / entry
$55 / entry
BBQ Rubs
$45 / entry
$55 / entry
BBQ Food
$45 / entry
$55 / entry
BBQ Equipment
$40 / entry
$50 / entry
BBQ Publication
$40 / entry
$50 / entry
BBQ Drinks
$40 / entry
$50 / entry
BBQ Digital
$30 / entry
$40 / entry
Short-Form Video (60 seconds or less)
$30 for 2 videos
$40 for 2 videos
NEWBBQ Fuel (Page 2)
$60 / entry
$75 / entry
NEWBBQ Art (Page 2)
$30 / entry
2027 intro price
$40 / entry
2027 intro price
BBQ Photography
$15 / entry
$25 / entry
Special Awards NEW
Award
How It Works
New Product of the Year
Any entry first launched for sale between December 1, 2025 and November 23, 2026 can be considered. List those products on your Contestant Entry Form. Add-on fee: $25 per product (members) / $35 (non-members), in addition to the category entry fee. Finalists are chosen from each category’s Top 5.
Community Impact Award
Honors a BBQ business or person who uses barbecue to give back to their community. Anyone may nominate, including self-nominations. Nomination fee: $10. Download the nomination form and send it in with payment by Monday, November 23, 2026.
Judging
- When: Kicks off Saturday, December 5, 2026. Judging of all categories will be completed by Monday, January 4, 2027.
- Where: Sweet Swine O’Mine, Byhalia, Mississippi
- How: National Barbecue Festival methodology, using NBBQA judging criteria
- Who: Culinary chefs and certified judges with current credentials from NBF, SCA, KCBS, PNWBA, MBM, FBA, GBA or the EAT methodology
- Independence: Judges can’t have any business or family connection to an entrant.
Questions?
Contact us about entry forms, categories or submitting your entries.
Phone: (800) 385-0002
Email: admin@NBBQA.org
2027 NBBQA Awards of Excellence
The NBBQA Awards of Excellence recognize the best in the commercial barbecue and grilling industry. Awards go to outstanding products, brands and creative work in sauces, rubs, food products, equipment, fuel, apparel, publications, photography, art, digital media, beverages and other BBQ-related content.
Who can enter: Any product that’s available for purchase in stores or online.
Key Dates
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, September 21, 2026 | Entries open |
| Monday, November 23, 2026 | DEADLINE: All entries, physical and digital, must be received in our office in Douglas, Georgia |
| Saturday, December 5, 2026 | Judging kicks off at Sweet Swine O’Mine in Byhalia, Mississippi |
| December 13, 2026 | Status updates sent to all entrants |
| Monday, January 4, 2027 | Judging of all categories completed |
| Wednesday, January 6, 2027 | All Top 5 category winners notified by this date. No placement information will be given out at this time. |
| March 17–20, 2027 | Awards ceremony at the National Barbecue & Grilling Association Conference (location to be announced) |
How to Enter
- Download the forms listed below.
- Fill out one Contestant Entry Form. Put a copy of it with every category form you send.
- Fill out a category form for each entry.
- Mail everything together (forms, payment and entries) to Douglas, Georgia so it arrives by Monday, November 23, 2026. This applies to both physical and digital entries.
Read the Entry Rules Minimum quantities, packing, digital submissions and more.
Heads up: We no longer use the online entry and payment system from past years. All forms must be downloaded, completed and mailed in. Digital entries have the same deadline and must be received by our Douglas, Georgia office by Monday, November 23, 2026. Judging kicks off in Byhalia, Mississippi, but do not send anything there.
| MAIL TO National Barbecue & Grilling Association 336 Phelps Road Douglas, GA 31533 |
PAYMENT Check or credit card |
Entry Forms & Fees
Start here. Every entrant needs this form.
Download Contestant Entry Form (PDF) Contestant Entry Form Page 2 (PDF)
Click a category name to download its PDF entry form.
| Category Form | Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ Sauce | $45 / entry | $55 / entry |
| BBQ Rubs | $45 / entry | $55 / entry |
| BBQ Food | $45 / entry | $55 / entry |
| BBQ Equipment | $40 / entry | $50 / entry |
| BBQ Publication | $40 / entry | $50 / entry |
| BBQ Drinks | $40 / entry | $50 / entry |
| BBQ Digital | $30 / entry | $40 / entry |
| Short-Form Video (60 seconds or less) | $30 for 2 videos | $40 for 2 videos |
| NEWBBQ Fuel (Page 2) | $60 / entry | $75 / entry |
| NEWBBQ Art (Page 2) | $30 / entry 2027 intro price |
$40 / entry 2027 intro price |
| BBQ Photography | $15 / entry | $25 / entry |
Special Awards NEW
| Award | How It Works |
|---|---|
| New Product of the Year | Any entry first launched for sale between December 1, 2025 and November 23, 2026 can be considered. List those products on your Contestant Entry Form. Add-on fee: $25 per product (members) / $35 (non-members), in addition to the category entry fee. Finalists are chosen from each category’s Top 5. |
| Community Impact Award | Honors a BBQ business or person who uses barbecue to give back to their community. Anyone may nominate, including self-nominations. Nomination fee: $10. Download the nomination form and send it in with payment by Monday, November 23, 2026. |
Judging
- When: Kicks off Saturday, December 5, 2026. Judging of all categories will be completed by Monday, January 4, 2027.
- Where: Sweet Swine O’Mine, Byhalia, Mississippi
- How: National Barbecue Festival methodology, using NBBQA judging criteria
- Who: Culinary chefs and certified judges with current credentials from NBF, SCA, KCBS, PNWBA, MBM, FBA, GBA or the EAT methodology
- Independence: Judges can’t have any business or family connection to an entrant.
|
Questions? Contact us about entry forms, categories or submitting your entries. Phone: (800) 385-0002 Email: admin@NBBQA.org |