2026 Awards of Excellence
Key Dates, Entry Forms, & Judging Information
The NBBQA Awards of Excellence are a long-running award series that recognizes excellence in the commercial side of the barbecue industry. Products available in stores and on-line are eligible to enter.
Key Dates
October 1, 2025 – Awards of Excellence Entry Window Opens
December 1, 2025 - All entries must be RECEIVED by this date.
December 6, 2025 - Judging takes places at a local to be determined.
December 13, 2025 (Tentative Date) - All Top 5 position, place winners will be notified before this date.
2026 Awards of Excellence Awards Ceremony Dinner Tentative Date: 2026 NBBQA Conference expected to be January - February 2026 plans are int he works.
2026 Entry Forms
The contestant entry form will need to be completed only once. Please place a copy of the contestant entry form along with EACH CATEGORY (entered) form in your shipment of entries. Payment can be made by check or credit card. Please check your membership status before sending entry fees. Mail all entries to NBBQA, 336 Phelps Road, Douglas, GA 31533. All Entries Must Be RECEIVED at NBBQA, 336 Phelps Road, Douglas, GA 31533 by December 1, 2025.
The online entry form and payment used over the last few year has been eliminated.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at (800) 385-0002.
Click on the live links below for a pdf of the entry forms.
BBQ Sauce Category Entry Form (Member Fee $35 per entry/Non-Member Fee $45 per entry)
BBQ Rubs Category Entry Form (Member Fee $35 per entry/Non-Member Fee $45 per entry)
BBQ Food Category Entry Form (Member Fee $35 per entry/Non-Member Fee $45 per entry)
BBQ Equipment Category Entry Form (Member Fee $30 per entry/Non-Member Fee $40 per entry)
BBQ Publication Category Entry Form (Member Fee $30 per entry/Non-Member Fee $40 per entry)
BBQ Photo Category Entry Form (Member Fee $15 per entry/Non-Member Fee $20 per entry)
BBQ Digital Category Entry Form (Member Fee $30 per entry/Non-Member Fee $40 per entry)
BBQ Drink Mixers, Alcohol, and Nonalcoholic Beverages Entry Form (Member Fee $30 per entry fee/Non-Member Fee $40 per entry fee)
Judging
Judging will be held at a location to be determined on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Judging will utilize the National Barbecue Festival methodology with NBBQA judging criteria.
The judges will be as follows...
- Culinary Chefs, any person with a current certified judge number with any of the following sanctioning bodies, NBF, SCA, KCBS, PNWBA, MBM, FBA, GBA, or in the EAT Methodology.
- Judges may not have any business or family connection to anyone with entries in the Awards of Excellence
To Register to Judge, click here.