The fire is being lit, the pits are heating up, and the National Barbecue & Grilling Association is bringing an entirely new live fire experience to three Southern communities in 2026.

The NBBQA Live Fire Experience Series brings together talented cooks, barbecue fans, food lovers, families, sponsors, vendors, and local communities for weekends filled with open-flame cooking, public tasting, competition, fellowship, and unforgettable flavor.

This is more than an event you simply attend. It is an experience you can see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and feel.

Guests will have an opportunity to watch skilled cooks work over live fire, smell the smoke rolling through the air, hear the sounds of food sizzling over the flames, meet the people behind the pits, sample incredible flavors, and become part of the growing live fire cooking community.

The 2026 series will visit Nashville, Tennessee; Greenwood, South Carolina; and Byhalia, Mississippi. Each two-day event will showcase the people, traditions, creativity, and regional flavors that make barbecue and live fire cooking special.

Explore the complete NBBQA Live Fire Experience Series and find event information here.

Nashville Fire & Flavor

September 11–12, 2026

Travellers Rest Historic House Museum

The first fire of the series will be lit in Music City during NBBQA Live Fire Experience: Nashville Fire & Flavor.

Set on the historic grounds of Travellers Rest Historic House Museum at 636 Farrell Parkway, Nashville Fire & Flavor will bring together the excitement of live fire cooking and the hospitality, food culture, and energy that make Nashville one of the country’s most popular destinations.

The experience begins Friday evening, September 11, and continues through Saturday, September 12. Guests will have opportunities to enjoy public sampling, interact with pitmasters and live fire cooks, discover new flavors, connect with barbecue and grilling brands, and experience food being prepared over open flame.

Saturday will bring even more fire as competitors showcase their skills in a regional qualifier-style live fire competition connected to the pathway toward the 2027 NBBQA National Live Fire Championship.

Whether you are a serious barbecue fan, a Nashville food lover, a family searching for a unique weekend activity, or someone who simply loves the smell of smoke and the taste of food cooked over fire, Nashville Fire & Flavor belongs on your calendar.

Nashville tickets are available now. Space may be limited for certain ticketed experiences, so advance purchase is encouraged.

Buy tickets for Nashville Fire & Flavor.

Greenwood Smoke & Sear

October 9–10, 2026

Downtown Greenwood, South Carolina

The NBBQA Live Fire Experience Series continues in the heart of Uptown Greenwood with Greenwood Smoke & Sear.

Downtown Greenwood will become a gathering place for food, fire, fellowship, and fun as cooks prepare bold flavors over open flames. Guests will be able to stroll through the event, meet participating teams, enjoy public tasting and sampling opportunities, visit barbecue and grilling brands, and experience the energy of a live fire competition up close.

The public tasting and sampling experience begins Friday, October 9, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, October 10, the live fire cooking competition runs from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., with public tasting and sampling scheduled from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Greenwood Smoke & Sear is designed for BBQ fans, local residents, families, friends, visitors, and anyone who appreciates great food, outdoor cooking, and genuine Southern hospitality.

Come hungry. Bring your friends. Meet the cooks. Discover new flavors. Then find your place around the fire.

View Greenwood Smoke & Sear information and purchase tickets.

Byhalia Fire & Feast

November 13–14, 2026

Byhalia, Mississippi

The 2026 regional series will conclude in Mississippi with NBBQA Live Fire Experience: Byhalia Fire & Feast.

Byhalia Fire & Feast will combine competitive live fire cooking, public tasting, bold Mississippi barbecue flavor, and the kind of Southern hospitality that makes everyone feel welcome around the table.

Teams, fans, sponsors, vendors, NBBQA members, and members of the local community will gather for two days centered around food cooked over fire. Guests will have opportunities to interact with cooks, learn more about live fire techniques, discover new products and flavors, and enjoy a public-facing barbecue experience created for both longtime enthusiasts and newcomers.

Byhalia will also serve as another regional qualifier-style stop on the pathway toward the 2027 NBBQA National Live Fire Championship.

Visit the Byhalia Fire & Feast event page for information and ticket announcements.

Find Your Fire in 2026

Every stop in the NBBQA Live Fire Experience Series will have its own personality, local flavor, and community—but the heart of the experience will remain the same.

It is about bringing people together.

It is about recognizing the talent and hard work of the cooks.

It is about introducing the public to the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of live fire cooking.

It is about creating opportunities for competitors, sponsors, vendors, businesses, and communities to connect.

Most importantly, it is about making room around the fire for everyone.

Choose one city or follow the series from Nashville to Greenwood to Byhalia. Bring your family, gather your friends, come hungry, and prepare to experience barbecue and grilling in an entirely new way.

Three cities. Two days each. One championship pathway. One unforgettable NBBQA Live Fire Experience.

Get all NBBQA Live Fire Experience event and ticket information here.