Open Fire World Championship at Memphis in May: Tickets, Teams, and What to Expect

Memphis in May is a lot closer than people think, and the biggest misconception is still the same: folks don’t realize they can come to the park and actually eat.

Have you ever heard someone talk about Memphis in May like it’s a private club? Then this episode is for you. That old idea still floats around. Like you have to be on a team, or know somebody, or have the right wristband to actually enjoy the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Tiffani Perry and I talked about it straight up, because that misconception is one of the biggest things holding people back. Folks don’t realize they can come to the park, eat, watch, learn, and have a full day that feels like a backyard party on a massive scale.

Tiffani came back on the show fresh off a birthday, and the energy was the same as always. Clear, excited, and locked in on what’s changing this year. And a lot is changing, in a good way. The headline is the new Live Fire Competition, the Open Fire World Championship, headlined by Al Frugoni.

I love low and slow. That’s home base. But let’s be honest, one downside of traditional barbecue is the “nothing to see yet” part. The payoff comes later. Open fire flips that completely. It’s immediate. You see flame. You see technique. You see the craft happen right in front of you. Tiffani said it’s a spectacle, and she’s not exaggerating.

What really made me smile is how she framed it. Memphis in May is considered the most prestigious barbecue cooking contest this side of heaven, and bringing open fire into that tradition is a big deal. It’s not “new for the sake of new.” It’s new in a way that makes the whole event more alive for the general public, especially for people who have never stood close enough to see the work.

Then we got into the part that matters for anyone listening who is thinking about coming.

You can eat at Memphis in May.

That’s not a secret anymore. It shouldn’t be a rumor. Tiffani said it plainly, and I’ll repeat it because it needs to be repeated: there are food experiences for the normal consumer, the everyday attendee, not just teams. The big one is the Open Fire combo ticket. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, there’s an Open Fire experience for consumers, where you can watch the cooks work over live flame and taste the food. The combo ticket is $44, and Tiffani said it gets you into the park, gets you tastings and samples, and access to entertainment and the stage. When she said $44, I had to pause. That’s less than a tank of gas. That’s less than what some folks spend on coffee in a week. And you’re tasting food from teams coming from seven or eight different countries this year, because the open fire competition exceeded the original goal of 15 teams.

That’s not “a little food.” That’s a one-of-a-kind lineup. From some of the very best firetamers on the planet.

And it’s not just food. Tiffani called out Cupid performing, and the Home Depot outdoor kitchen with all-day demos and tastings. If you’re the kind of person who likes to learn while you eat, that Home Depot setup is basically your playground.

Then Tiffani dropped the scale of this year’s contest, and I don’t think people understand what that means until you see it. Over 200 teams will be coming into Memphis May 13th through the 16th. World Championship teams, open fire teams, plus the junior contest. She said it feels different this year. It’s the 49th year of Memphis in May, and they’re already building momentum for the 50th anniversary in 2027.

She’s not just talking hype. She listed returning names people recognize: Chris Lilly, Tuffy Stone, Heath Riles. That’s a real mix of legacy and current heat We also talked VIP, because people ask about it every year and most folks don’t actually understand what they’re buying.

VIP is $595 for four days, and Tiffani described it as a red carpet experience with a curated itinerary, VIP viewing areas, private restrooms with air conditioning, and food and drinks flowing all day long. If you want to actually talk to elite teams and top names without interrupting them mid-competition, VIP is where that becomes possible, because these teams are there to compete and there’s cash on the line. She also mentioned the Kingsford Tour of Champions, and she made a point that saves people headaches: VIP and Kingsford Tour of Champions require advance ticket purchase. You can’t just show up and buy those at the gate. Open Fire and Barbecue Alley tickets can be purchased in the park.

Then she walked through the schedule, and if you’ve never been, this is where you should pay attention.

Gates open on Wednesday, May 13th. The event kicks off with the lighting of the grill around 5:30 or 6. Last year, they introduced an opening ceremony parade of champions where the grand champion from the previous year kicks things off, throwing beads like a mini Mardi Gras. And then Tiffani gave a real inside detail: the Budweiser Clydesdales will be leading the parade this year. She didn’t stop there either. She said there will be a Budweiser bar in both Barbecue Alley and the Open Fire experience, offering $1.50 beer. I did the math out loud because that’s what we do. If you’re sitting at around $50 all-in for ticket and open fire, those extra dollars can turn into four beers. That’s barbecue math.

Wednesday night also includes sauce wrestling. Exactly what it sounds like. Wrestlers in a ring full of barbecue sauce. Tiffani warned people to bring a poncho and not get too close. I backed her up because I’ve seen that sauce fly 20 feet.

This is Memphis in May. It’s serious competition, but it’s also not afraid to be fun.

And speaking of fun, we talked about bringing in the next generation.

The junior contest is back and bigger. Tiffani said last year’s Junior World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest was such a hit that they expanded the footprint and opened it up to more teams. Kids ages 9 to 17 will compete Thursday and Friday, and the grand champion will walk the main stage just like the adults. She mentioned teams from public high schools in Memphis, kids coming from Kentucky and Washington, and more, all showing up to compete.

That’s the part I’m proud of. Because this isn’t just about trophies. It’s about the future of a craft that can give somebody a real path. Tiffani connected the dots in a way I respect. A lot of youth don’t realize barbecue can become a real business: sauces, rubs, grocery stores, online stores, merch. It’s bigger than the grill.

We also talked international flavor, because Ireland is the honored country this year. Tiffani said a team from Smoking Soul in Wexford, Ireland is coming to compete in Open Fire, and they’ll also have a consumer-facing experience in an Irish-themed space near the open fire area. She said times aren’t released yet, but it won’t require a separate ticket beyond admission.

And then she told me there’s another member of their team coming, John Wheeland, a chef with a big name in London. I’ve cooked alongside Jim from Smoking Soul before and used John’s rig in London, so I’m excited for folks to see what they bring.

Finally, we got to one of my favorite parts: the scavenger hunt.

Last year I ran up to Tiffani and asked her if she trusted me, then ran off and started a scavenger hunt. This year it’s bigger: a multi-day scavenger hunt where anyone with an event ticket is automatically entered to participate. On Saturday, they’ll drop clues every hour from gates open until close to awards at 7 p.m. Prizes include grills, items from Weber, an autographed five-piece grilling set from AC BBQ, Thermapro products, framed artwork, and even expensive meats or thermometers. You find the item, take a picture, tag the event, and you take it home.

That’s the energy I want Memphis in May to keep leaning into. Competition for the diehards, and fun for everyone else.

So if you’re thinking about coming, here’s the real question.

What do you want from the weekend?

Do you want the best seat at the table, the access, the curated meals, and the behind-the-scenes experience? VIP is your move. Do you want to walk in, watch live fire, taste food from teams across the world, catch demos, and treat it like the biggest backyard party of the summer? The Open Fire combo ticket makes a lot of sense.

Either way, come hungry. Come with comfortable shoes. Bring water. And if you see me, I’ll have electrolytes, because I’m not letting anyone go horizontal at my event.

Tell me this: if you could only pick one experience, Open Fire, VIP, Kingsford Tour of Champions, or Barbecue Alley, which one would you choose and why?