2026 Texas Monthly BBQ Fest Returns with BBQ World's Fair and Top 50 Picnic
News related to:Texas Monthly · 2 min read
AUSTIN, Texas, October 12, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Texas Monthly is set to host its annual barbecue festival, the 2026 Texas Monthly BBQ Fest, in the heart of Lockhart, the barbecue capital of Texas. The event, scheduled for November 7 and 8, promises a culinary extravaganza with the return of the popular Taco Trail, alongside the BBQ World's Fair and the Top 50 Picnic.
On Saturday, November 7, the BBQ World's Fair will kick off at noon in downtown Lockhart. This free event will showcase the diversity and signature styles of Texas barbecue, with pitmasters demonstrating their craft during live-cooking demos. Attendees can also enjoy a curated lineup of tacos from some of the best taquerias in Texas, curated by José R. Ralat, Texas Monthly's two-time James Beard Award-winning taco editor. The fair will feature a vendor marketplace and live music, with performances by DJ Island Time, Randeen, the Texases, the Weary Boys, and Shinyribs. The event will run until 6 p.m.
The celebration will continue on Sunday, November 8, at Lockhart City Park with the Top 50 Picnic. More than 35 joints from Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ list, including all of the top ten, will offer a taste of why they are considered barbecue royalty. General admission tickets are available for $140, with tickets for children aged six through twelve priced at $40, and kids five and under getting in free. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Feeding Texas and its network of food banks across the state. VIP tickets have already sold out, but early entry at 12 p.m. is available for those who purchase general admission tickets. Musical acts include Mixer Rogers, JD Clark, and Ellis Bullard. The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m.
Texas Monthly is grateful for the support of its sponsors, including Bud Light, City of Lockhart, Classic Cowboy, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Deloitte, Devil's Grin Gin, Freshfields, JuiceLand, La Vieille Ferme, Liquid Death, Mill Scale Metalworks, Perry Homes, Prasek's Family Smokehouse, Republic Services, Resort Vacations, Rodeo Austin, Sanpellegrino, Santa Fe Spirits, Statewide Remodeling, Summer Club, Texas Pork Producers Association, True Texas BBQ, Turtlebox, and Visit Cedar Park.
For those interested in staying updated on BBQ Fest news, Texas Monthly invites you to subscribe to its barbecue newsletter, follow the @tmbbqfest Instagram account, like the BBQ Fest Facebook page, or follow Texas Monthly's barbecue editor, Daniel Vaughn, on X and Instagram: @BBQsnob.