Smoke and Fire Festival
Important information for 2026 Smoke & Fire Festival ticket holders
We are finalising the arrangements available to ticket holders following the cancellation of the 2026 Smoke & Fire Festival.
We are working with our professional advisers to finalise the arrangements. Once we obtain the necessary approvals, we expect to offer ticket holders a choice between the following options: ticket holders the choice between:
- Option A – Full refund
A full refund of the amount paid for their affected festival ticket or tickets. - Option B – 2027 Festival Package
A complimentary ticket to one participating Smoke & Fire festival in 2027, together with a proposed £20 voucher to spend on food or drink at that festival. The voucher arrangements and applicable terms are still being finalised.
No action is required from ticket holders at present. We will contact ticket holders directly and publish a further update explaining how to select an option as soon as the process has been approved.
We understand the disappointment and frustration caused by the cancellation and thank all ticket holders for their continued patience. Your statutory rights are not affected.
SMOKE AND FIRE FESTIVAL
The Ember Lounge
Where immersive live-fire dining meets masterful culinary storytelling
As seen in…
MALDON SMOKE & FIRE FESTIVAL 2026
The UK’s Ultimate 10th Anniversary BBQ & Live Music Special
SAT 15th – SUN 16th AUGUST 2026 | Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex. CM9 5HD
SECURE YOUR TICKETS TODAY
BBQ FOOD Festival Competitions
The British Open Freestyle BBQ Championship®
The Ultimate BBQ Battle in the UK – Official BBQ World Cup Qualifier
Experience the UK’s most exciting BBQ competition as top competition and rank amateur teams from across the UK and Europe go head-to-head in a fiery showdown of skill, creativity, and unbeatable flavour.
The British Open Freestyle BBQ Championships® brings together the very best in BBQ mastery, with teams competing across mouthwatering categories to win the ultimate bragging rights in outdoor cooking.
Expect thrilling live challenges, epic smoke-filled action, and next-level BBQ innovation—a must-see event for BBQ lovers, foodies, grill fans, and outdoor cooking enthusiasts.
Ready to feel the sizzle?
Eating Challenges
Hot Wings Eating Challenge – The UK’s Fiercest Fiery Wing Showdown
Think you can handle the heat? The Hot Wings Eating Challenge will push your endurance, your tastebuds, and your fire tolerance to the limit. You’ll face 12 insanely hot, two-part chicken wings, all drenched in the hottest sauce ever created by our sponsor Firefly BBQ, finished with extra-crispy Chilli Sprinkles. You have 5 minutes to devour them, followed by 5 minutes of brutal “burn time”—with absolutely no ice-cold Hooch relief allowed.
Beat the burn, finish the challenge, and you’ll earn a rare, exclusive Winner’s T-Shirt that only true heat warriors ever claim.
Spaces are limited… so if you’re brave (or mad) enough to try, enter early.
UK’s No.1 Extreme Chilli Eating Challenge — The Hottest Competition in the Country
Think you can handle the heat? Our legendary Extreme Chilli Eating Contest starts mild and rockets up the Scoville scale to some of the hottest chillies on the planet, supplied by our chilli sponsor, Southern Fruits Importers LTD. It’s one of the festival’s biggest crowd-pleasers — and with limited places, you’ll need to sign up early if you’re brave enough to take part.
This is a last-person-standing showdown with a fantastic prize up for grabs from one of our sponsors. You must be 18+ to enter, and only the truly strong-willed, heat-hungry, iron-stomached competitors should apply.
FREE
PARKING
LIVE
MUSIC
BBQ
DEMOS
FOOD
TASTING
FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT
World Butcher Wars
Teams from across the globe showed off jaw-dropping skills at the BBQ food festival, in this high-stakes showdown.
Think You’ve Got BBQ Skills? Prove It at the British Open Free Style BBQ Championship®
Are you an amateur BBQ fanatic with a love for smoke, fire and big flavours? Then it’s time to step up. The British Open Free Style BBQ Championship® is open to anyone — all you need is a team, a BBQ, and a passion for all things BBQ. We’ll provide everything else, including all the meat you’ll cook, your fuel, and full support on the day. Whether you’re a backyard hero, a weekend warrior, or a flavour-obsessed fire lover, this is your chance to compete, have fun, and show the UK what you can do. No pros. No limits. Just pure BBQ passion
The UK’s Ultimate Live-Fire BBQ Festival: Pitmasters, Chefs & Smoke-Fuelled Theatre
Witness the world’s top pitmasters, live-fire legends, and celebrity chefs ignite the Feast from the Fire Stage at our biggest 10th Anniversary celebration yet.
Get ready for spectacular live-fire cooking, jaw-dropping demonstrations, and unforgettable flavour experiences as the Smoke & Fire Festival returns bigger, bolder, and hotter than ever. Our incredible 2026 chef lineup — featuring global BBQ icons and star talent — will be announced soon. Stay tuned… this year is going to be extraordinary..
BBQ Alley – The UK’s Ultimate Showcase of Elite BBQ & Live-Fire Cooking Brands
BBQ Alley brings together the world’s leading grills, smokers, and outdoor cooking innovations — featuring top-tier names like YETI, KADAI, OFYR, ENDERS and MONALITH and many more. It’s the go-to destination for hands-on inspiration, expert guidance, and the hottest BBQ kit on the market.
Epic Live Music & Entertainment — All Weekend at SMOKE & FIRE FESTIVALS®
Get ready for an electrifying mix of live music, festival energy, and unbeatable BBQ food festival vibes — with our biggest lineup yet to be announced soon.
Last year’s performers brought unforgettable energy to the stage, drawing huge crowds and creating the perfect soundtrack to a weekend of smoke, fire, and flavour. This year, we’re turning up the heat even further with a brand-new music lineup that will be revealed soon. Stay tuned — you won’t want to miss what’s coming.
Ready for more?
Smoke and Fire 2026 is already heating up to be bigger, bolder, and smokier than ever.
Stay tuned—next year’s festival is where you need to be.
2025 video Highlights
Latest BBQ News & Festival Updates
