27/06/2026
🔥 BBQ WORLD CUP QUALIFIER UPDATE — SPOTS 4 & 5 🔥
We have an important update for all teams registered for the BBQ World Cup qualifier on the Gold Coast.
As many of you will be aware, we recently shared the disappointing news that our originally confirmed venue was unable to proceed with hosting. We know how much is riding on this - flights booked (some international), accommodation locked in and sponsors travelling from interstate, and we want you to know that the ABA has been working flat out behind the scenes to find a solution that keeps everything on the Gold Coast and as close to the original date as possible.
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that The Beechmont Hotel has stepped up in a big way.
Big shoutout to Nate, at the Barbecue Supply Co. for supporting this event as well, thank you.
After hosting their inaugural ABA sanctioned competition on 25 July, The Beechmont Hotel will open their doors again just three weeks later to host a second competition on 15 August and that second event will serve as the qualifier for Spots 4 and 5 for the Barbecue World Cup (BWC) in Las Vegas, April 2027.
We couldn't be more grateful to the team at The Beechmont Hotel for their willingness to work with us and make this happen. It's exactly the kind of partnership that makes this community special.
Here's what you need to know:
🗓️ Beechmont Hotel — Competition 1: 25 July - Beer & BBQ Classic
🗓️ Beechmont Hotel — Competition 2: 15 August - The Vegas Showdown (BWC Qualifier - Spots 4 & 5)
📍 Location: Gold Coast
Spot 4 - open to all teams, Australian and international, with the Grand Champion taking the berth. Every single team that competes on the day, has a chance to win this one!
Spot 5 - remains reserved for Australian teams only, qualification is based on GC/RGC results (and subsequent count backs) from ABA sanctioned events between 1 June 2025 and 30 June 2026. We posted a qualifying team list a few weeks back and we’ll share the final list after this weekends' final ABA comp of the season, The Royal Rumble in Leyburn, Qld.
For teams who already have travel and accommodation arrangements in place, we see you, and this outcome is for you. We hope this news brings some relief. More details and registration links will be shared shortly. Stay tuned.
🔥 See you at Beechmont.
Oh, and one more thing…
We may have left the best cut on the board here - the Beechmont Hotel will also be hosting the Australian Barbecue Awards, taking place alongside the competition weekend. The awards night will include the the Heat Beads BBQ Pitmaster Championship Series and the SunPork Fresh Foods Protein Series awards presentation, the Peer Vote Awards, the Popular Vote Awards, and the Hall of Fame inductions, celebrating the very best of the 2025/26 season across the board. It's shaping up to be one hell of a weekend on the Gold Coast, and we cannot wait to celebrate with all of you.
— The Australian Barbecue Alliance
