Heath Riles BBQ is 2025 Memphis in May World Grand Champion

Team Heath Riles BBQ is your 2025 Grand Champion at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, part of the iconic Memphis in May BBQ Festival! For the third time in four years, we took home 1st Place Ribs, and this year, we claimed the ultimate prize—Grand Champion.

Winning ribs never gets old. But winning the whole BBQ championship? That’s the dream. I've been competing in Memphis in May since 2008, and this victory means everything. Huge thanks to my team, my wife Candace, our sponsors, and all the incredible pitmasters who showed up in Memphis, Tennessee, to make this event unforgettable.

What Is Memphis in May?

The Memphis in May International Festival is the pinnacle of barbecue competition, known globally as the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (WCBCC). The event dates back to 1978 and now draws elite pitmasters from around the world.

If you're wondering “When is Memphis in May 2025?”—this year’s BBQ competition took place mid-May at Liberty Park in Midtown Memphis, a newer venue with great facilities. From championship-level cooking to unforgettable fan energy, the Memphis BBQ Festival is a must-experience for any BBQ lover.

About Our Winning Rib Entry

In competition barbecue, ribs come down to flavor, tenderness, and wow factor. This year, I created a rib recipe I knew could win it all.

We hand-trimmed 92 racks of Prairie Fresh ribs to select the best 24. Here’s the flavor profile I built using my signature Heath Riles BBQ products:

• Garlic Jalapeño Rub
• Competition BBQ Rub
• Butter Bath & Wrap
• Sweet BBQ Sauce
• Competition BBQ Sauce
• Apple Habanero Glaze

I smoked them on my Outlaw BFO Smoker using Royal Oak Charcoal, which delivered that bold, clean smoke flavor. Want to cook ribs like this yourself? Find the full rib recipe here.

Memphis in May 2025 BBQ Championship – Our Weekend Breakdown

If you’ve never seen the full scope of the BBQ Championship at Memphis in May, here’s what our week looked like:

Thursday – Ancillaries & Kickoff Events

• Turn-ins: Tomato Sauce, Mustard Sauce, Vinegar Sauce
• Hot Wings: Bob Trudnak
• Turkey: Kevin LaRocque
• Steak: Heath Blezacker
• Activities: Cooker Caravan, Ms. Piggie Idol

Friday – Practice Run & More Ancillaries

• Practice Rib Cook
• Beef: Bob
• Poultry: Kevin
• Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp: Jake Fullington
• Exotic: Delbert Palmer
• Meet & greets, sponsor events, final prep

Saturday – Finals Day

• 2 full rib cooks (blind & on-site judging)
• Awards Ceremony at Liberty Park

Official Results – 2025 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest

Here’s how we placed in Memphis:

Ancillaries:

• 2nd Place – Hot Wings
• 4th Place – Vinegar Sauce
• 7th Place – SCA Steak
• 11th Place – Poultry & Exotic
• 14th Place – Seafood
  

Ribs: 🏆 1st Place

Grand Championship: 🏆 WINNERS

This is the Super Bowl of BBQ—and we took the trophy home.

Big congrats to our fellow podium winners:

• Will-Be-Que – 1st Place Whole Hog
• Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que – 1st Place Shoulder & Reserve Grand Champion
  

BBQ Wins Are a Team Effort

This championship belongs to everyone who played a part—from my wife Candace to the team, sponsors, and friends who showed up to support us.

Special thanks to:

• The Butcher Shoppe – Wagyu Beef Short Ribs & Turkey
• Springer Mountain Farms Chicken – Chicken Burgers, Thighs, and Wings
• Ramon’s Meat Market – Rib trimming
• Royal Oak Charcoal, Outlaw Smokers, Prairie Fresh, YETI – Product partners who make our cooks possible

2025 Memphis in May Highlights

Unforgettable moments from this year’s Memphis in May BBQ Championship:

• Seeing friends and fans travel across the country to support us
• Watching my products used by other top teams
• Hearing our name called as Grand Champions in front of the Memphis crowd

We’re already getting ready for Memphis in May 2026. Until then—stay fired up and keep practicing.

– Heath Riles

Memphis in May FAQs

When is Memphis in May 2025?
Memphis in May 2025 took place in mid-May, with the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest held at Liberty Park in Midtown Memphis.

Where is Memphis in May held?
The 2025 Memphis in May BBQ Festival was held at Liberty Park, located in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee.

What is the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest?
It’s the premier BBQ competition, part of the Memphis in May Festival, attracting pitmasters from across the globe to compete for top honors in categories like Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog.