2026
HEAT BEADS BARBECUE WARS
and
KING OF THE GRILL
- Toowoomba / Gippsland / Sydney -
LOCATIONs
Toowoomba – Toowoomba Showgrounds – Glenvale Road, Glenvale QLD 4350
Gippsland – Lardner Park -155 Burnt Store Rd, Lardner VIC 3820
Sydney – Sydney Showground – Grand Parade, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
SANCTIONING
The events are sanctioned by the Australian Barbecue Alliance and the Steak Cook-off Association.
Event Timetable - all events
TOOWOOMBA – 10 & 11 APRIL 2026
GIPPSLAND – 17 & 18 APRIL 2026
SYDNEY – 1 & 2 MAY 2026
THURSDAY – BUMP IN (OPTIONAL)
10:00am – 6:00pm
** At ALL EVENTS – Camping is allowed on site from Thursday evening.
** At ALL EVENTS – During Bump-in the area is considered a work site and – SAFETY VESTS MUST BE WORN – until gates open.
HAND IN TIMES
Hand in times will be the same for ALL EVENTS as per the schedule below.
STEAK HAND-INS
SCA – Sydney – 1 x Steak only
SCA – Toowoomba & Gippsland – 2 x Steaks
FRIDAY – KING OF THE GRILL (SCA)
7:00am – 9:00am – Bump-in
10:00am – SCA Cooks Meeting & ABA Team Briefing – Indoor Wars Stage
10:15am – SCA Steak Selection (SYD x 1 Steak Hand In only – TWB & GIP x 2 Steak Hand Ins)
(Supplied by Jack’s Creek at all three events, plus Diamantina in Toowoomba and Bass Strait in Gippsland)
10:20am – Collection of other supplied products…
(Teams must use Götzinger supplied dogs for all events and Tortillas supplied by La Banderita in Sydney only)
All team members must attend – All cars off-site!
Team site Inspections will take place after briefing till 12:00pm
10.30am – Cooking Starts SCA
12:00pm – Cooking Starts ABA
12:00pm – Gates open to the public
12:15pm – 12:45pm – Steak 1 (Does not apply in SYD)
1:15pm – 1:30pm – Wings
2:00pm – 2:15pm – Jalapeño Poppers
2:45pm – 3:00pm – Hot Dogs
3:30pm – 4:00pm – Steak 2
4:30pm – 4:45pm – Pizza (TWB & GIP only) Tacos (SYD only)
5:15pm – 5:30pm – Lamb Cutlets
6:30pm – Awards – SCA – King of the Grill
SATURDAY – BARBECUE WARS (ABA)
7:00am – 9:00am – Bump-in
10:00am – Gates open to the public
11:00am – Hand in – Chicken
12:00pm – Hand in – Pork Ribs
1:00pm – Hand in – Pork
2:00pm – Hand in – Lamb
3:00pm – Hand in – Brisket
6:00pm – Awards – ABA – Barbecue Wars
SUNDAY
8:00am – 12:00pm – Teams Bump out
Cost of Entry
$325 – Entry into all ABA categories
Includes 4 x 2-day tickets, power and camping on-site from Thursday to Sunday – Site size is 8x8m – Any additional family members, or camping requirements must be purchased separately though the website. http://www.meatstock.com.au
$175 – Entry into all SCA categories
All SCA entries must cook out of an existing ABA Site unless agreed with the promoter.
Refunds are not available less than 40 days from the event.
Cash AND Prizes
Heat Beads Australian Barbecue Wars
Grand Champion – $3,000 Cash + Prizes + Trophy
Reserve GC – $1,000 Cash + Prizes + Trophy
All Categories
1st – $750 Cash + Trophy
2nd – $450 Cash + Trophy
3rd – $200 Cash + Trophy
Total Cash and Prize Pool – Over $10,000 per event
King of the Grill
Steak 1 & Steak 2 (if applicable)
1st $1,000, 2nd $500, 3rd $200 + Trophies
Wings – Jalapeño Poppers – Hot Dogs – Pizza/Tacos – Lamb Cutlets
1st $500 + Trophy
2nd $100 + Trophy
3rd $50 + Trophy
Total Cash and Prize Pool – Over $6,000 per event
Categories
STEAK COOK-OFF ASSOCIATION – SCA
• STEAK (Steaks will be supplied at the Team Briefings each day)
• WINGS
• JALAPEÑO POPPERS
• HOT DOGS (Must use Götzinger supplied dogs)
• PIZZA – TWB & GIP – (Box will be supplied)
• TACOS – SYD Only
• LAMB CUTLETS
SCA RULES – https://www.steakcookoffs.com/
AUSTRALASIAN BARBECUE ALLIANCE – ABA
• BRISKET
• LAMB
• PORK 2
• PORK RIBS
• CHICKEN 1
Definitions at www.ausbbq.com.au/abarules/
IMPORTANT/PLEASE Note
• Team sites are roughly 8x8m.
• Camper Vans and Motor Homes are welcome. All accomodation must be within your allocated site.
• Each entry receives 4 x 2-day passes to the event and camping for 4 people.
• Limited vehicle movements during the event days.
• Teams must have safety vests and closed toe shoes on during bump in/out. No children during these times.
• No teams are allowed to sell food or product at their cooking area.
• All associated electrical equipment must have a current test tag.
• Team sponsor advertising is allowed provided not deemed excessive by the event co-ordinator.
• All banners to be within your allocated space, not including the fence. No signs above 2.4m.
• During opening hours the event is a licensed venue. No outside Alcohol is allowed during these hours.
• A wash-up station and ash bin will be provided.
• Showers and toilet will be available in the camping areas of the Festival.
Terms of Entry
By entering the Contest, each entrant forever and irrevocably releases and holds harmless the event organisers, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, and their respective agents, advertising and promotion agencies, Contest partners and prize suppliers, and all of their respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates, and agents from and against all claims, damages, or liabilities arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from (a) entrant’s participation in the Contest, or Contest related activities or events, (b) entrant’s Submission, (c) entrant’s representations and agreements in these Official Rules, and (d) entrant’s award, receipt, or use of any prize awarded in the Contest. The event organisers and the ABA reserve the right, at their own sole discretion, to terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest at any time.
Terms of Entry
For full Rules, Terms and Food safety guidelines please visit www.ausbbq.com.au/abarules/