Big Bend Wildlife & Wine will host a Tolbert Chili Cookoff qualifying round on Thursday, March 12, as part of the Big Bend Wildlife & Wine 2026 events, according to an announcement shared this week.
The qualifying round will give cooks the opportunity to compete under International Chili Society–sanctioned rules, with winners advancing toward the Original Terlingua International Chili Championship.
Organizers released a detailed schedule for the day:
12:00 p.m. — Cooks’ meeting, registration, and distribution of judging cups. Participants are required to bring a photo ID. 1:00 p.m. — Team captains’ meeting, with instructions for judging and best-in-show procedures. Cooks must bring their assigned cook numbers. 4:00 p.m. — Chili turn-in time for qualified cooks. Cup size is set at 32 ounces. 4:00 p.m. — Public chili sampling begins under the pavilion. 5:30 p.m. — Award announcements. 6:00 p.m. — Live music.
Event organizers noted that one-day, three-day, and camping passes are available through BigBendSpringBreak.com.
The Tolbert Chili Cookoff, founded in 1967, is a long-running Terlingua tradition and remains one of the most recognized chili competitions in the country. The March 12 qualifying round will be held in Terlingua and is open to both competitors and the public.
