National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show: The World’s Largest Spicy Food Event

Every March, Albuquerque hosts something that no other city on earth can claim: the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show — the largest spicy food event in the world. Founded in 1988, the show has grown into a three-day weekend that draws spice enthusiasts, chile growers, hot sauce makers, and barbecue competitors from across the United States and internationally. If you have any interest in chile, heat, or the intersection of food and passion, this is a pilgrim’s destination.

About the Show

The National Fiery Foods Show takes place at Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque each March. More than 200 vendors fill the exhibition hall with hot sauces, salsas, chile-infused foods, rubs, marinades, pickled items, candies, beverages, and products that represent the full creative range of the global spicy food industry. Sampling is extensive — by mid-afternoon your palate will have been through a complete education in heat, flavor, and the remarkable variety of capsaicin-based cuisine.

What You’ll Find

The show attracts both cottage producers selling their first commercial batches and established national brands unveiling new products. New Mexico producers — many of whom grow their own chiles — are strongly represented, giving the show a local authenticity that larger trade shows lack. You will find Hatch green chile products, Chimayó red chile, mole sauces, fermented hot sauces, Carolina Reaper-based extremes, and everything in between.

The barbecue component of the show features live demonstrations, competition judging, and vendors specializing in rubs, sauces, and smoking techniques. The combination of spicy food culture and barbecue culture under one roof is entirely natural and thoroughly entertaining.

Awards & Competition

The show’s Scovie Awards — named after Wilbur Scoville, creator of the heat scale — are the industry’s most prestigious recognition for hot sauces and spicy food products. Award winners are announced at the show, and the winning products are available for purchase directly from vendors. If you want to take home the year’s best, attend on the first day when the award-winning stock is freshest.

Planning Your Visit

The show runs Friday through Sunday in early-to-mid March. Tickets are available at the door and online. Weekend sessions are more crowded; Friday is the more manageable option for serious tasters. Bring cash — many small vendors prefer it. Bring a bag for purchases — you will leave with more than you expected.

Santuario Grande in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is 20 minutes from Sandia Resort. A March stay at the property pairs the fire and flavor of the show with the quiet, restorative calm of the bosque in early spring. Reserve your March stay.