World-class BBQ competition and festival comes to Croatia

Velika Gorica, Croatia, is set to host its first international BBQ competition and festival, 'No smoke, no glory,' during the second weekend of July at the Park Plemenite općine turopoljske.

The competition will bring together 20 elite BBQ teams from Croatia, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Belgium, England, and the USA. These teams will be vying for qualification spots in prestigious events such as the BBQ World Cup, the American Royal, and the Jack Daniel's Invitational. Among the notable competitors is American Brad Leighninger, also known as 'Gettin’ Basted,' a three-time world champion in the last five years.

Beyond the competition, the event will feature a festival atmosphere where attendees can savor small culinary masterpieces prepared by the competing teams, alongside readily available delicacies. A rich musical program will complement the gastronomic offerings, creating a family-friendly environment. The festival aims to showcase Velika Gorica as a destination offering quality experiences, particularly in gastronomy.

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Vjerujem da će svi posjetitelji uživati, ne samo u vrhunskom BBQ-u i bogatom programu, već i u ljepoti našeg kraja. Upravo su ovakve manifestacije konkretan primjer kako gastronomija može postati snažan alat promocije destinacije i povezivanja ljudi.

Maja Toth, director of the Velika Gorica Tourist Board, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "I believe all visitors will enjoy not only the top-quality BBQ and rich program but also the beauty of our region. Manifestations like these are concrete examples of how gastronomy can become a powerful tool for promoting a destination and connecting people."

The BBQ Hot Yard team, instrumental in organizing the event, has been promoting American-style grilling and has achieved significant success in international competitions, including a first-place finish in Europe and 15th in the world in the Team of the Year race for 2026. "Given that this is the first BBQ competition in Croatia, I am particularly pleased with the excellent response from top teams from various countries. We have gathered some of the world's best BBQ masters and true enthusiasts of high-quality gastronomy," said a representative from BBQ Hot Yard.

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Budući da je riječ o prvom BBQ natjecanju u Hrvatskoj, posebno me veseli izvrstan odaziv vrhunskih ekipa iz različitih zemalja. Okupili smo neke od najboljih svjetskih BBQ majstora i istinske zaljubljenike u vrhunsku gastronomiju. Izuzetno mi je drago što kroz ovo natjecanje i festival imamo priliku domaćoj publici predstaviti svoju strast, znanje i ljubav prema BBQ kulturi. Posjetitelji će moći uživati u vrhunskim okusima, bogatom programu i jedinstvenoj atmosferi te vjerujem da će festival postati nezaobilazna tradicija.