The 36th Annual Austin Chronicle
Hot Sauce Festival
Presented by Ardalan Injury Law
Sunday, August 30
3–9PM • Radio/East
3504 Montopolis Dr
Benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank
$20 Pre-sale • $25 At the Door
Plus Taxes & Fees • cashless only
The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival Presented by Ardalan Injury Law returns on Sunday, August 30, 3–9pm bringing the heat to a new home at Radio/East!
Don’t miss Austin’s hottest tradition, benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank, with hundreds of hot sauce tastings, fiery goods for sale, bites from local food trucks, cold drinks, plus awards for the festival’s signature Hot Sauce Competition and fan-favorite People’s Choice voting.
Lauren Lakis 8:15pm
Latin Dukes 7pm
Libby and the Loveless 6pm
DJ Mahealani 3pm
Commercial & People’s Choice Awards @ 7:45pm
Individual & Restaurant Awards @ 5pm
Sample and take home hot sauces from:
Aji Pepper Sauce Brand, Albert’s Famous Mexican Hot Sauce, Apicklelypse, Barbaro Mojo, Bindu Bites, Boerne Brand, Cain’s Hot Sauce, Cowboy Spice Company, Fantastic Fuego, FREAKY FERMENTS, Goodburn Sauce Company, Grill Your Ass Off, Herbert’s, High Seas Provisions, Hill Country Hot Peppers DBA Still Fire Provisions, Jaime’s Spanish Village, Mad Man Sauces, Mikey V’s Foods, Old Bones Chilli Co LLC, Poor Vida Hot Sauce, Savir Foods, Sizzlin Seeds, Spicy Dadda, Stanky Sauce, t0tsauce, Tasty Amy’s, Undead Pepper Co., Ville’s Jamaican Hot Pepper Sauce, Waste Mgmt, and Wicked Provisions Hot Sauce!
Vote for your favorites in the People’s Choice Awards until 7pm!
NO DOGS OR COOLERS.
NO WALK-UP HOT SAUCE ENTRIES.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Ardalan Injury Law
JOTA Living, Trialmed, A Team Home Services, Renewal By Anderson, A Force of Nature, Lazyface, Sun Garden Shaved Ice, Fiesta Tortillas, and Umma Juice!
Follow @AustinChronicle on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and announcements.
Hot Sauce for a Cause
What began as a small hot sauce contest led by former Austin Chronicle restaurant critic Robb Walsh in 1990, has since grown into one of Austin’s signature food events.
For more than three decades, The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival has remained a beloved Austin tradition, drawing more than 10,000 attendees and hundreds of entries in its peak years, bringing hot sauce makers and heat-loving fans together for a day of fiery flavors, friendly competition, and community.
Serving as a major fundraiser for the Central Texas Food Bank, the Hot Sauce Festival has contributed over 1 million meals in its 35-year history, including more than 24,000 meals raised in 2025 alone.
We look forward to hosting the 36th Annual Hot Sauce Festival on Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at Radio/East in East Austin in support of our Central Texas neighbors again!
Got questions? Check out the FAQ or email hotsauce@austinchronicle.com.
Can I bring my own hot sauce to the festival to sample?
No. Walk-up hot sauces are not allowed.
How can I enter the Hot Sauce Competition or vend as a Commercial Bottler?
Sign-ups for this year’s hot sauce competition have closed. For details on next year’s competition and commercial hot sauce vendor opportunities please email hotsauce@austinchronicle.com.
Where can I buy Hot Sauce Festival merch?
Hot Sauce Festival merch can be purchased at The Austin Chronicle booth. Additional merch will be available on our online store soon!
How can I vote in the People’s Choice Awards at the festival?
Cast your votes for your favorite commercial bottlers at the festival from 3-7pm! People’s Choice voting will be held inside of Radio/East at the indoor stage.
When are the Hot Sauce Festival awards announced?
Hot sauce competition awards are announced on the day of the festival at the following times. A list of all winners will also be posted to the Austin Chronicle website as well as within the September 4 print issue following the festival, on stands September 3.
5-5:30pm: Individual & Restaurant Awards
7:45-8:15pm: Commercial Bottler & People’s Choice Awards
How much does it cost to get in?
$20 Pre-sale
$25 At the Door
Cashless payment only • Plus Taxes & Fees
Part of all ticket proceeds benefits the Central Texas Food Bank.
Free for kids ages 6 and under.
Is parking available on-site?
Public parking within Radio/East’s on-site lot will be closed off. Attendees are highly encouraged to arrange a ride, schedule a rideshare, or utilize public transportation to get to the festival.
Street parking along Trade Center Dr. is available. Please check posted signs and pay stations for enforcement information.
What’s the bathroom situation?
ADA-accessible bathroom available indoors and portable toilets are available outside.
Can I bring water, snacks, and my cooler?
No coolers, outside food or drinks are allowed.
Is water provided?
Yes! Self-serve water jug stations will be placed throughout the venue. A Force of Life will also provide water bottles. Check out their booth!
Are food options available?
Yes! Grab a bite from on-site food trucks: Shortwave, Veracruz All Natural, and Wow Poke.
Are dogs allowed?
Sorry, no dogs are allowed except registered service animals.
Are children allowed?
Yes. The Hot Sauce Festival is open to all ages.
Will you check IDs for 21+?
Yes. A driver’s license is required to receive a 21+ wristband.
Card or cash?
Credit/debit cards are required for all ticket sales at the door and Hot Sauce Festival merch sales. Credit/debit cards are preferred for all hot sauce vendors as well.
RE: FDA/CDC Salmonella Javiana Outbreak Investigation
In light of the recent FDA recall of certain jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, every commercial bottler, restaurant, and individual must certify in writing that none of their products contain the recalled peppers. Additionally, each vendor at the festival must pass a city of Austin food inspection on the morning of the festival. We also reserve the right to remove any item that does not meet our food-safety standards
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