The end of August in Austin always brings a familiar heat, but nothing compares to the culinary fire of the city's favorite spicy tradition. The 36th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival is officially on the calendar for Sunday, August 30, 2026, running from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This year, the massive gathering is heading to Radio/East, located at 3504 Montopolis Dr., Austin, TX 78744. It is a great chance to sample hundreds of different flavors while supporting a major local cause, as a portion of all ticket sales directly benefits the Central Texas Food Bank, the region's largest hunger-relief charity.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Austin and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
If you are planning to head out, tickets are available online for $20 during the pre-sale period, or you can grab them at the gate for $25, plus the usual taxes and fees. Keep in mind that the entire event is cashless, so you will want to have your cards or digital payment ready. The festival is open to all ages, but you will need to leave your dogs and coolers at home. For those who want to beat the heat, the venue at Radio/East offers multiple outdoor zones alongside a smaller indoor space designed to give attendees a quick break from the crowds. Parking is typically straightforward since the surrounding offices are closed on Sundays.
With more than 350 varieties of hot sauce to sample and purchase, the sheer volume of options is the main draw. You can expect to taste creations from a long list of confirmed makers, including local favorites and regional names like Barbaro Mojo, Bindu Bites, Boerne Brand, Cowboy Spice Company, Fantastic Fuego, Freaky Ferments, Fxcking Hot Sauces, High Seas Provisions, Hill Country Hot Peppers DBA Still Fire Provisions, Jaime's Spanish Village, Mad Man Sauces, Old Bones Chilli Co., Savir Foods, Stanky Sauce, T0tsauce, Wicked Provisions Hot Sauce, Goodburn Sauce Co., and Waste Mgmt. Alongside the tastings, there will be live music, cold drinks, and food vendors to help balance out the spice.
The heart of the event remains the official Hot Sauce Competition. A panel of judges evaluates entries from individuals, restaurants, and commercial bottlers ahead of the festival, with the winners announced live during the event. Attendees also get to cast their votes for the fan-favorite People's Choice awards. If you happen to make your own hot sauce and want to test your recipe against the city's best, you can reach out to the organizers at hotsauce@austinchronicle.com to get details on how to enter the competition, though note that there are no walk-up entries allowed on the day of the festival.
Published Date
19 July 2026
