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Hot Luck is coming and the list of participating chefs is smokin'.
The chef lineup and link to purchase Whole Enchilada passes dropped Wednesday for the food and music festival that returns to Austin for a truncated two-night fall edition on October 16-17.
Chefs from more than a dozen of the best restaurants in Texas and a half-dozen chefs from some of the country's top restaurants will participate.
The festival features two cooking events: Giddy UP, an open-fire event at Franklin Barbecue, and its centerpiece event, House Party. Taking place Saturday night at Assembly Hall (1121 E. Seventh St.), House Party replaces Al Fuego, which had been the nine-year-old festival festival's previous centerpiece event.
Hot Luck organizers plan to return the festival to its regular spring date in 2027, and once again produce four days of food and music, with Al Fuego also returning.
What chefs are coming to Austin's Hot Luck 2026?
The list of talent at this year's festival includes award winners and big names from across the Lone Star State and the country. Texas chefs include Aaron Bludron (Bludorn in Houston), Ernest Servantes (Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin), Emil Oliva (Leche de Tigre in San Antonio), and locals, Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel (Birdie's), Edgar Rico (Nixta Taqueria), Fermín Núñez (Este) and Kevin Fink (Emmer & Rye).
The roster of decorated chefs from around the nation includes Calvin Eng from Bonnie's in Brooklyn, Caroline Glover of Annette in Aurora, Colorado, Deau Arpapornnopparat of Holy Basil in Los Angeles, Kyle Knall of Birch in Milwaukee, Lawrence "LT" Smith of Chilte in Phoenix and Hot Luck regular Mason Hereford of Turkey and the Wolf in New Orleans. More chef names, along with musical programming, will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Whole Enchilada pass, which includes both nights of cooking and access to the music showcase at The Mohawk and additional participating music venues throughout the weekend, costs $349. Family passes, which include entry for two adults and two children age 20 or under, cost $700, and youngsters age 13-20 can purchase discounted passes for $100. Passes are on sale at hotluckfest.com, and additional chef, music and programming information will be released in the weeks ahead.
This year's iteration of Hot Luck will be the first under the stewardship of People Inc. Franklin and Hot Luck co-founder James Moody, also a co-founder of Mohawk, Guerilla Suit and Rambler Sparkling Water, sold the festival to People Inc. in June. People Inc.'s portfolio of live events includes the Food & Wine Classics in Aspen and Charleston, and Southern Living's Hill Country Tailgate, debuting in Fredericksburg this fall.
Franklin and Moody remain actively involved in guiding the festival's programming, culture and branding, and Hot Luck will continue to partner with Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation, which provides financial assistance to hospitality workers in need.
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