Hot Luck Fest is returning to Austin this October with an all-star chef lineup

Hot Luck returns to Austin October 16-17, bringing its signature mix of live-fire cooking, drinks, and live music back to Franklin Barbecue and Assembly Hall. Tickets are now on sale at hotluckfest.com.

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Friday, October 16: The festival kicks off on Friday with Giddy Up, Hot Luck’s signature live-fire feast at Franklin Barbecue. Inspired by backyard gatherings and the communal spirit of shared meals, Giddy Up puts chefs front and center, creating unique bites for a stroll-and-sample feast that sets the tone for the best-tasting weekend of the year. Following Giddy Up, Whole Enchilada pass holders receive complimentary admission to Hot Luck’s marquee music showcase at Mohawk, with performers to be announced soon.

Saturday, October 17: On Saturday, Hot Luck heads to Assembly Hall for House Party, the festival’s largest culinary event. Dozens of dishes, one lively indoor-outdoor party: chefs from across the country serving their most creative plates while the drinks stay cold and the music stays loud.

"The best part of Hot Luck has always been getting a bunch of incredibly talented people together and letting them cook, play music, and have a good time."

Aaron Franklin

Chef Lineup

This year’s first round of participating chefs includes the following, with additional chefs announced in the coming months:

• Aaron Bludorn (Bludorn)
• Beck Mason (Fluff Bake Bar)
• Calvin Eng (Bonnie’s)
• Deau Arpapornnopparat (Holy Basil)
• Edgar Rico (Nixta Taqueria)
• Ernest Servantes (Burnt Bean Co.)
• Evan LeRoy (LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue)
• Fermín Núñez (Este)
• Kevin Fink (Emmer & Rye)
• Kyle Knall (Birch)
• Mason Hereford (Turkey and the Wolf)
• Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje)
• Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel (Birdie’s)

Tickets

Whole Enchilada Pass ($349)

Includes admission to Giddy Up (10/16), early entry to House Party (10/17), complimentary admission to the Mohawk music showcase and access to additional participating music venues throughout the weekend.

Family Pack ($199) 

Hot Luck for the whole family. It’s two adult Whole Enchilada tickets at a discount, plus two kids tickets 20 & under.

Hot Luck continues its longstanding partnership with Southern Smoke Foundation and its mission to help folks in our industry when they need it most. The foundation grants have helped ensure that F+B workers in crisis can cover basic needs such as living expenses, critical medical care and medications, assistance with natural disasters, childcare, transportation, and household instability.

Youngster Pass ($100)

Youngsters aged 13-20 can get Whole Enchilada access at a discounted rate.

About Hot Luck

Hot Luck is a food and live music gathering in Austin, Texas, originally brought together by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit principal James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland. Hot Luck is inspired by friendly tailgates, family reunions, get-togethers and potlucks of our past and present. It is a fun, chef-driven celebration of fire, food, music and camaraderie. An a la carte, eat-with-your-fingers picnic and party experience that highlights open-pit feats of culinary know-how and music in your ears that is as thoughtfully curated as the food on your plate. Come hungry, thirsty, and bring your dancin’ boots. In 2026, Hot Luck joined People Inc.’s growing portfolio of live food and culture events, including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, and Southern Living’s Hill Country Tailgate debuting in Fredericksburg, Texas, this fall. For tickets and more information, please visit hotluckfest.com and follow along @hotluckfest on social media. 

Read the original article on Southern Living