The Amateur Cornbread Contest is Back!
One of the festival’s most beloved traditions returns in 2026 – the amateur cornbread contest! Whether you’ve got a family recipe passed down for generations or you’ve just always wanted to put your skillet to the test, this is your moment. Home cooks of all kinds are invited to compete for bragging rights, prizes, and a place in Cornbread Festival history. Little Rock, let’s see what you’ve got!
The Professional Cornbread Competition
The Arkansas Cornbread Festival’s professional competition is where Little Rock’s best restaurants, caterers, and culinary pros bring their A-game and their most creative cornbread. Competing in front of thousands of festival-goers and a panel of judges, professional competitors vie for prizes, bragging rights, and the title of Arkansas’s best cornbread.
If you’re a restaurant, caterer, food truck, or culinary professional interested in competing in 2026, we want to hear from you. Professional applications are now open. Spots are limited, so don’t wait!