Open Fire Festival Germany
The Open Fire
Line-Up 2026
International grilling teams, well-known creators and strong brands – all together around one fire!
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Who makes the Open Fire Festival possible?
The Open Fire Festival Germany brings together people who are passionate about authentic open fire cooking. Look forward to international grilling teams, familiar faces from the BBQ scene, and strong partners who support our vision.
Here you can find out who will be making a fire with us on September 4th and 5th, 2026.
NIEDERLANDE
TEAM TAGWOOD NL
Chef Max Wandt, one of the most successful open-fire grillers in the Netherlands, will be traveling to the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026.
His greatest achievements include 3rd place at the Open Fire Meat Up Texas and 8th place at the World Championships Open Fire Cooking in Memphis. With Team TagwoodNL, he is definitely among the favorites in the competition.
COSTA RICA
TEAM HUMO PARRILLADA
Team Humo Parrillada is traveling directly from Costa Rica to the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026.
The team combines traditional open-fire techniques with the flavors of Central America, bringing its passion for cooking over an open fire to Germany.
DEUTSCHLAND
FIRESTARTERS
Boris, Matze, Sven, Maik and Nils are traveling from the center of Germany to the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026.
With extensive competition experience, a genuine passion for cooking over an open fire, and a well-coordinated team, they are among the exciting contenders in the competition.
Their goal is clear: to win and secure the coveted Golden Ticket for the Open Fire Meat Up in Texas.
DEUTSCHLAND
PRIME GRILL TEAM
Martin and his team from Rostock will represent northern Germany at the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026.
Asado is not just a passion for them, but part of their profession – and that's exactly what they bring to the open fire.
Look forward to honest, fire-cooked cuisine, strong flavors and the finest dishes.
ARGENTINIEN
BRASAS ARGENTAS
Louis and his team bring authentic Argentinian flair to northern Germany, with traditional asado, mate by the fire, and a great passion for sharing food.
A gaucho by the fire, mate in hand, and the beef on the cross. Look forward to authentic asado and genuine Argentinian flair.
DEUTSCHLAND
TEAM ASADOR BBQ CLUB
From Gütersloh to Northern Germany: Kai and his team stand for honest BBQ, genuine craftsmanship, and bold flavors. With their restaurant in Gütersloh, they have long since made a name for themselves.
The Asador BBQ Club Team BBQ isn't just coming to participate. The team is coming with a clear goal: victory.
DEUTSCHLAND
SPRANTA BBQ
Team Spranta BBQ brings a wealth of competitive experience to the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026. Multiple state barbecue champions, top placements at the German Barbecue Championship and an 8th place at the World Championship in Memphis speak for themselves.
Also present: “Emma” – her impressive 9-meter-long smoker.
GROSSBRITANNIEN
HEATH FARM BBQ
Led by team leader Simon Howell, the team brings a wealth of experience with open fire. The professionals have already participated in several international open fire competitions – including one in Texas.
Look forward to British fire-cooking power, international know-how and a team that knows how competition over an open fire works.
SPANIEN
PUCO WOOD FIRE CREW
The Pucco Wood Fire crew travels from Spain. They not only master the art of open fire.
They are also the builders of their own smoker, from which they will enchant you on Saturday.
Look forward to the finest US beef à la Puco Fuego.
Tschechien
Piantado
When fire meets passion and a wealth of experience, Team Piantado is never far away.
The team from the Czech Republic brings a wealth of expertise in open-fire cooking to Northern Germany.
Look forward to Czech fire-cooking power, international know-how and a team that will really set things on fire at the first Open Fire Festival Germany.
DEUTSCHLAND
Grünenwalds Grillinstitut Bremen
Grünenwald's Grill Institute brings Bremen's BBQ passion to Alt Damerow. With extensive experience, high-quality ingredients, and genuine enthusiasm for grilling and outdoor cooking.
Look forward to amazing BBQ creations and plenty of grilling expertise from Bremen.
COSTA RICA
El Capricho Smoke and Grill
From Costa Rica straight to the fire: El Capricho brings pura vida to Alt Damerow.
With fiery BBQ and Latin American passion, the team demonstrates just how versatile cooking over an open fire can be. Look forward to Chanchito Asado, plenty of fire, and a true Costa Rican experience at the grill.
Creators & Personalities
Meet familiar faces from the international BBQ scene!
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Mad Scientist BBQ
Jeremy Yoder
Jeremy Yoder is bringing authentic US BBQ to the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026.
In his exclusive VIP smoker masterclass, he shares his knowledge about brisket, fire management and authentic BBQ techniques – directly at the PUCO Fuego smoker.
Look forward to practical tips from one of the most famous BBQ creators in the USA.
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DARK SIDE OF THE GRILL
Mel Chmilar Jr
When Mel from Dark Side of the Grill steps up to the fire, live fire cooking becomes a show.
On Friday, you can experience Mel exclusively at a spectacular VIP masterclass.
On Saturday, he will take his place as a juror and, together with the expert jury, decide which team wins the Golden Ticket to Texas.
KÜSTENGLUT
Sascha Lotzmann
Sascha has turned his passion into a profession and is now one of the most well-known BBQ creators in Germany.
His journey has already taken him to the Open Fire Meat Up in Texas and to the World Championships of Open Fire Cooking in Memphis.
With a wealth of experience, authentic recipes and genuine enthusiasm for grilling over an open fire, he is part of the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026.
HAWK BLACKBURN
Hawk Blackburn
Hawk Blackburn is one of the most famous BBQ pitmasters in Germany.
As BBQ Chef of the Year 2025, member of the German BBQ Hall of Fame and participant in the TV show The Taste, he stands for the highest quality and true BBQ passion.
At the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026, Hawk is part of the expert jury and evaluates the grill teams in the competition for the Golden Ticket to the Open Fire Meat Up in Texas.
Dennis Johannsen
Dennis's focus is on honest grilling recipes, bold flavors, and genuine outdoor cooking.
Whether straight from the grill or from the Dutch oven – its contents make you want to light a fire yourself and get started.
At the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026, he brings exactly this passion and shows how versatile cooking over an open fire can be.
J. Damian Birkenfeld
Nacho is all about South American cuisine – traditional recipes, authentic flavors and the passion that still characterizes Ecuadorian cuisine today.
He brings precisely this enthusiasm to the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026. Look forward to exciting insights into South American fire cooking, unique culinary experiences, and plenty of inspiration for your own grilling adventures.
Hendrik Wigger
At Hardy on Fire BBQ, the focus is on the passion for fire and versatile grilling.
Whether Kamado, gas grill or open fire – Hardy inspires his community with creative recipes, strong ideas and plenty of BBQ inspiration.
At the Open Fire Festival Germany 2026, he brings his enthusiasm for live fire cooking and shows how varied modern grilling can be.
Eliseo Monti
Eliseo lives Asado.
The Argentinian native brings the fire culture of his homeland to Germany with his events, workshops and annual asado trips.
He participated several times in the Open Fire Meat Up in Texas and in the Open Fire Cooking Championships 2026 in Memphis.
As co-founder of the festival, he stands for authentic asado and genuine passion for the fire.
Michael Schmitz
Michael stands for high-quality BBQ, Asado and grilling courses all about cooking over an open fire.
His experience has already taken him to the Open Fire Meat Up in Texas and to the Open Fire Cooking Championships in Memphis in 2026.
As a co-founder of the Open Fire Festival Germany, Michael has been part of the idea from the beginning and contributes his passion for authentic live fire cooking.
Anton Fischer
Anton combines his passion for pizza with the fascination of cooking over an open fire.
As a videographer and pizza baker, he accompanied Eliseo Monti to several international open-fire events.
As co-founder of the Open Fire Festival Germany, Anton brings his passion for fire cooking and his flair for special experiences to the festival.