2026 NBPF Cook-Off Contestant

The 2026 National Banana Pudding Cook-Off ("Contest") seeks original BANANA PUDDING recipe contestants to be crowned the best banana pudding in the Nation!

RECIPE REQUIREMENTS: 

The 2026 National Banana Pudding Cook-Off ("Contest") seeks original BANANA PUDDING recipes. 

1. Recipes may not have been published previously in a commercial magazine or book.
2. All recipes must be original and created by the applicant.
3. Each recipe must include U.S. standard measurements, complete preparation instructions, cooking time and temperatures, number of servings, and/or any special utensils or cookware.  
4. Each recipe must be appropriate to fill a 2-quart stoneware “Puddin’ Pot'' provided by the Festival.  Each finalist is required to prepare enough banana pudding to fill two, 2-quart dishes.  One stoneware Puddin’ Pot is provided by the Contest at the time of the NBPF Cook-Off, one a dish/container that the applicant brings to use.  
5. By submitting a recipe you agree that the NBPF has a nonexclusive right to the use of your recipe in any marketing, cookbooks or other publications of the NBPF and you also agree that you shall not receive any compensation for said use.  
6. More than one recipe may be submitted.  Each recipe must be accompanied by a separate application and signed waiver.  

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 

1. All groceries and kitchen equipment, except an electric range, needed by the finalists for recipe preparation at the festival are the responsibility of the finalists.  Recipes needing a microwave will not be considered.
2. Each finalist will be responsible for their own travel arrangements.
3. All finalists will also make themselves available for media interviews and public relations events.
4. All finalists must provide proof of identity.
5. All finalists will display the final product in a carefully chosen setting designed to enhance your pudding for final judging. Space available for each contestant is 4 feet by 2.5 feet.       

HOW TO ENTER: 

Mail-in entries must be postmarked by August 2, 2026. You may enter by mail or email: Send your original recipe, in English, legibly written, printed, or typed on a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper or equivalent with your complete name, mailing or street address, city, state, zip code, daytime telephone number, email address, and date of birth along with the signed waiver and completed application via email to cookoff@bananapuddingfest.org or in an envelope with First Class Postage to: 

National Banana Pudding Festival Cook-Off

PO Box 214 

Centerville, TN  37033

ELIGIBILITY: 

The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and D.C. You must be 18 years or older, not a food professional such as a chef, food writer or food home economist who creates recipes for pay, National Banana Pudding Festival. Board members, members of their immediate families (parent, child, sibling and spouse of each living in the household or households of any of the above) are not eligible.

COOKING CHALLENGES for 2026: 

1. The 2026 NBPF Cook-Off will be in an open pavilion, on stage, in front of a live audience in 2 groups of five.
2. An electric stove with 4 burners and an oven (12” wide X 15” long) will be used.
3. You will prepare your pudding recipe in two different dishes. The first is a 2-quart stoneware Puddin’ Pot provided by the Contest.  The Puddin’ Pot will be gprovided to you at the Cook-Off. The second dish is one provided by the participant. It must be 2 quarts in size.  You may need to double your recipe.
4. The pudding in the dish that you bring will be judged on presentation and appetizing appearance. This pudding will be sampled by the NBPF Cook-Off panel of official judges and the audience. After the judging, the pudding in the Puddin Pot will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. All proceeds go to the NBPF Cook-Off.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF ENTRIES:

1. Completed application, original recipe and signed waiver submitted by entry deadline.
2. Uniqueness of recipe based on ingredients and method of preparation.
3. Ease of preparation (one hour time limit).

All ten Finalists and three Alternates will be notified by email or phone on or about August 16, 2026.

If any finalist fails to return the completed documents within the time allowed, or is found ineligible, or does not comply with the Official Rules, then the finalist will be disqualified, and an alternate may be selected. Finalist status and Prizes are non-transferable. Only one individual per entry may be on stage at the Cook-Off on October 3, 2026.  No teams or groups will be permitted.  All finalists must participate in the National Banana Pudding Cook- Off in Hickman County, TN, October 3, 2026 to be eligible to win a prize. If a finalist is unable to participate in the NBPF Cook-Off in Hickman County, TN, October 3, 2026 or otherwise does not comply with the Official Rules, an alternate finalist may be selected.  The deadline for notifying if you are unable to compete is Friday, September 20, 2026. 

JUDGING:

Entries will be judged based on the written/typed recipe by a qualified panel of judges who will consider the following: use of basic ingredients, appetizing appearance, texture, color, aroma, taste, presentation, and ease of preparation. 

PRIZES:

First Prize - $2,000 

Second Prize - $1,000

Third Prize - $500 

Total ARV* of all prizes: $3,500.00

*ARV stands for Approximate Retail Value when applicable.

No substitution, cash reimbursement, or transfer of prizes, except the Festival reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any of the advertised prizes become unavailable. All prizes will be awarded on or about October 3, 2026. By entering, participants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the below Terms and Conditions. The decisions of the Judges and the Festival shall be final and binding in all matters pertaining to the Contest.

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS: 

A. RELEASE OF LIABILITY HOLD HARMLESS & INDEMNIFICATION (hereafter Waiver): By participating in the Contest, finalists agree to release, hold harmless, and indemnify the National Banana Pudding Festival, ITS EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND ASSIGNEES, EVENT OFFICIALS, SPONSORS, HICKMAN COUNTY and CENTERVILLE GOVERNMENTS, CONTRIBUTORS, and ALL THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, and ANY OTHER INVOLVED REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL OF  THE ABOVE INVOLVED ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, Sponsors includes their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, distributors and each of their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PROTECTED PARTIES”); from and against any and all liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, harm, damage (including but not limited to property damage (including but not limited to property damage, personal injury and/or death), claims, actions, costs and expenses (including without limitation, all attorneys' fees and court costs) arising directly or indirectly from or in connection with your participation and/or presence in or at the Contest [including but not limited to acceptance, possession or use/misuse of the prize or participation in any prize-related activity]. Finalists further agree that the “protected parties” are in no manner responsible or liable for, and specifically disclaim any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize or portion thereof including but not limited to its quality, mechanical condition or fitness for a particular purpose.
       

B.  CONTEST SUBMISSION: Submission of a Contest entry grants the Festival, it’s Sponsors and their agents the right to publish including on the internet or other electronic sources, use, adapt, edit and/or modify the recipe included with the entry in any way and in any and all media worldwide, without limitation or compensation and may be used for any commercial or noncommercial purpose. Each entrant must be the sole and rightful owner of the recipe submitted in the Contest. The National Banana Pudding Festival, Inc. and/or Festival’s assignee may use the winner's recipe, name, photograph, images, likeness, voice, signature, biographical information, recipe and/or any other intellectual property materials created or submitted as part of the Contest, in addition to any and all materials created during public relations activities related to the Contest (collectively "Publicity Materials") for purposes of advertising, publicity and trade related to Festival’s products and/or services, in all media worldwide (including Festival’s web sites), without further compensation, except where prohibited. Finalists' statements may be used in whole or in part and may be paraphrased, amplified, shortened, and/or put into conversational film to meet the requirements of copy, layout and/or script, provided their general sense is not changed. All Publicity Materials developed or used will be Festival’s property and will be works "made for hire" and winners will retain no ownership rights whatsoever in or to said works. If said Publicity Materials are not considered works -made for hire," winners hereby assign all said works to Festival.  

C.  WINNERS: Winners are solely responsible for any federal, state or local taxes on prizes. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Contest void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where prohibited. The Festival reserves the right to take such action as they deem necessary to enforce these Official Rules and ensure the fair operation of the Contest, including without limitation, barring and disqualifying entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules. If, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned because of any cause which, in the sole opinion of the Festival, corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, the Festival reserves the right, at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and determine winners from entries received prior to action taken, or as otherwise deemed fair and equitable by the Festival. (In case of cancellation, a winning recipe will be chosen from all eligible entries. If due to any technical, production, typographical or other error, more prizes are claimed or awarded than are described in the Official Rules at any prize level, the number of prizes identified in the Official Rules will be awarded in a random drawing from all such prize claims received. 

D.  AGREEMENT: By participating, entrants agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of the Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Festival in connection with the Contest, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of State of Tennessee, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. By participating, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the state and local courts located in Hickman County, TN. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of an entrant, such entry will be deemed to be made by the authorized account holder of the official entry. Neither the Festival nor its Board nor Volunteers are responsible for lost, late, stolen, illegible, misdirected, or non-delivered entries.        

Applicant acknowledges he/she has read this entire document and agrees on behalf of himself/herself and his/her estate and heirs to be fully bound by its terms and in particular the release of liability, hold harmless and indemnification agreement.