"That's hot," Paris Hilton said about Hot Luck Festival's 2026 chef lineup, probably. In its first edition under the People Inc. umbrella, the food festival announced 21 elite chefs from Austin and beyond to supply the eats, with more on the way.

The festival was started by acclaimed barbecue chef Aaron Franklin in 2017 and acquired by the folks behind People magazine earlier this year. It's slated to take place Friday, Oct. 16-Saturday, Oct. 17 with two signature events: Giddy Up, a live-fire backyard gathering at Franklin Barbecue followed by a music showcase at Mohawk, and House Party, the indoor-outdoor main event.

Austin-based chefs

Bob Somsith | Lao’d Bar
Edgar Rico | Nixta Taqueria
Ernest Servantes | Burnt Bean Co.
Evan LeRoy | LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue
Fermín Núñez | Este
Kevin Fink | Emmer & Rye
Mago Perez + Hayden Higginbothem Perez | Paprika
Mariela Camacho | Comadre Panadería
Tavel Bristol-Joseph | Canje
Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel | Birdie's
Todd Duplechan | Lenoir

Chefs from beyond

Aaron Bludorn | Bar Bludorn | Houston
Becky Masson | Fluff Bake Bar | Houston
Calvin Eng | Bonnie's | Brooklyn, New York
Caroline Glover | Annette | Aurora, Colorado
Deau Arpapornnopparat | Holy Basil | Los Angeles
Emil Oliva | Leche de Tigre | San Antonio
Kyle Knall | Birch | Milwaukee
Lawrence "LT" Smith | Chilte | Phoenix
Mason Hereford | Turkey and the Wolf | New Orleans

Tickets for the festival are on sale now.