VIP Chef Showdown
18 chefs. Nine head-to-head showdowns. You're the judge. Brought to you by Tequila Herradura and presented by GOYA Foods.
Choose your VIP experience.
Friday, October 23 · 7:00–11:00 PM · Lummus Park · Strictly 21+. All tickets are all-inclusive.
A chef-competition-beach-bash including an all-inclusive evening of epic proportions!
- Indulge at 20 restaurant battle sampling stations and VOTE on your favorite chef competition dishes
- Head to the Jack Daniel's LIVE STAGE, presented by GOYA Foods, to cheer on your favorite South Florida chefs as they battle live with a panel of executive judges weighing in
- This year's Seafood Chef Battles include Taco, Crab, Sushi, Surf N' Turf, Salmon, Shrimp, Ceviche, Seafood Pasta, Tuna, and the Ultimate Champions Surf n Turf Battle
- Full bars and experiential activations around the 1/2 block VIP Hospitality Village featuring Tequila Herradura, Jack Daniel's, Hendrick's Gin, Pacifico beer, and wines from Breakthru Beverage
- Additional seafood bites from GOYA Foods
- Sip, sample, and vote in the Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown and the Pacifico Bartender Showdown
- Pop into the Hendrick's Gin Garden Party
- Stop by the Halpern's Sampling Station, hosted by the official purveyor of the SOBE Seafood Festival
- Dance the night away with DJ PaulE on the Jack Daniel's Live Stage, presented by GOYA Foods
- And the fun continues…
- ONE ALL ACCESS ticket to Friday, October 23, 2026: Chef Showdown ($175 value)
- ONE ALL ACCESS ticket for Saturday, October 24, 2026: SEAFOOD SLAM, Best of the Fest ($160 value)
- ONE ALL ACCESS ticket to Thursday, October 22, 2026 ($500 value)
- ONE ALL ACCESS ticket to Friday, October 23, 2026: Chef Showdown ($175 value)
- ONE ALL ACCESS ticket for Saturday, October 24, 2026: SEAFOOD SLAM, Best of the Fest ($160 value)
- Ticket includes re-entry
- TWO ALL ACCESS tickets to Friday, October 23, 2026: Chef Showdown ($350 value)
- TWO ALL ACCESS tickets for Saturday, October 24, 2026: SEAFOOD SLAM, Best of the Fest ($320 value)
- ONE Signature Standard Room at the festival's host hotel, The Loews Miami Beach — checking in Friday, October 23, checking out Sunday, October 25
- Once purchased, a festival representative will contact you to coordinate your hotel reservation
- Ticket includes re-entry
VIP Chef Showdown
#ChooseYourChamp at the iconic VIP Chef Showdown, presented by Goya Foods, Tequila Herradura, and Halperns. Experience a night of culinary excitement with Miami's top executive chefs as they compete in thrilling battles, and YOU get to be the judge! Savor endless seafood and sip on cocktails with all-inclusive tickets for the ultimate indulgence!
In a perfect combination of competition level cuisine, tropically fresh cocktails, and live entertainment, the Chef Showdown tours guests through the BEST of Miami's culinary scene with the ultimate BEACH BASH meets Chef SHOWDOWN, thanks to the help of DJ PaulE. Hosted inside the VIP Hospitality Village and #SobeSeafood Week's GOYA Culinary Village, 18 chefs will go head-to-head in 9 unique seafood showdowns. Before you watch the competitions unfold, chefs will host battle pavilions where YOU sip, sample and VOTE on your favorites. And when we say sample, we mean “Good Luck trying to finish all the Champion Dishes!”
Chefs from each battle will take the stage throughout the night, competing in front of judges from the culinary and media world. But YOU get to be the judge, too — your vote helps decide the 2026 CHAMPIONS!
Follow @sobeseafoodfest to stay up to date on battle pairings to be announced in September!
The Chef Showdown delivers a uniquely entertaining culinary experience in the most beautiful, beach-front setting thanks to our partners GOYA Foods. Come ready to experience a VIP evening on the sands of South Beach.
Two Bartender Showdowns
Pacifico Bartender Showdown
While the chefs battle it out on stage, the real magic happens behind the bar. The Pacifico Beer Bartender Showdown puts South Florida's top mixologists to the test — crafting an original cocktail built around Pacifico Beer, all in the name of friendly competition.
Open to just 4 bartenders (21+), each paired with a competing Chef Showdown restaurant. Throughout the night, bartenders serve up samples to festival attendees from their own station — fueled by Pacifico Beer provided by the festival. Then it's showtime: bartenders take the stage alongside their chef to craft their signature cocktail live for the Pacifico judges panel, who decide who walks away with the crown.
Shake things up. Compete for the title. Drink like a champion. 🍻
Herradura Tequila Bartender Showdown
It's the ultimate test of skill, creativity, and crowd appeal. The Herradura Tequila Bartender Showdown is open to any mixologist currently slinging drinks at a South Florida restaurant or bar — and only 4 will take the spotlight (21+ to participate).
Throughout the night, each bartender serves up their own Herradura Tequila creations to festival attendees from their station, with the festival providing the space and spirits to bring their vision to life. The crowd does the voting — and when the MC takes the mic, only the top 2 bartenders by popular vote move on.
But the competition isn't over yet. Those final two are handed secret ingredients and just minutes to create an original cocktail live on stage, in front of a judges panel who will crown the ultimate champion.
Think you've got what it takes? Step up, shake it up, and prove it. 🥃
What you'll find with your VIP Admission
A chef-competition-beach-bash including an all-inclusive evening of epic proportions.
- Indulge at 18 restaurant battle sampling stations and VOTE on your favorite chef competition dishes
- Cheer on South Florida's chefs at the Jack Daniel's LIVE Stage, presented by GOYA Foods, with a panel of executive judges weighing in
- Nine battles: Taco, Battle Grouper Sandwich, Battle Burger, Surf N' Turf, Salmon, Shrimp, Ceviche, Seafood Pasta, and Tuna
- Full bars and activations across the 1/2-block VIP Hospitality Village — Tequila Herradura, Jack Daniel's, Hendrick's Gin, Pacifico, Elyx Vodka, and wines from Treasury Wine Estates
- Additional seafood bites from GOYA Foods
- Sip, sample, and vote in the Tequila Herradura and Pacifico Bartender Showdowns
- Pop into the Hendrick's Gin Garden Party
- Stop by the Halpern's Sampling Station, hosted by the official purveyor of the SOBE Seafood Festival
- Dance the night away with DJ PaulE on the Jack Daniel's Live Stage
Fire, flavor, and Friday night energy.
Chef Showdown is part competition, part beach bash — see what you're walking into.
2026 Chef Showdown Lineup
Battle pairings announced in September. Follow @sobeseafoodfest for updates.
Battle Seafood Pasta
Battle Burger
Battle Surf n Turf
Battle Shrimp
Battle Taco
Battle Tuna
Battle Salmon
Battle Ceviche
Battle Grouper Sandwich
Behind the bar. Lineup dropping soon.
The Bartender Showdown lineup will be announced October 1st. Sign up for the newsletter to be first to know who's stepping behind the bar.
Get the announcement
