As we approach the new year, the International Chili Society is announcing some key changes and updates to its rules. It is imperative that all ICS certified members take the time to read the important updates announced below.  

• ICS is introducing The Grand Slam program for the 2022 chili cook season. Anyone who wins first place in all categories (Red, Verde, Homestyle, Salsa) during the cooking season will be qualified for the Grand Slam, which will be a special contest held at WCCC55. More information will be shared on this as it is finalized.
• WCCC55 is scheduled for September 23-25, 2022. Myrtle Beach in the same venue.
• Resetting the cooking season in 2023 for a fiscal year (July 1-June 30)
• The cooking season for 2022 will be the last hybrid qualifying year. It will include qualified victories from Jan 1 2021, through June 30, 2022, as long as category opening spots allow.
• A team will not be able to use a victory from 2022’s hybrid qualifying year into the 2023 event. 
• For WCCC56, the qualifying year will be July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
• The spouses or family members of event organizers CAN compete in that organizer’s contest as long as they are NOT involved or present in the judging area at any time.

• Prepping food when cooks arrive onsite for the competition – no cooking, just prepping will be allowed. This will be updated in the rules.
• All contestants who finished in 5th or higher position at the 2021 WCCC will automatically be qualified into WCCC55
• All 1st place champions from the 2021 WCCC will have a 3-year qualifying exemption into their respective category for successive WCCC events.

For questions, contact us on Facebook. More information is also available here. If you are interested in joining the International Chili Society and competing in chili cook-offs, click here. 

About the International Chili Society

Legendary race car driver and automotive icon Carroll Shelby started the International Chili Society in 1967 as a fun way to compete against his friends. Today, ICS sanctions more than 100 events a year nationwide with one mission – to continuously celebrate chili while raising money for charities and nonprofits. More than $100 million has been raised for charities by ICS over the past five decades. To celebrate each year’s pro-chili season, ICS holds a World Chili Championship Cook-off (WCCC) and crowns World Champions in key categories. To see previous winners, click here.