Malibu Chili Cook-Off is back

By Hayley Mattson · Sat Sep 05 2026

The Malibu Chili Cook-Off, presented by Aviator Nation and benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, is back bringing four days of chili, carnival rides, live music, skating, and family activities to Malibu, here is what you can expect.

Now in its 43rd year, the annual event takes on added significance in 2026 as Malibu continues its recovery following the devastating fires. More than 30 national, regional and nonprofit partners are participating this year, including Aviator Nation, BIRKENSTOCK, Bones Love Milk, LaCroix Sparkling Water, United Airlines, Universal Music Group, Banc of California, Malibu Brewing Company, Los Angeles County Public Works and others.

“Bringing the Malibu Chili Cook-Off back to our community after the devastating fires is a true reflection of what’s possible when partners come together around a shared purpose,” Boys & Girls Club of Malibu CEO Kasey Earnest said. “We’re incredibly grateful to Aviator Nation and our sponsors, local businesses, volunteers and community partners for helping us create an event that brings people together, celebrates our collective resilience and, most importantly, strengthens our ability to support the youth and families of the Malibu community.”

Aviator Nation is serving as presenting sponsor for the first time, expanding its longtime involvement with the Cook-Off. The company will introduce the Aviator Nation Dreamland Stage, featuring live music throughout the weekend from artists including Washed Out, Zella Day, G. Love, Sun Room, Cisco Adler and Aiyana-Lee. A limited-edition Malibu Chili Cook-Off merchandise collection, made in Los Angeles, will also be sold exclusively at the event in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.

Aviator Nation founder Paige Mycoskie described the Chili Cook-Off as one of her favorite weekends of the year and said the expanded partnership is intended to support both the Boys & Girls Club and the greater Malibu community.

“My goal is to support the Boys & Girls Club and the community of Malibu by making this event the best it’s ever been,” Mycoskie said. “The new Dreamland stage should bring an exciting addition to the mix, and hopefully we will raise more money for Boys & Girls Club than ever before. I am so grateful to be given this opportunity to support a community that has supported Aviator Nation for over a decade.”

While the entertainment offerings have expanded, organizers say the event remains rooted in the tradition that has sustained it for more than four decades.

“For 43 years this has been about chili and community, and we didn’t want to change that — we just wanted to put a stage behind it worth driving across the county for,” Managing Director Kelly Furano said. "Half the lineup grew up on these beaches. The other half we’ve loved for years. It should feel like Malibu, just turned up a little — something a 12-year-old and her dad both want to see”

Chili remains at the heart of the weekend

The centerpiece remains the chili competition, with attendees helping determine the 2026 People’s Choice Award. Voting opens Friday at 4 p.m. and continues until Sunday, Sept. 6, at 4 p.m. Guests will vote digitally using the official Cook-Off QR code.

Official judging will take place Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Town & Country Lounge. Entries will be evaluated through a blind tasting in two categories — meat and vegan — with the top three entries in each category receiving awards.

There are few restrictions on what constitutes great chili. Beans or no beans, traditional and nontraditional meats, toppings, unexpected ingredients, and creative flavor combinations are all welcome. Judges will score entries on color, aroma, consistency, taste, and aftertaste, with taste carrying particular importance.

The judging panel includes chefs, culinary professionals, food writers, entertainment personalities, and Malibu community representatives, including Duff Goldman, Marcel Vigneron, Ricardo Zarate, Jenn Harris, Stephanie Breijo, Remi Wolf, and representatives of The Malibu Times.

Preparing Malibu for the future

This year’s Cook-Off will also introduce the first Community Preparedness Outpost, presented by the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu in partnership with Malibu Brigade and the Malibu Community Long Term Recovery Group.

The new interactive area will bring wildfire education and emergency preparedness directly to the community, offering hands-on activities, preparedness resources, home-hardening information, recovery support, and emergency go-bag distribution. The Outpost is designed to encourage residents to take practical steps to prepare for future emergencies while advancing a broader goal of building a more resilient Malibu.

Supporting partners include the American Red Cross, California Community Foundation, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, United Airlines and Good360.

The addition takes on particular significance as Malibu continues recovering from the devastating fires and reflects a broader theme surrounding this year’s Cook-Off: celebrating the community while also providing residents with resources to prepare for the future.

Remembering Johnny Strange

Another Malibu tradition returns Saturday with the Sixth Annual Johnny Strange Legacy Skate Contest, presented by Bones Love Milk and Aviator Nation.

The competition honors Malibu native Johnny Strange, an accomplished adventurer whose pursuits included downhill skateboarding, big-wave surfing, and mountaineering. Strange became the youngest person at the time to summit the highest peak on each of the seven continents, including Mount Everest.

Following his death, the Cook-Off skate competition became an annual opportunity for Malibu’s skate community to gather in his memory and introduce another generation to his adventurous spirit.

Saturday’s competition includes women’s and men’s intermediate mini-ramp jams and an advanced mini-ramp jam, with a prize purse exceeding $5,000. The ramp will also be available for public skating at designated times throughout the weekend, with coaches and equipment available for people interested in learning.

Beyond the competitions and entertainment, the weekend ultimately serves the mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, with proceeds supporting its work with local youth and families.

Admission tickets are required and will not be sold at the event. Children younger than 5 are admitted free, while carnival ride passes are sold separately. Guests younger than 18 must attend with an adult chaperone under the event’s safety policy.

For Malibu, the Cook-Off has long been more than chili and carnival rides. This year, organizers hope the gathering can serve another purpose as well — giving neighbors a place to reconnect, celebrate their community, and support the young people and families who will help shape Malibu’s future.