Pepper X, craft hot sauces from across the Northeast, food trucks, local crafters, music, and New England’s hottest pepper challenges are coming to Portsmouth this August as the 5th Annual New England Hot Sauce Fest celebrates five years of bringing together chileheads, food lovers, and families for a day of unforgettable flavor and fun.
The 5th Annual New England Hot Sauce Fest will take place on Saturday, August 1, 2026 (rain date: August 2) at Strawbery Banke Museum for the first time, marking an exciting new chapter for the festival in organizer The Spicy Shark’s hometown of Portsmouth.
Now celebrating its fifth year, the New England Hot Sauce Fest has grown into one of the Northeast’s premier events for hot sauce enthusiasts, attracting visitors from throughout New England and beyond, while raising thousands of dollars for local marine conservation organizations.
The festival celebrates New England’s thriving hot sauce community with 30 craft hot sauce makers from across the Northeast, food trucks, local crafters, beer, music, hot sauce samplings, spicy challenge eating contests, bouncy houses, and activities for all ages. Ticket proceeds once again benefit local nonprofit organizations Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation and Seacoast Science Center.
One of this year’s most anticipated attractions is the return of the festival’s signature Extreme Heat Pepper Challenge. This year, professionally experienced hot sauce enthusiasts will test their limits by eating creations made with Smokin’ Ed Currie’s Pepper X, the Guinness World Records-recognized world’s hottest chili pepper. Pepper X recently topped Smokin’ Ed Currie’s own Carolina Reaper on the heat index.
Competitors will attempt to survive the Pepper X Gauntlet — a multi-round challenge featuring increasingly intense Pepper X creations designed to test the limits of even the most experienced chileheads. Returning will also be the three fan favorite amateur competitions for hot wings, jalapenos, and super hot peppers.
For the first time ever, festival attendees will also have the opportunity to sample Pepper X via Smokin Ed’s Pepper X Special Reserve Hot Sauce, giving everyday spice fans the rare chance to experience the flavor and heat of the world’s hottest pepper—without entering the competition.
“Our goal has always been to create something that’s fun whether you’re a lifelong chilehead or just curious about the world of hot sauce,” said Gabe DiSaverio, founder of The Spicy Shark and organizer of the New England Hot Sauce Fest. “The competitions are always a crowd favorite, but the festival is really about bringing people together to discover incredible makers, enjoy amazing food, have fun with the whole family, and support two great local organizations doing important work for our oceans.”
Returning festival favorites include:
- VIP early admission from 10-11 a.m.
- Unlimited hot sauce sampling from craft makers throughout New England and the Northeast
- Fan-favorite MC’s Bella and Dark from Heat 101
- Music by DJ Kevin
- Food trucks and local food vendors
- Local artisan and craft vendors
- Hot pepper eating contests
- Family-friendly activities, including bouncy houses, face painting, and a kids magic show
The New England Hot Sauce Fest is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors including Smuttynose Brewing, Sun Cruiser, Renewal by Andersen, Wells Fargo Advisors, Avery Insurance, Bangor Savings Bank, Great Island Realty, Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital, The City Beverage Center, New Hampshire Magazine, Casella Waste Systems, 100.3 WHEB, Coca Cola Northeast, and many other local businesses and community partners.
General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now at www.newenglandhotsaucefest.com.
About the New England Hot Sauce Fest
The New England Hot Sauce Fest is an annual celebration of craft hot sauce, bold flavors, and community. The festival features hot sauce makers from across New England and the Northeast, food trucks, local crafters, music, spicy competitions, and family-friendly activities while raising funds for Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation and Seacoast Science Center. Since its inception, the festival has become a signature summer event for chileheads, food lovers, and families alike while supporting two organizations dedicated to protecting New England’s coastal environment.
