Meet the 2026 Winners of Chicken Fight! Denver

It was a clucking good time.

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Published on August 21, 2026 • 11:00 AM MDT

Updated on August 21, 2026 • 1:20 PM MDT

Rides, people dressed in their chicken gear finest, drinks, music, and so many wings; these are the words that best defines the 2026 Chicken Fight! and Burger Brawl food festival that took place last night at Elitch Gardens in Denver.

Yes, there were plenty of juicy burgers being sliced and doled out. The cocktails, wine, and beer also flowed as the 3,000 or so attendees wandered the Downtown Denver amusement park. Some scored stuffed toy chickens, while others waltzed around with giant bananas. A handful of attendees even competed in the chicken wing eating contest, hot sauce and all.

DiningOut Events took over Elitch Gardens for Chicken Fight! | Photo by DiningOut Events More than an evening of self-indulgence, Chicken Fight! 2023 was a fiery competition where Denver’s most adept chefs and mixologists battled it out, armed with golden drumsticks and cocktail glasses, hoping to take home the title of the best chicken or cocktails in town. To do so, they had to earn the votes of the people and/or the panel of expert judges——chefs, restaurateurs, and other people whose taste buds are trained to discern the good from the better and the better from the best. — DiningOut Events took over Elitch Gardens for Chicken Fight! | Photo by DiningOut Events

While over 40 restaurants competed in some capacity, only a select few took home the glory of first, second, and third place in the Judges Choice and Peoples Choice awards. Here are the winners, including some first-time Chicken Fight! participants.

And, if you missed it this year, make sure to get a ticket in 2027. You can also get a taste of the DiningOut Events festivals at our final Denver fete, RARE Steak Championship on September 24.

Cocktail

Peoples Choice

3rd Place: 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 with Woody Creek Distillers

2nd Place: 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘆 & 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗡𝗼 with Four Roses

1st Place: 𝗡𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 with Wheatley Vodka

Judges Choice

3rd Place: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 with Still G.I.N.

2nd Place: 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘆 & 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗡𝗼 with Four Roses

1st Place: 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 with Woody Creek Distillers

Wings

Peoples Choice

3rd Place: G-QUE BBQ

2nd Place: CD’s Wings

1st Place: Fire on the Mountain

Judges Choice

The wing that stole the judges heart at the 2026 Chicken Fight? Stoney's Bar and Grill. | Photo by DiningOut Events — The wing that stole the judges heart at the 2026 Chicken Fight? Stoney’s Bar and Grill. | Photo by DiningOut Events

3rd Place: MST Denver

2nd Place: Fire on the Mountain

1st Place: Stoney’s Bar and Grill

Burger Brawl

Peoples Choice

The people of Chicken Fight! 2026 loved the R!ot Burger sample the most. | Photo by DiningOut Events

3rd Place: Tap & Burger

2nd Place: Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse RiNo

1st Place: R!ot Burger

Judges Choice

The Peachy Keen Burger is new on the Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse menu. | Photo courtesy of Vibe Concepts — The Peachy Keen Burger from Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse won Judges Choice during Burger Brawl. | Photo courtesy of Vibe Concepts

3rd Place: R!ot Burger

2nd Place: STK Steakhouse

1st Place: Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse RiNo (learn more about the burger program here)

Fried Chicken

Peoples Choice

3rd Place: The Post

2nd Place: Starbird Chicken

1st Place: Nola Jane Restaurant and Bar

Judges Choice

3rd Place: Bar Nun Denver

2nd Place: Sugarfire Smokehouse Westminster

1st Place: Starbird Chicken

Linnea Covington Managing Editor Denver

Linnea Covington is a regional managing editor of DiningOut, covering Denver, New York City, and Phoenix. She comes to us with a long background in food, restaurant and drinks journalism. Over the last two decades she's written for tons of national publications including Denver Post, Washington Post, Forbes Travel Guide, 5280 Magazine, New York Magazine, New York Times, Time Out New York and more. Follow on Instagram: @linneacovington https://muckrack.com/linnea-covington

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