Pitmasters is a Reality TV Competition series that premiered on Food Network in 2026. The series is hosted by Andrew Zimmern and stars Andrew Zimmern, Christie Vanover, Matt Groark, and nine elite two-person barbecue teams from across the United States. The competition pushes live-fire cooking to the limit as contestants battle through a nonstop week-long challenge for a chance to win $50,000. Here’s everything you need to know about the filming locations and behind-the-scenes details of the series.
Pitmasters follows nine professional barbecue teams as they compete in an intense outdoor cooking competition. Contestants must build their own barbecue stations, cook multiple traditional BBQ proteins, and keep their fires burning around the clock while facing changing weather conditions. Only the toughest pitmasters survive the week-long challenge to claim the grand prize of $50,000.
The series premiered on July 13, 2026, in the United States. The series airs on Food Network.
Table of Contents
When and Where Was Food Network’s Pitmasters Filmed?
| Show Name | Pitmasters |
|---|---|
| Genres | Reality TV, Competition |
| Filming Locations | St. George, Washington County, Utah, USA |
| Filming Dates | April 2026 |
| Hosted by | Andrew Zimmern |
| Camera and Electrical Department | Christopher Ellis, Alan Lucchetti |
| Release Date | July 13, 2026 |
Pitmasters was filmed entirely in April 2026 near St. George, Utah, where production transformed a remote mountain area into a custom-built barbecue competition camp. The entire season was filmed over an intensive eight-day schedule, allowing contestants to experience real outdoor cooking conditions while competing for the championship.
📍St. George, Utah, USA
The primary filming location for Pitmasters was a remote mountainous area outside St. George in southwestern Utah. Host Andrew Zimmern welcomed contestants by calling it “the absolute middle of nowhere,” and the location certainly lived up to that description. Sitting at an elevation of around 5,243 feet, the rugged landscape provided the perfect setting for an authentic outdoor barbecue competition. The production team selected this high-desert region because its unpredictable weather added another level of difficulty to the contest.
📍Washington County, Utah, USA
Most of the competition took place within Washington County, where producers filmed the entire week-long challenge. Unlike traditional cooking shows that use indoor studios, Pitmasters was designed to test real outdoor cooking skills. Teams had to manage changing temperatures, strong winds, and high-altitude conditions while preparing barbecue dishes. The remote location became an important part of the competition rather than simply serving as a backdrop.
📍Custom-Built Outdoor Competition Camp
Instead of filming at an existing restaurant or television studio, the production team created a temporary outdoor camp specifically for Pitmasters. The camp included nine open-air cooking shelters, one for each competing team, along with a fully stocked “hardware store” where contestants collected cinder blocks, grates, cooking cages, and other materials needed to build their own barbecue pits. Every cooking station was built by hand, making each team’s setup unique throughout the competition.
📍High Desert Mountains Near St. George
The surrounding high-desert mountains became one of the series’ biggest challenges. During filming, temperatures reportedly climbed above 90°F (32°C) during the day before dropping dramatically overnight. Contestants also dealt with hail, snow, strong winds, and even local wildlife, including snakes. These natural conditions became part of the competition, forcing teams to protect their fires and continue cooking no matter what the weather brought.
Pitmasters Behind the Scenes
One of the most interesting parts of filming was that contestants had to keep their fires burning continuously throughout the competition. Even after filming paused for the day, teams still had to monitor their barbecue pits because the challenge never truly stopped.
The production also built an entire temporary barbecue village on the mountainside instead of relying on a traditional television kitchen. This gave each team complete freedom to design and build its own cooking setup from scratch.
Another unique behind-the-scenes detail involved contestant Susie Bulloch, founder of Hey Grill Hey, who already lived in the St. George area. Her experience with the local altitude reportedly helped her avoid the altitude sickness that affected several visiting competitors during the first few days of filming.
For more information about other filming locations, stay tuned to this post. We will continue updating it as new production details become available.
Is there any trailer available for Pitmasters?
Yes, the official trailer for Pitmasters was released on the Food Network YouTube channel. You can watch it here:
Pitmasters is set to be released July 13, 2026, on Food Network.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Pitmasters filmed?
A1: Pitmasters was primarily filmed near St. George, Washington County, Utah, where producers built a custom outdoor barbecue competition camp in a remote mountain setting.
Q2: What scenes were filmed in St. George, Utah for Pitmasters?
A2: The main competition, including the construction of barbecue pits, live-fire cooking challenges, eliminations, and outdoor judging, was filmed near St. George, Utah because its rugged landscape and changing weather created realistic barbecue conditions.
Q3: When did filming for Pitmasters begin?
A3: Filming for Pitmasters took place during April 2026 and was completed over an intensive eight-day production schedule.
Q4: Can visitors see the filming location of Pitmasters?
A4: The competition was filmed at a temporary custom-built outdoor camp near St. George, so the exact filming site is not a permanent attraction. However, visitors can explore the beautiful desert landscapes and mountain scenery around St. George, Utah, which served as the backdrop for the series.
Pitmasters brings barbecue back to its outdoor roots by leaving the television studio behind and filming in the rugged mountains near St. George, Utah. From unpredictable weather and high-altitude cooking to custom-built barbecue stations, the location became one of the biggest challenges for every contestant. The dramatic Utah landscape helped create a unique competition that stands apart from traditional cooking shows, making Pitmasters one of Food Network’s most authentic live-fire barbecue series.
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