Key West, FL—On Saturday, July 4, devotees of pie and Florida’s most sensational citrus are invited to the sun-kissed sands of the Southernmost Beach Café, 1405 Duval Street, where the 2026 World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship returns to take center stage in sweet tropical style.

Each year, up to 25 fearless competitors sign up for the thrill of diving face-first into an equal number of whipped-cream crowned Key Lime pies, battling both the clock and one another—no hands allowed. Since its 2013 launch, this magnificently messy, tongue-in-cheek twist on New York’s classic Fourth of July hotdog-eating contest has become one of the holiday’s most beloved traditions.

Tom Luciano of Venice, Fla., was last year’s victor, devouring his pie in 2 minutes, 46:49 seconds. Yet the record to beat remains an astonishing 40:57 seconds, set in 2018 by attorney Trey Bergman of Houston, TX, who also captured the title in 2017 with a time of 51:92 seconds. Local Key West contenders have enjoyed their own sweet taste of victory over the years: Chris Shultz in 2022 (74 seconds), David Johnson in 2019 (58.2 seconds), Steve Carr in 2015 (78 seconds), Tony Mantia in 2014 (time not recorded), and Gary Delos Santos in 2013 (time not recorded).

“There’s no eating competition anywhere else in the world as citrus-charged and sloppy as this one,” commented Nadene Grossman Orr, Key Lime Festival Director/CEO of We’ve Got the Keys. We’re immensely proud to be the purveyors of this Southernmost celebration of competitive pie consumption.”

The Florida Legislature declared Key Lime pies the official state pie twenty years ago, in 2006. Traditionally, the treats are made with condensed milk, egg yolks and the juice of Key limes within a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream or meringue. Competition pies will measure 9 inches (23-centimeters) in diameter, and while contestants may not use utensils or their hands, goggles and dive masks are acceptable tools for facing into the frothy confection.

The World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship at the Southernmost Beach Café kicks off at 1:30pm but the attractions begin at 10:00am with the opening of the Key Lime Vendor Village, and music, games and activities starting at 10:30am.

The World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship is the centerpiece event of the Key Lime Festival, a five-day celebration of Florida’s most sensational citrus, which runs from July 1-July 5. Other zestivities feature a fabulous kick-off party on Duval Street, a spirited Key Lime Pie Hop, an Ultimate Key Lime Smash Party, a 5-Alarm Pie Challenge at the Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum, plus plenty of delectable culinary experiences, pool parties and only-in-Key West competitions.

The Festival’s organizers regret that the popular Key Lime Pie Drop at the Key West Lighthouse won’t take place this year, but have vowed to have it back on the menu in 2027, with all the ZEST its fans expect.

Presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys, admission to the competition is free, cost to compete is $30 with online pre-registration, $50 day-of, and is open to those aged 18 and up. For registration links and a full calendar of events, visit http://www.keylimefestival.com.

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