Hotter Than Chicken 2026
Bigger, badder, and bolder than ever. Registration is officially OPEN.
Hotter Than Chicken returns to Climb Kraft for another year of chaos, strategy, heat, and climbing.
This is not your average bouldering competition.
At HTC, competitors can earn score multipliers by eating Nashville hot chicken, or the vegetarian equivalent, before the climbing begins. The hotter the bite, the bigger the reward.
Then the clock starts.
Competitors will have 3 hours to climb, with their top 5 boulders counting toward their final score in a modified redpoint format.
Push too hard and the heat catches up.
Play too safe and someone else takes the podium.
HTC is part climbing competition, part endurance test, and part Nashville fever dream.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Check-In: 12PM
Location: Climb Kraft — Nashville, TN
REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration — $85
May 8 – June 30
Includes:
Official HTC 2026 Competitor T-Shirt*
Swag Bag
Competition Entry
*Competitors must register by June 30 to receive the official HTC shirt.
Regular Registration — $100
July 1 – August 12
Includes:
Competition Entry
COMP FORMAT
🔥 Eat hot chicken to earn multipliers
🧗 3 hours to climb
🏆 Top 5 boulders count toward final score
🌶️ Modified redpoint format
💀 Bragging rights forever
PRIZES
Over $15,000+ in cash and prizes will be awarded across categories thanks to this year’s incredible sponsors.
Sponsors include:
The Climb Gyms
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
FrictionLabs
Friendly Arctic
Mad Rock
La Sportiva
Evolv
And more to be announced.
COMPETITOR CAP
HTC 2026 is limited to 200 competitors.
Once spots are gone, they’re gone.
READY TO TEST YOUR JUDGMENT?
Most climbing comps test your strength.
HTC tests your judgment.
Register now and prepare for one of the wildest comps of the year.
CATEGORIES
Female and Male Competitors are divided based on ability and compete in one of the following divisions.
Recreational: Male | V0-v2 Female | V0-V2
Intermediate: Male | V3-V5 Female | V3-V4
Advanced: Male | V6-V8 Female | V5 - V6
Open: Male | V9+ Female | V7+
HTC BRINGS THE HEAT!
It's horrible, hilarious, fun and like nothing else you've ever experienced. After the competition, competitors enjoy a wild block party complete with games, beer, food, and music as they prepare to watch the Open Final Showdown complete with lights, a DJ, surprises and some of the best routesetting in the nation.
This event has become so iconic and fun Nashville's Mayor David Briley proclaimed the first Saturday in August "Hotter than Chicken" Day in Nashville, in perpetuity!
THE PROCLAMATION
“I, David Briley, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, do hereby proclaim the first Saturday in August as Hotter Than Chicken Day throughout the City of Nashville and Davidson County, and encourage all citizens to recognize and celebrate this special day of competition.”
