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A Celebration of Heat, Flavour & Culture
26 April 2025 | Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North
are you ready?
The Great East Coast Chilli Festival
Get ready, Durban! The Durban Chilli Festival is back for another fiery edition, and it is bigger, bolder, and hotter than ever! Hosted again at the iconic Northwood Crusaders Club, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on 26 April 2025, this electrifying festival brings together chilli lovers, foodies, thrill-seekers, and families for an unforgettable day of spice, culture, and culinary adventure.
With over 3,000 attendees last year (2024), this event has become Durban’s ultimate celebration of all things chilli, where flavour meets fire and culture meets creativity. Whether you are a casual spice enthusiast or a full-blown heat chaser, this is your chance to dive into a world where Carolina Reaper contests, the hottest bunny chow challenges, and artisan chilli sauces steal the show.
The Story Behind the Heat
The Durban Chilli Festival is the brainchild of two lifelong friends, Nick Papadopoulos and Tanya Cowan, whose Greek Mediterranean heritage, coupled with their love for spicy cuisine, inspired them to bring this global phenomenon to South Africa’s spice capital, Durban, KZN. Supported by Katia Papadopoulos, Nick’s wonderful wife, the trio have brought this this amazing and colourful festival to life.
Durban, home to a large Indian community outside of India, is known for its rich food culture, infused with bold spices and unique flavours and the perfect place to to honour chilli culture, blending traditions, cultures, and, of course, the hottest chillies on the planet!
What to Expect at the Durban Chilli Festival 2025
Chilli Eating Champs Challenge
Dare to test your limits? Take on the world’s hottest chilli in a showdown of spice supremacy. Only the bravest competitors step up, but only one will be crowned Durban’s Chilli King or Queen, featuring the Carolina Reaper and a variety of other chillis that have a high Scoville Heat Units (SHU) rating.
Awesome Sauce Competition
Traders from near and far compete and win their categories, by showcasing their most inventive, chilli-infused sauces across a variety of categories, making the competition a key attraction. This event not only highlights the bold flavours of chili, but also brings together a passionate community of food enthusiasts, offering live demonstrations, tastings, and an atmosphere buzzing with creative energy.
Hottest Bunny Chow Competition
A true Durban classic, our legendary bunny chow gets an extra kick with the spiciest challenge yet. Can you handle the heat of this local delicacy?
Chilli Market and Vendors
Explore a sizzling selection of handcrafted chilli sauces from the best local and international artisans, fiery spice blends to elevate your home cooking, chilli-infused snacks and delicacies, and speciality hot sauces & chilli-inspired merchandise.
Food Stalls & Gourmet Experiences
Taste global chilli-inspired dishes from around the world, including authentic Durban curries & spicy street food, with a fiery kick, spicy Mediterranean delights, flame-grilled eats, and chilli-infused desserts & sweet treats.
Live Entertainment & Family Fun
It is not just about the spice, enjoy live music, cultural performances, children’s activities, and a vibrant atmosphere that keeps the energy high all day long.
Hall of Flame! Chilli Champions & Winners
Every year, fearless spice warriors take the stage to battle the hottest chillies. Will you be next? See past winners immortalised in our Hall of Flame, where we honour the bravest souls to take on the heat.
What we stand for
In celebrating culinary diversity, we honour South Africa’s rich food culture and the global love for chilli, bringing together flavours from all corners of the world.
Pushing the Limits from the Carolina Reaper Challenge to the Hottest Bunny Chow Contest, we encourage foodies to test their spice tolerance in the most fun (and sometimes painful) way.
In supporting local and global producers, our festival showcases artisan chilli makers, food vendors, and local businesses, helping them connect with a passionate audience.
We aim to create an unforgettable experience, whether you are a hardcore chilli head or just here for the vibe, the Durban Chilli Festival is about fun, flavour, and community.
This year we have expanding our reach with our media partner, Titanium Media South Africa (TMSA). With the 2025 media partnership, we are taking the festival to new heights, ensuring bigger exposure, more media coverage, and an even hotter experience for our guests and vendors.
Join the Heat Wave
The Durban Chilli Festival is not just about the food, it is about the stories behind the spice, the people who create it, and the community that shares it. Whether you are here to enjoy the flavours, compete in a fiery challenge, or discover your new favourite hot sauce, this festival is for you.