STARS, STRIPES & SIZZLE: GALLEY WARS TAKES ON THE GREAT AMERICAN HOT DOG THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

May 19, 2026 - As 'America 250' celebrations roll out this summer, LA Fleet Week's popular Galley Wars cooking competition over the Memorial Day weekend will take on a nostalgic flair, paying tribute to an iconic symbol of America - the hot dog.

FOX returns as the presenting sponsor of Galley Wars, now in its tenth year. Galley Wars will pit culinary specialists from the U.S. Sea Services and local first responders against one another in a dog-eat-dog cooking rivalry that's sure to get both the barbeques and the teams fired up. The grill-off will take place this Saturday at noon on the fantail of the Battleship IOWA.

For the competition, two-person teams from the U.S. Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and the Los Angeles Port Police will be tasked with grilling their best hot dog creation, topped with each team's own "classified" secret sauce, along with two all-American side dishes and an apple pie-inspired dessert. A panel of four judges will select the winning team to be presented with the Galley Wars 2026 handcrafted championship plaque. Winners will also enjoy the real prize and bragging rights as the best dog-gone culinary team in town.

This year's Galley Wars competition will be hosted by actor, director, writer, and chef D.B. Sweeney, whose sideline passion is teaching military veterans to cook. Special guest Rachel Pizzolato, an actress, model, and inventor, will join Sweeney at the grill-off.

One of many signature events at this year's LA Fleet Week, Galley Wars will take place at noon on the Battleship IOWA's fantail on the LA Waterfront. Galley Wars is free and open to the public, with limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The Port of Los Angeles and the Pacific Battleship Center are the founding sponsors of both LA Fleet Week and Galley Wars.

About LA Fleet Week

Established in 2016, LA Fleet Week an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation's Armed Services held on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles over the extended Memorial Day Weekend.

A program of the Pacific Battleship Center with support from the Port of Los Angeles, LA Fleet Week was created through a unique public-private partnership to connect Southern Californians with the men and women of the United States Sea Services. These connections are facilitated through numerous outreach and engagement opportunities across the region and at a centralized event location on the LA Waterfront at America's busiest port.