King of the Wing Foundation Celebrates Winners of the 15th Annual
King of the Wing Festival
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — The King of the Wing Foundation proudly celebrates the tremendous success of the 15th Annual King of the Wing Festival, held at the world-famous Magens Bay. The annual event once again brought together the best restaurants, businesses, community organizations, and wing enthusiasts for an unforgettable day of friendly competition, outstanding food, live entertainment, and community fellowship. Following an exciting day of judging, the King of the Wing Foundation is pleased to announce the official winners of the 2026 competition:
Restaurant Division
1st Place, Restaurant Champion & Overall King of the Wing 2026: LAKE'S CHICKEN FRY
2nd Place: Barefoot Buddha
3rd Place: The Easterly Bar & Restaurant
4th Place: The Dive Bar
5th Place: Tamarind Inn
Non-Restaurant Division
1st Place: Wing It & Claim It (Marshall & Sterling)
2nd Place: Brothers & Sisters With a Cause
3rd Place: Banco Popular
4th Place: Crowley Caribbean - USVI
5th Place: The Lost Turtle
People's Choice - Sweet Fit VI
Best Decorated Booth - Barefoot Buddha
The King of the Wing Foundation extends its heartfelt congratulations to every participating team. Each competitor showcased incredible creativity, culinary talent, and sportsmanship, making this year's competition one of the most exciting in the festival's fifteen-year history.
As the Overall King of the Wing 2026, LAKE'S CHICKEN FRY has earned the honor of representing the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Charleston Wing Festival in South Carolina this November, where they will compete against wing champions from across the country.
The Foundation and this year's beneficiary, the Coral Reef Academy, also wish to express their sincere appreciation to the many individuals and organizations whose support made this year's festival possible. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, whose generous financial and in-kind contributions continue to elevate the festival each year. Your commitment to supporting local businesses, nonprofits, and community events makes a lasting impact throughout the Virgin Islands.
Special thanks are extended to the dedicated volunteers and King of the Wing Festival staff, whose countless hours of planning, preparation, and execution ensured a safe, organized, and memorable experience for everyone in attendance.
The Foundation also recognizes the Magens Bay Authority for its continued partnership and support in hosting the festival at one of the Caribbean's most beautiful beaches. Their collaboration helps create the perfect setting for this signature community event.
We also thank our judges for their time and expertise, our vendors and entertainers for adding to the festival experience, and every nonprofit organization and community partner who helped make the day a success.
Finally, the King of the Wing Foundation extends its deepest appreciation to the thousands of residents and visitors who attended the festival. Your enthusiasm, energy, and support are what make King of the Wing Festival one of the U.S. Virgin Islands' premier annual events.
As we celebrate fifteen years of great food, community, and friendly competition, we are already looking ahead to an even bigger and better festival in 2027. Congratulations once again to all of our winners, and thank you to everyone who helped make the 15th Annual King of the Wing Festival an extraordinary success.
Should you have any questions, please call Vernon Araujo at 340-725-5689, email kingofthewingvi@gmail.com or visit www.kowvi.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, TikTok & Instagram (@kowvi).
