International Week is a series of exhibits, screenings, arts and performances dedicated to each year's honored country.

Held during the first weekend of May in the city's Tom Lee Park at the foot of Beale Street, it is considered to be the kick-off event of the entire Memphis in May International Festival celebration.

The Beale Street Music Festival is known for featuring an eclectic mix of genres on its lineup every year, from blues and rock 'n roll to rap and pop.

While International Week provides a learning experience for the community at large, the core is a comprehensive educational program for area youth in public and private schools throughout Memphis and Shelby County.

The goal of International Week is for area students, by the time they graduate from high school, to have had the opportunity to experience the customs and cultures of 12 countries.

Through the years, the Memphis in May International Festival has played host to ambassadors, exhibits and performance troupes from 38 countries.

1977: Japan 1978: Canada 1979: Germany 1980: Venezuela 1981: Egypt 1982: Netherlands 1983: Israel 1984: Mexico 1985: Australia 1986: Japan 1987: China 1988: United Kingdom 1989: Kenya 1990: France 1991: New Zealand 1992: Italy 1993: Russia 1994: Côte d’Ivoire 1995: Thailand 1996: All previous countries 1997: Brazil 1998: Portugal 1999: Morocco 2000: India 2001: Netherlands 2002: Argentina 2003: South Korea 2004: South Africa 2005: Ireland 2006: Costa Rica 2007: Spain 2008: Turkey 2009: Chile 2010: Tunisia 2011: Belgium 2012: Philippines 2013: Sweden 2014: Panama 2015: Poland 2016: Canada 2017: Colombia 2018: Czech Republic 2019: City of Memphis & Shelby County 2020: Festivities cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021: International salute to Ghana postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic 2022: Ghana 2023: Malaysia 2024: France

[citation needed] Credit for the original idea of a barbecue contest goes to Rodney Baber, chairman of the Memphis in May events committee in 1977, and his co-worker Jack Powell, Tennessee's reigning chili champ at the time.

[citation needed] The original champion at the first competition was Bessie Louise Cathey, who won a $500 prize, a sizable return for her $12 entry fee.

[4] In 1989, when MIM officials discovered that there was a feast in Honolulu which earned the title of "largest barbecue" in the Guinness Book of Records, they calculated the amount of food prepared at the WCBCC.

The programming for the event is centered around local musicians, artists, vendors and includes an air show and fireworks display.