The 2026 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) Team of the Year chase is underway, and Bourbon & Blues BBQ is back on the road for another season on the Masters circuit. We’re traveling the country and competing against some of the best pitmasters out there. This year’s schedule takes us through familiar territory and into more events across the Northeast, giving us a chance to test ourselves in a region that’s still relatively new for us. Every stop brings a new challenge, and we’re looking forward to seeing where the season takes us.
Bourbon & Blues BBQ 2026 Competition Schedule
We’ll mix in a few non-KCBS events along the way, too. Champions Barbecue Alliance (CBA), Florida Barbecue Association (FBA), and other sanctioned contests give us a chance to change things up and compete in different formats throughout the season.
| Date | Competition | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 31, 2025 | The Hog Drop | Unadilla, GA |
| Jan. 10, 2026 | Jimmy Jam | Elkton, FL |
| Jan. 24, 2026 | Lakeland Pigfest (FL TRIPLE CROWN) | Lakeland, FL |
| Feb. 21, 2026 | Ribs on the Ridge (FL TRIPLE CROWN) | Haines City, FL |
| Feb. 28, 2026 | Mission Farms – King of the Farm | Iron Station, NC |
| Mar. 7, 2026 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival | Lawrenceville, GA |
| Mar. 14, 2026 | Jeepin 4 Justice | Shady Hills, FL |
| Mar. 21, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (+ One Meat Ribs) | Lebanon, TN |
| Mar. 28, 2026 | Kickin’ It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge (+ One Meat Ribs) | St. Robert, MO |
| Apr. 4, 2026 | Iowa State BBQ Championship | Altoona, IA |
| Apr. 11, 2026 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off | Cedar Park, TX |
| Apr. 18, 2026 | The Downtown BBQ Showdown (+ One Meat Ribs) | Lake City, FL |
| Apr. 25, 2026 | Pitmasters in Paradise (FL TRIPLE CROWN) | Auburndale, FL |
| May 2, 2026 | Grand American Barbecue World Championship Invitational | New Paltz, NY |
| May 9, 2026 | 20th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off | Waynesboro, GA |
| May 16, 2026 | Speed & Feed BBQ Festival at Darlington Raceway | Darlington, SC |
| May 23, 2026 | KCBS World Invitational (+ One Meat Chicken & One Meat Ribs) | Lebanon, TN |
| Jun. 6, 2026 | Original SD BBQ Championships (+ One Meat Ribs) | Huron, SD |
| Jun. 13, 2026 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest | Derby, KS |
| Jun. 20, 2026 | Rose Festival’s 25th Annual KCBS BBQ Competition | State Center, IA |
| Jun. 27, 2026 | Smoke-N-Wings | Blackfoot, ID |
| Jul. 3, 2026 | Dillon Days Blowin’ Smoke BBQ Cook Off | Dillon, MT |
| Jul. 11, 2026 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery | Greenwood, SC |
| Jul. 18, 2026 | Connecticut Barbecue Challenge | Somers, CT |
| Jul. 25, 2026 | RI State BBQ Challenge (CBA) | Coventry, RI |
| Aug. 1, 2026 | All American BBQ Throw Down (+ One Meat Ribs) | Westland, MI |
| Aug. 8, 2026 | Trillium BBQ Throwdown | Canton, MA |
| Aug. 15, 2026 | Kora Cares | Hiram, ME |
| Sep. 19, 2026 | Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff | Columbiana, AL |
| Sep. 26, 2026 | Praise the Lard | Murphysboro, IL |
| Oct. 3, 2026 | The American Royal | Kansas City, KS |
| Oct. 10, 2026 | Flavor & BBQ Festival | Park City, KS |
| Oct. 17, 2026 | All American BBQ Cook-Off (2 Day) | Sunland Park, NM |
| Oct. 24, 2026 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition | Vidalia, LA |
| Oct. 31, 2026 | Rost N Boast | Columbus, MS |
| Nov. 21, 2026 | Plant City Pig Jam | Plant City, FL |
| Dec. 5, 2026 | Que for a Cure (FBA) | Tampa Bay, FL |
| Dec. 31, 2026 | The Hog Drop | Unadilla, GA |
Competition dates and locations are subject to change. We’ll update this schedule as new events are added or plans change.
How KCBS Team of the Year Works
The 2026 KCBS Team of the Year program is a season-long points chase running from November 10, 2025 through December 31, 2026. KCBS-member teams earn points at sanctioned contests based on their finishes in Chicken, Ribs, Pork, Brisket, and Overall, with bonus points based on contest size. A team’s highest scores from 10 contests count toward its final Team of the Year totals.
Follow Us on the BBQ Trail
Check back throughout the season for schedule updates, new stops, and more from the competition trail. Follow us on social media for updates from the road, or explore On the BBQ Trail for more competition resources and stories.
No responses yet