The 2026 Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) Team of the Year points chase is well underway, and this year we’re competing as a Professional team on the Master’s circuit. Follow along as Bourbon & Blues BBQ embarks on another year of competition BBQ, traveling the country from North Carolina to Idaho and many places in between. Week after week, we’ll be going head-to-head with some of the nation’s top BBQ pitmasters, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. This season, we’re spending more time in the Northeast, a new region for us. Will it make or break our season? Only time will tell.
Keep an eye out for some non-KCBS events, too! Occasionally we’ll throw in a Champions Barbecue Alliance (CBS), Florida Barbecue Alliance (FBA) or other non-KCBS event to keep things fun!
| 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 |
| Aug. 22, 2026 | City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest) | Madison, IN |
| Aug. 29, 2026 | MN Masters BBQ | Pierz, MN |
| Sep. 5, 2026 | SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset’s Speedway | Brandon, SD |
| Sep. 12, 2026 | Bands & BBQ at the Point | Carrollton, KY |
| 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. 7, 2026 | Grills for Gratitude Honoring Our Hometown Veterans and Heroes | Plant City, FL |
| 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 |
The 20026 KCBS Team of the Year is chosen following a year-long points chase that runs from November 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026. Teams earn points based on their rankings for every KCBS-sanctioned BBQ contest in which they compete. The team’s highest 10 scores overall as well as in individual categories of chicken, ribs, pork and brisket count for Team of the Year points.
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