Event details
Home » Event Details
2026 details
Friday, May 15
May 15
- 8:00 AM
- Teams may arrive for check-in
- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- KCBS meat inspection
- 4:00 PM
- KCBS cook's meeting
- 5:45 PM
- First responders wing turn-in
- 6:00 PM
- People's Choice first responders wing tasting
- $10/tray
- 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
- SCA turn-in
- 8:00 PM
- First responders wings awards
- 10:00 PM
- Quiet time
- Please be courteous of the residential neighbors next to the parking lot
Open to public
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 16
May 16
- 7:00 AM
- Breakfast
- Sandwiches at the Hospitality Tent
- 9:30 AM
- KCBS judge check-in
- 10:30 AM
- KCBS judge meeting
- 12:00 PM
- Chicken turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 12:30 PM
- Pork ribs turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 1:00 PM
- Pork turn-in
- Master Series
- 1:30 PM
- Brisket turn-in
- Master Series
- 4:00 PM
- KCBS awards
- 5:45 PM
- First responders wing turn-in
- 6:00 PM
- People's Choice first responders wing tasting
- $10/tray
- 7:00 PM
- Basket raffle winners announced
- 8:00 PM
- First responders wings awards
- 10:00 PM
- Quiet time
- Please be courteous of the residential neighbors next to the parking lot
Open to public
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 17
May 17
- 7:00 AM
- Breakfast
- Sandwiches at the Hospitality Tent
- 9:30 AM
- KCBS judge check-in
- 10:30 AM
- KCBS judge meeting
- 12:00 PM
- Chicken turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 12:30 PM
- Pork ribs turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 1:00 PM
- Pork turn-in
- Master Series
- 1:30 PM
- Brisket turn-in
- Master Series
- 4:00 PM
- KCBS awards
Not open to public
Competition only
Schedule of events
Friday, May 15
May 15
- 8:00 AM
- Teams may arrive for check-in
- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- KCBS meat inspection
- 4:00 PM
- KCBS cook's meeting
- 5:45 PM
- First responders wing turn-in
- 6:00 PM
- People's Choice first responders wing tasting
- $10/tray
- 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
- SCA turn-in
- 8:00 PM
- First responders wings awards
- 10:00 PM
- Quiet time
- Please be courteous of the residential neighbors next to the parking lot
Saturday, May 16
May 16
- 7:00 AM
- Breakfast
- Sandwiches at the Hospitality Tent
- 9:30 AM
- KCBS judge check-in
- 10:30 AM
- KCBS judge meeting
- 12:00 PM
- Chicken turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 12:30 PM
- Pork ribs turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 1:00 PM
- Pork turn-in
- Master Series
- 1:30 PM
- Brisket turn-in
- Master Series
- 4:00 PM
- KCBS awards
- 5:45 PM
- First responders wing turn-in
- 6:00 PM
- People's Choice first responders wing tasting
- $10/tray
- 7:00 PM
- Basket raffle winners announced
- 8:00 PM
- First responders wings awards
- 10:00 PM
- Quiet time
- Please be courteous of the residential neighbors next to the parking lot
Sunday, May 17
May 17
- 7:00 AM
- Breakfast
- Sandwiches at the Hospitality Tent
- 9:30 AM
- KCBS judge check-in
- 10:30 AM
- KCBS judge meeting
- 12:00 PM
- Chicken turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 12:30 PM
- Pork ribs turn-in
- Master Series & Backyard Series
- 1:00 PM
- Pork turn-in
- Master Series
- 1:30 PM
- Brisket turn-in
- Master Series
- 4:00 PM
- KCBS awards
What happens at a barbeque competition
Competitors
Barbeque competitors from all over the United States come to cook in different categories, including:
- Master Series: chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket
- Backyard Series: chicken and ribs
Judging
The cooked meat is judged by Kansas City Barbeque Society judges. These judges attend an 8 hour class on how to judge the meat based on appearance, tenderness, and taste.
Points
The cooks must follow a set of rules that are set forth by the KCBS. Then, the cooks earn points based on the evaluation of their meat and rules followed.
These points are tallied and help determine who is awarded Team of the Year.
Achievements
A perfect score is a total of 180 points. If achieved, the team receives a pin and a sticker.
A score of 700 overall points is another achievement, which also earns a pin and a sticker.
Jack Daniels
Contests with 25 or more Master Series teams are Jack Daniels qualifiers. The Grand Champion team gets entered into a drawing.
Only 2 teams from each state are drawn for the Jack Daniels competition.
Sales
At most competitions, teams are not able to give out samples or sell their barbeque.
There are a few competitions that do allow this, but it is always wise to check the rules to confirm before attending a competition.
Competitors vs. first responders wing contest
On Friday evening from 6 PM - 8 PM, there is a wing competition between 12 teams consisting of barbeque competitors and first responders.
Each team cooks 10 lbs. of wings however they like, except deep frying. The finished pans are then turned in and placed in numbered slots to be judged by the judges and the public. The public purchases a tray of 12 wings for $10, one wing from each team.
After tasting each sample, judges and public tasters write down which slot number they liked best on a ticket, then putting the ticket back on the tray.
When the wings are sold out or at a pre-determined time, the tickers are counted and results announced. The First Place and Second Place teams receive a trophy prize.

