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Return home Updated April 2026

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Houston Rodeo World's Championship BBQ Contest Competition

February 2026  —  Houston, Texas

World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest — Houston Rodeo 2026

Over 250 teams descended on NRG Park in Houston for the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest — a Texas institution since 1974. Pitmasters competed across three judged categories: ribs, brisket, and sausage, with panels scoring on taste, tenderness, and appearance. The event drew hundreds of thousands of visitors across three days of live music, food, and some of the most serious competitive BBQ in the country.

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Beef prices and grilling season 2026 Industry

March 2026  —  Market Report

Record Beef Prices: What It Means for Your Grill This Summer

Choice beef cutout values have surged 25% higher than 2025 — driven by tight cattle supplies and strong demand pulling purchases forward. With brisket and rib primals rising steeply since January, pitmasters and backyard grillers alike are rethinking their summer lineups. Experts say flank, sirloin, and pork alternatives will feature more heavily this grilling season as budgets adjust to the new market reality.

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BBQ competition and trends 2026 Trends

January 2026  —  BBQ World

$1 Million Prize Pool: Competition BBQ Enters a New Era in 2026

The launch of the BBQ World Cup — featuring a $1 million prize purse — signals that competitive grilling is entering its biggest chapter yet. With live-fire festivals growing worldwide, events like Memphis in May and Australia's Meatstock blurring the line between BBQ and chef culture, and new teams entering the circuit, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the sport of BBQ. Here are six trends defining the scene.

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About these stories: The articles above link to external sources including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Drovers agricultural reporting, and The Smoke Sheet BBQ newsletter. We curate these links to keep our community informed — we are not affiliated with any of the linked publications. Links open in a new tab.

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