Whether determining the smokiest sauce, most mouthwatering ribs or any number of cuisine-specific categories, part of the spirit of ‘cuing in KC is friendly competition. The result is that Kansas City’s calendar is full of barbecue festivals, tournaments and other events.
The American Royal World Series of Barbecue
Recognized as the biggest barbecue contest and celebration in the world, The American Royal World Series of Barbecue welcomes more than 600 local, national and international teams for this three-day event at Kansas Speedway. The end-all be-all competition that decides the best ‘cue smokers on the planet and is no question the highlight of the year for many barbecue enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, a two-day festival dubbed the Cowtown Family Fun Fest accompanies the competition, offering everything from live music performances and a car show to a poker tournament and a petting zoo. Oh, and barbecue samplings, of course.
2026 Dates: TBA
Other Popular Contests
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle
Pitmasters fire up their smokers and compete in the Kansas suburb of Lenexa. Officially declared the Kansas State Championship in 1984, this legendary event has grown from just a dozen competitors to hundreds. It all starts with a party on Friday night before the competition kicks up on Saturday.
2026 Dates: June 26-27
Made for KC BBQ Championship
Hungry travelers can enjoy the best of KC’s signature cuisine thanks to this barbecue competition. The winners have their award-winning recipes featured at the KC BBQ Experience restaurant inside Kansas City International Airport.
