ABOUT the Grand Am World Championship

The Grand American Barbecue World Championship (the “Grand Am”) is a 2-day BBQ festival that also includes a World Championship and New York State Championship, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). The Grand Am takes place at Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz, New York, on May 1-3, 2026.  The Saturday Invitational contest will have a payout of $40,000 and the Sunday Open contest will have a $15,000 payout.

Meat Categories: Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork (Shoulder or Boston Butt), Beef Brisket

Ancillary Categories: Made With Maple (SAT), Sausage (SUN)

Team Capacity: 100 teams

Note: Team packets and site assignments will be provided no later than April 1, 2026

Lodging and Camping suggestions can be found here: Where to stay

Grand Am SATURDAY Invitational — $40,000 Purse

Saturday, May 2, 2026

To qualify for participation in the 2026 Grand Am Invitational, teams must present one of the following:

  1. Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion of any sanctioned qualifier 3-Meat or 4-Meat contest held between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026.

  2. Scored 700+ in any KCBS contest held between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026.

  3. Current / former Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion or 1st Place Meat Category winner from any of the following World Championship events: The Jack, American Royal, Memphis In May, Houston Rodeo, KCBS Invitational, and The Grand Am.

Teams competing in the Saturday Invitational Competition must also compete in the Sunday Open Competition, which is a New York State Championship. Registration closes on April 24, 2026, and space will be assigned on a first-come basis — the sooner teams register and pay, the closer their site will be to the turn-in location. Teams will be required to list their qualifying contest and date.

Fees: $1,250 entry for BOTH daily contests — $900 Sat + $350 Sun ($50 discount available for Sunday X-Box submission). A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to hold the team’s entry.

Prize Purse — Invitational: $40,000

  • Overall — paying out to 5th place: $10,000 GC / $5,000 RGC / $2,500 3rd Overall / $1,500 4th Overall / $1,000 5th Overall

  • Individual Categories — paying out to 10th place: 1st: $1,250 / 2nd: $1,000 / 3rd: $750 / 4th: $500 / 5th: $375 / 6th: $325 / 7th: $275 / 8th: $225 / 9th: $175 / 10th: $125

GRAND AM SUNDAY OPEN — $15,000 PURSE

Sunday, May 3, 2025

The Grand Am Open Competition is available to any 4-Meat team who wants to compete in a qualifying New York State Championship. No qualification is required to join. Registration closes on April 24, 2026.

Fees: $350 entry (discounts available). A $150 non-refundable deposit is required to hold the team’s entry.

Prize Purse — Open: $15,000

  • Overall — paying out to 5th place: $2,000 GC / $1,700 RGC / $1,400 3rd Overall / $1,200 4th Overall / $1,100 5th Overall

  • Individual Categories — paying out to 10th place: 1st: $350 / 2nd: $300 / 3rd: $250 / 4th: $200 / 5th: $180 / 6th: $160 / 7th: $140 / 8th: $120 / 9th: $100 / 10th: $100

Invitational Wild Card Entry - $100 entry fee

The Grand Am will conduct a Wild Card drawing open to any team who wishes to compete in the Saturday Invitational, but has not qualified under the above terms. The Wild Card drawing requires an additional $100 non-refundable entry fee to participate. Please read the Team Packet for the complete set of rules regarding the Invitational Competition. The drawing will take place on April 1, 2026, and all Wild Card entrants will be notified on their selection.

Fees: $100 non-refundable entry fee to participate. If selected, the Wild Card team must pay the full $1,250 entry for BOTH contests (discounts available).


GO TO TEAM APPLICATION

EXCLUSIVE VIP BBQ EXPERIENCEs — Entry fee discounts

Teams can reduce their Grand Am entry fees by participating in public BBQ Experiences. These Experiences offer unique opportunities for Festival-goers to connect with barbecue teams and learn more about the sport. Our goal is to generate interest for more teams and judges.

  1. BBQ Cooking Demos [LIMIT: 8] — Saturday, May 2, 11:30am - 2:00pm — $100 discount off Sunday Open entry fee: Teams that are NOT competing in the Saturday Invitational can choose to host a cooking demo followed by sampling. The team site would be placed closer to the main festival space. We will take a maximum of 8 teams to conduct smoking or grilling demos for chicken (thighs, drums, wings), ribs, pork butt, brisket, steaks, etc. We hope to get meat donations but may lean on the team to provide the product.

  2. Honorary BBQ Judge— Sunday, May 3, 11:30am - 2:00pm — $50 discount off Sunday Open entry fee: Participating teams will turn in two boxes for all (4) meat turn-ins, consisting of at least (6) portions per box. Both boxes will be turned in at the same time at the official KCBS turn-in table. The official numbered box will go into the KCBS Judging Tent to be judged by 100% sanctioned KCBS Judges; a second box with a large “X” on the lid (no team numbers) will go to a separate Honorary Judging location. These “X Boxes” do not require garnish and are completely anonymous and strictly for the public VIP experience — they have ZERO bearing on the official KCBS judging. VIP Honorary Judges will be guided through the entire 4-meat competition (chicken, pork ribs, pork, brisket) by a Certified KCBS Judge — eating, comparing, and discussing entries as official judges do. There will be no public interaction with this VIP offering — teams just turn in their “X Box” at the KCBS turn-in table and leave.

TEAM REGISTRATION INFORMATION

  • Standard KCBS rules apply.

  • Space and activities within team space at the barbecue contest is at the team’s discretion/responsibility to plan, manage, clean, etc. within the scope of the event guidelines.

  • Either a deposit or payment in full is required to hold team space, which will be assigned on a first-come basis in closest proximity to the turn-in location, or toward dedicated RV space requests.

  • As part of their entry fee, all teams will be provided the following:

    • Either a 20’ x 30’ or 20’ x 40’ grass space; sites include both back-in and pull-through options

    • (1) 20-amp (household) electrical drop

    • Water availability from central locations

    • Trash pick-up service

    • Physical restrooms including shower stalls

    • Dump station

    • Ability to sell any pre-packaged product or merchandise without requiring a state or local tax permit — this includes sauces, rubs, shirts, hats, etc. but does NOT include any cooked meats or food prepared on-site

    • Ability for team’s sponsor(s) to receive discounted vendor entry, or opportunity to donate product for online and on-site giveaways

    • Setup starting from 2:00pm Thursday, April 30, 2026, through 11:00pm Saturday, May 2, 2026

    • Teardown beginning after awards on Sunday, May 3, 2026, through 10:00am Monday, May 4. Please let us know if you desire to stay overnight on Sunday. Leave the space as it was on arrival.

  • Teams can choose the following upgrades for an additional fee:

    • NEW!! 50 amp RV Site with dedicated water and sewer — $175

    • NEW!! 30 amp RV Site with dedicated water — $125

    • 30 amp upgrade — $100

    • Individual Porta Potty on their site — $225

    • Friday Night 1-Meat contests for Chicken and Ribs — $125 each / $230 for both

    • Ancillary Categories for Made With Maple (SAT) and Sausage (SUN) — $50 each

    • Wild Child Entry for both Saturday and Sunday - $20 per day — The Wild Child started as a Northeast tradition, where teams put $20 into the Wild Child pot, and one of the four meats is randomly chosen either at that morning’s 9:22 shot or right before awards are announced. Whichever teams scores 11th place in that meat gets the whole Wild Child pot.

    • Ice — available on-site for purchase

  • All team equipment and vehicles must fit completely within their allocated space. Contact us for pricing on additional space.

  • Teams may bring their own generators.

  • All teams are required to bring at least 50ft in extension cords, 100ft for hoses plus a Y-valve, and a fire extinguisher.

  • Trash dumpsters will be available and teams are welcome to haul their own trash to these dumpsters.

BASIC INFORMATION:

  • DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT: The Grand Am cannot hold space for ANY team without the required nonrefundable deposit or payment in full. Payment is due within 7 days of the team’s application to hold space. The remainder of fees must be paid in full after April 1, 2026, via a separate invoice or Venmo.

  • TEAM CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds are available for cancellations made by March 31, 2026.

  • DEADLINES: Registration continues through April 24, 2026, and space will be assigned on a first-come basis. Teams applying for the Saturday Invitational must list the contest and date of their qualifying event.

  • CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY: The Grand Am provides an experience that should be safe and free from threatening and intimidating conduct, including aggressive behavior, bullying, or loud and obnoxious vocalizing. We have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy toward any team whose members exhibit violence or threats of violence of any form; those teams will be asked to leave immediately without refund and will not be invited to return. Please respect our host location and your fellow teams.

  • MEMPHIS IN MAY PARTNERSHIP: In partnership between the Grand Am Invitational and Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the Grand Champion of either event will win a guaranteed entry into the other contest plus $250 off their team entry fee. Plus, all teams who compete in either event will automatically get $100 off team entry into the other contest. (Teams may only utilize one discount offer per year.)

EXPECTED SCHEDULE:

  • THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026

    • 2:00pm - 8:00pm — Festival grounds open to all teams for load-in and setup

    • 11:00pm — QUIET TIME

  • FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026 — 5:00pm - 8:00pm — FESTIVAL HOURS

    • 7:00am - 4:00pm — Festival grounds open to all teams for load-in and setup

    • 11:00am — Meat inspections start for SAT

    • 4:30pm — Cook’s Meeting [PAVILION]

    • 6:00pm - 8:00pm — VIP BBQ Bash

    • 6:00pm — 1-Meat Chicken turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 6:30pm — 1-Meat Ribs turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 7:30pm — 1-Meat Awards [MAIN STAGE]

    • 11:00pm — QUIET TIME

  • SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026 — 11:00am - 8:00pm — FESTIVAL HOURS

    • 8:00am — Meat inspections start for SUN

    • 12:00pm — Chicken turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 12:30pm — Pork Ribs turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 1:00pm — Pork turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 1:30pm — Brisket turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 2:00pm — Made With Maple turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 4:30pm — BBQ World Championship Contest Awards [MAIN STAGE]

    • 6:00pm - 8:00pm — VIP BBQ Bash

    • 11:00pm — QUIET TIME

  • SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2026 — 11:00am - 5:00pm — FESTIVAL HOURS

    • 12:00pm — Chicken turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 12:30pm — Pork Ribs turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 1:00pm — Pork turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 1:30pm — Brisket turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 2:00pm — Sausage turn-in [PAVILION]

    • 4:30pm — BBQ State Championship Contest Awards [MAIN STAGE]

    • 5:30pm — TEAR-DOWN & DEPARTURE

Site Add-ONS

  • The following items can be purchased through the Grand Am Registration links below and must be noted on the online application at check-out.

    • 50 amp RV Site with dedicated water and sewer — $175

    • 30 amp RV Site with dedicated water — $125

    • 30 amp upgrade — $100

    • Individual Porta Potty on team site — $225

    • Friday night 1-Meat contests for Chicken and Ribs — $125 each / $230 for both

    • Ancillary Categories for Made With Maple (SAT) and Sausage (SUN) — $50 each

    • Wild Child Entry for Saturday and Sunday - $20 per day

    • Ice will be available on-site for purchase


gRAND aM Merch

Get your official Grand Am merchandise only available online.

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