BBQ World Cup: A Note from the Founders on the $1,000,000 Championship Coming to Las Vegas

Dear BBQ World Cup Community,

Think American Idol — but for BBQ. We're here to create the next BBQ celebrity, and we're putting $1,000,000 on the line to make it happen.

We wanted to take a moment to say hello, share a clearer overview of what we’re building, and answer one of the biggest questions we’ve been getting:

BBQ World Cup vs. BBQ United — What’s the difference?

BBQ World Cup is the competition platform — the qualifying tour and the championship destination. It’s built around a simple goal: take competitive barbecue and give it the stage it has always deserved as a sport — bigger stakes, clearer pathways, more visibility, and more momentum.

BBQ United is the community platform we’re building alongside it — designed to bring people together around everything barbecue, year-round. It’s where we’ll share exclusive updates and early news as the tour expands, and it’s also a place for the BBQ community to support each other outside of a single weekend. Teams, creators, and businesses will have a home to promote what they’re building — whether that’s products, catering, restaurants, rubs and sauces, podcasts, media, or content — and to connect with new audiences as the ecosystem grows. We understand BBQ isn’t just competition; it’s culture, craft, and a real industry. BBQ United is being built to support that bigger picture, while BBQ World Cup focuses on the competitive road.

What’s happening now

Qualifying events are live and growing, and top teams will earn their place toward the finals in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) — April 2027. We're aiming to bring together 100 of the top teams for a weekend-long BBQ World Cup experience built around competition, community, and the biggest stage this sport has ever seen.

$1,000,000 is on the line.

Because every qualifying event is different, advancement can vary by event — in most cases it will be the top two, and in some cases three. We’ll always publish the advancement details clearly ahead of time so no one is guessing.

How to get involved

If you want to compete, become a judge, or stay close to updates, you’ll find the latest information across our site and socials. We’re continuing to update everything as we grow — so if you don’t see something today, it’s likely already in motion.

• Competitors: follow the qualifying tour and updates
• Judges: apply to be part of the official judging community
• Event organizers: if you want your event considered as a qualifier, submit through the form on this site

If you’ve got questions, feel free to reach out — we’ll keep answering as many as we can as updates roll out.

See you in Las Vegas!

— Scott Erdmann & Shannon Pruitt Co-Founders, BBQ World Cup / BBQ United