More than 250 teams competed at the 2026 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, Feb. 26-28. On Saturday night, one team was named Grand Champion Overall: All Jacked Up.
The teams from all over Texas and the world competed for championship titles in the following categories: Brisket, Ribs, Chicken, Go Texan, Dutch Oven Dessert, the Open Contest and the WCBBQ Games, where teams were judged on speed, agility, coordination and teamwork. Also in 2026, the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest once again hosted the Jr. Cook-off, where young pitmasters ages eight to 14 put their skills to the test. Each competitor was given a steak to prepare and judged on appearance, tenderness, and taste. In 2026 the Impact Award was added, which focuses on the positive impact that the teams have in communities.
The 2026 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest winners are:
2026 Grand Champion Overall
Team: All Jacked Up
2026 Reserve Champion Overall
Team: Hardin County Go Texan
Brisket
Champion: Victoria County Go Texan
Second Place: Holy Cow Cookers
Third Place: Bunch of Swines
Ribs
Champion: American Royal Winner – Wag’s Backwoods BBQ
Second Place: Colorado County Go Texan
Third Place: The Stockyard Saloon
Chicken
Champion: Jack Daniels Winner – Kings BBQ
Second Place: Be Somebody Cooking Team
Third Place: Roughriders BBQ
Go Texan
Grand Champion: Hardin County Go Texan
Reserve Champion: Matagorda County Go Texan
Dutch Oven Dessert
Champion: Cattle Cookers
Second Place: Dusty Que
Third Place: Maddog BBQ
Open Contest
Champion: Calhoun County Go Texan
Second Place: L.P.O.A. Road Kill Café
Third Place: Dusty Bones Cookers
Jr. Cook-off
Champion: David Causey, Pressure Cookers
Second Place: Raelyn Eleesa Barker, Pitmaker – BBQ Addiction
Third Place: Peyton Lewis, Texas Social Club
Specialty Awards
Best Façade: Holy Cow Cookers
Best Overall Theme: Limestone County Cookers
Best Skit: BOHICA BBQ Cooking Team
Impact Award
Champion: 300 Justice Road
WCBBQ Games
Winner: Half Fast Cookers
Second Place: Brisket Cases