Kansas cook-offs
Kansas shares the Kansas City BBQ tradition with neighboring Missouri — KCBS-sanctioned contests run from Wichita to Topeka through the warm months, weighted toward Master Series weekends. The state's flat prairie geography means outdoor cook sites are everywhere, and backyard-tier events at small-town festivals fill the off-week calendar. Season runs April through October; teams often travel into Oklahoma and Missouri to extend the year.
Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship
Jul 24 – Jul 25, 2026
Gardner BBQ Grounds
Gardner, KS
BBQ & Fly-In on the River
Aug 14 – Aug 15, 2026
Wyandotte County Museum and Historical Society
Springs, KS
East Central State BBQ Cookoff - Paola Roots Festival
Aug 28 – Aug 29, 2026
Home Town Market & Floral
Paola, KS
Smoke on the River (Day 1)
Sep 4 – Sep 5, 2026
Burlington BBQ Grounds
Burlington, KS
Smoke on the River (Day 2)
Sep 5 – Sep 6, 2026
Burlington BBQ Grounds
Burlington, KS
Meat Inferno
Sep 11 – Sep 12, 2026
Johnson County Fire District #1 Station #4
Edgerton, KS
Shawnee Great Grillers
Sep 25 – Sep 26, 2026
Shawnee Town Museum
Shawnee, KS
Smoke on the Water
Oct 9 – Oct 10, 2026
Lake Shawnee Campground
Topeka, KS
Certified Barbeque Judging Class - Sunland Park, NM
Thu, Oct 15, 2026
Harper's Fabric and Quilt Co.
Park, KS
Happy Basset 6th Annual BBQ Contest
Oct 16 – Oct 17, 2026
Lake Shawnee Campground
Topeka, KS
All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1)
Oct 16 – Oct 17, 2026
Harper's Fabric and Quilt Co.
Park, KS
All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2)
Oct 17 – Oct 18, 2026
Harper's Fabric and Quilt Co.
Park, KS