where fire meets flavor
TEAM REGISTRATION opens june 15
The 2nd Annual Meat & Tater KCBS BBQ Competition returns to Meridian, Idaho Labor Day Weekend 2026.
Limited to just 55 teams (plus a waitlist), Meat & Tater continues to grow as one of the Northwest’s premier KCBS competitions, bringing together top pitmasters from across the country for a weekend of serious competition, community, and BBQ.
Teams will compete in the four official KCBS categories: Chicken, Ribs, Pork, and Brisket, with optional Idaho Potato Ancillary Category, Dessert Category and the Porky Butts Rack Attack – KCBS One-Meat Rib Ancillary. We’re proud to offer a total prize purse of over $16,000, with cash awards, prizes and recognition for top teams.
new for meat & taters in 2026
THE ROAD TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS
The Meat & Tater BBQ Competition is an official qualifier for the BBQ World Cup. Our Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will qualify to compete in Las Vegas during Spring 2027 as part of the Road to the $1 Million BBQ World Championship.
Sponsored by Porky Butts BBQ teams will light the fires on Friday for the Porky Butts Rack Attack — a KCBS One-Meat Rib Competition bringing even more smoke, competition, and prize money to the weekend.
Key Dates and Details:
- Prize Money: $16,000+
- Competitor Load-in Date: Friday, September 4
- Time: 6:00 AM – done (additional time Thursday PM TBD)
- Location: Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park | 1900 N Records Ave, Meridian, Idaho
(Meridian is a suburb of Boise, Idaho)
Space Sizes & Assignments
Spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis during Load-In. If you’d like to be placed next to a specific team, we recommend coordinating your arrival times to check in together.
Please note that all equipment, vehicles, and cookers must be contained in the space you are purchasing.
Power: No power is provided. Competitor’s must provide their own power.
Schedule:
- Mandatory Cook Meeting: (TBD) Friday, Sept 4
- KCBS Competition, Turn-Ins & Judging: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Saturday, September 5
- Awards Ceremony: 5:45 PM Saturday, September 5
Final Authority Statement
FWIW: KCBS Contest Representative decisions and interpretations of the KCBS Rules and Regulations are final (see Rule 1 in the attached Master Series Rule doc).