Major Texas event
World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest
February 25–27, 2027 · Houston, Texas · Harris County
Texas Defined checked the current first-party event source on 2026-09-05. Reconfirm the official schedule before travel.
Why plan around World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest?
More than 250 barbecue teams compete at the Rodeo’s three-day cook-off, making the contest both a serious Texas barbecue championship and one of Houston’s largest pre-Rodeo public events.
Verified event details
Organizer: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ↗
Verified admission options
Official-source details checked 2026-09-05. Ticket prices and lineups can change; confirm the linked official source before purchasing or traveling.
Plan the visit
Start with the current organizer page
A public admission ticket includes the public music venues, carnival admission and a complimentary barbecue plate, but it does not provide access to private team tents.
Confirm the exact day and access plan
The official 2027 schedule runs Thursday evening, Friday afternoon and evening, and Saturday from morning through the awards presentation, so choose your day around the experience you want.
Build the wider Texas itinerary
Treat the cook-off as a separate ticketed event from the March 2–21 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and verify transportation guidance before traveling to NRG Park.
Keep exploring
- Culinary & BBQ Competitions — Compare related verified guides and discovery-stage tournament listings.
- Explore Harris County — Build a wider trip around the host county.
- Texas tournaments — Return to the statewide tournament directory and all competition categories.