American Royal World Series of Barbecue

Kansas City's barbecue tradition is one of the most celebrated in the United States, and the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, run since 1980, has grown into the largest barbecue competition on the planet by number of entries. Hundreds of teams compete across categories judged by certified barbecue judges.

Beyond the competition itself, the event includes a public barbecue village where visitors can sample smoked meats from vendors across styles and regions — a genuine showcase of just how varied American barbecue tradition actually is, hosted in one of its most historically important cities.