The American Royal edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2026 American Royal Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- The Champions A2
- American Royal 2026 in Brief A3
- Meat by Meat A4
- Perfect 180s A5
- Final Standings B1
- The Record Book B2
- Back Issues C1
The 2026 American Royal Invitational
The 2026 American Royal Invitational
B's Que Wins the American Royal on Debut
Their 709.6916 beats MUNNY'S STOVE by 0.0116 points, in a field of 158 invited teams.
4th-highest winning score of 13 American Royals on record
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — B's Que won the 2026 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Kan., with 709.6916 out of 720, 0.0116 points clear of MUNNY'S STOVE, the reserve grand champion. 158 teams were invited.
It was their 1st American Royal. The win was their 6th Grand Championship of 2026. On the way they finished 9th in chicken, 6th in pork ribs, 5th in pork and 70th in brisket.
The meats went to Meat Candy Q in chicken (180), Dr. Squealgood BBQ in pork ribs (180), MUNNY'S STOVE in pork (180) and Bayou BBQ in brisket (180).
The winning score is the 4th-highest of the 13 American Royals on record. The field included seven past champions and 55 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out 19 perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every American Royal on record to 2026, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
- B's Que 2026 — this edition
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN The 2025 edition
- HOT DADDY'S BBQ The 2024 edition
- FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY The 2023 edition
- QUE U The 2022 edition
- TRIPLE H BBQ The 2021 edition
- MUDVILLE BBQ The 2019 edition
- BUNCH OF SWINES The 2018 edition
- CLARK CREW BBQ The 2017 edition
- 913 BBQ The 2016 edition
- THE SMOKING HILLS The 2015 edition
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA The 2014 edition
- COOL SMOKE The 2013 edition
The defending champion
Defending Champion ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Finishes 13th
The 2025 winner falls out of the top ten.
13th of 158, after winning in 2025
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN won the American Royal in 2025 and finished 13th this time, with 701.6568.
The finish
The Closest American Royal on Record
B's Que over MUNNY'S STOVE, by 0.0116.
0.0116 points between first and second
B's Que beat MUNNY'S STOVE by 0.0116 points, the narrowest margin of the 13 American Royals on record. The closest before it was 2023, when FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY won by 0.5828.
Perfect scores
19 Perfect 180s at the American Royal
Six judges, every card a nine.
19 perfect 180s
Meat Candy Q in chicken, RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ in chicken, MAD MUTT'S BBQ in chicken, Dr. Squealgood BBQ in pork ribs, WYO SMOKE SHOW in pork ribs, Big GC's BBQ in pork ribs, RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ in pork ribs, SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS in pork ribs and 11 more scored a perfect 180.
Also at the 2026 American Royal
Seven Past Champions Come Up Short
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY (won 2023) finished 9th, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (won 2025) finished 13th, HOT DADDY'S BBQ (won 2024) finished 20th, TRIPLE H BBQ (won 2021) finished 28th, MUDVILLE BBQ (won 2019) finished 60th, BUNCH OF SWINES (won 2018) finished 76th and SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 116th.
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY Climbs From 125th to 9th
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY finished 9th, up from 125th in 2025: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN Cooks Their 13th American Royal
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has cooked 13 of the 13 American Royals on record, starting in 2013 with a best finish of 7th, and finished 8th this year.
Chicken
The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meat Candy Q | 180† |
| 2 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | Kings BBQ Team | 178.8572 |
| 5 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 178.8572 |
| 7 | HEIFERS, BUTTS, & CLUCKS BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Fire Family BBQ PTY | 177.7144 |
| 9 | B's Que | 177.7144 |
| 10 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | 177.7144 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 6 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | WYO SMOKE SHOW | 180† |
| 3 | Big GC's BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | 180† |
| 5 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | 180† |
| 6 | B's Que | 180† |
| 7 | Smoke Central BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | Local Yokels BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 10 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | 178.8572 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180 · 5 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUNNY'S STOVE | 180† |
| 2 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | 180† |
| 5 | B's Que | 180† |
| 6 | Fergolicious BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | Cast Iron Cookers | 178.8572 |
| 8 | MAN MEAT BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | Loud and Heavy BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 10 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | 177.7144 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 5 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayou BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | BURNT TREES BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | EFFIN' EH GRAY'S | 180† |
| 4 | MUDVILLE BBQ | 180† |
| 5 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | 180† |
| 6 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | The Chopping Block | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Smoke Show BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 9 | Damn Yankee Texas BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 10 | Club Carbon CR | 177.7144 |
19 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken Meat Candy Q
- Chicken RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ
- Chicken MAD MUTT'S BBQ
- Pork Ribs Dr. Squealgood BBQ
- Pork Ribs WYO SMOKE SHOW
- Pork Ribs Big GC's BBQ
- Pork Ribs RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ
- Pork Ribs SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS
- Pork Ribs B's Que
- Pork MUNNY'S STOVE
- Pork HOT DADDY'S BBQ
- Pork SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ
- Pork MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS
- Pork B's Que
- Brisket Bayou BBQ
- Brisket BURNT TREES BBQ
- Brisket EFFIN' EH GRAY'S
- Brisket MUDVILLE BBQ
- Brisket FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY
Every team on the 2026 board, 158 in all: the overall out of 720 and each meat’s place. ★ a past American Royal champion; ◆ a first American Royal. Click a column head to sort.
Every board, with the score charts, on the contest’s own page →
Every American Royal on record to 2026, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 QUE U2022 · 1st 711.9656
- 2 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2025 · 1st 710.8344
- 3 HOT DADDY'S BBQ2024 · 1st 709.7028
- 4 B's Que2026 · 1st 709.6916
- 5 MUNNY'S STOVE2026 · 2nd 709.6800
- 6 PORKY BUTTS BBQ2026 · 3rd 709.1432
- 7 TRIPLE H BBQ2025 · 2nd 709.1200
- 8 CLARK CREW BBQ2017 · 1st 708.5600
- 9 TRIPLE H BBQ2021 · 1st 708.5372
- 10 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 · 1st 707.9888
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 B's Que2026 1
- 2 QUE U2022 1
- 3 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2025 1
- 4 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023 1
- 5 HOT DADDY'S BBQ2024 1
- 6 COOL SMOKE2013 1
- 7 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 1
- 8 TRIPLE H BBQ2021 1
- 9 913 BBQ2016 1
- 10 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 1
Most Appearances
American Royals cooked
- 1 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2013–2026 · best 2nd 13
- 2 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2013–2026 · best 5th 13
- 3 SHIGGIN & GRINNIN2013–2026 · best 7th 13
- 4 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014–2026 · best 1st 12
- 5 GETTIN' BASTED2014–2026 · best 2nd 12
- 6 SMOKE THIS BBQ MO2014–2026 · best 4th 12
- 7 BUNCH OF SWINES2013–2026 · best 1st 11
- 8 SLAPS BBQ2015–2026 · best 4th 11
- 9 CLARK CREW BBQ2013–2023 · best 1st 10
- 10 DIRT ROAD BBQ2013–2023 · best 2nd 10
Closest Finishes
Points between first and second
- 1 B's Que2026, over MUNNY'S STOVE 0.0116
- 2 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023, over Damn Fine Beef & Swine 0.5828
- 3 BUNCH OF SWINES2018, over ONE2BBQ 1.0968
- 4 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014, over DIRT ROAD BBQ 1.1312
- 5 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2025, over TRIPLE H BBQ 1.7144
- 6 MUDVILLE BBQ2019, over GETTIN' BASTED 2.2744
- 7 CLARK CREW BBQ2017, over HOGLINE 2.3200
- 8 HOT DADDY'S BBQ2024, over Smoke Central BBQ 2.3316
- 9 913 BBQ2016, over SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2.8340
- 10 TRIPLE H BBQ2021, over SIN CIRCLE BBQ 4.5488
Biggest Fields
Teams invited
- 1 2022won by QUE U 249
- 2 2023won by FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY 211
- 3 2015won by THE SMOKING HILLS 187
- 4 2021won by TRIPLE H BBQ 185
- 5 2016won by 913 BBQ 180
- 6 2013won by COOL SMOKE 174
- 7 2024won by HOT DADDY'S BBQ 169
- 8 2014won by SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA 165
- 9 2018won by BUNCH OF SWINES 164
- 10 2025won by ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 158
Best First Appearances
Finish at a first invitation
- 1 QUE U2022 · of 249 1st
- 2 B's Que2026 · of 158 1st
- 3 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023 · of 211 1st
- 4 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 · of 135 1st
- 5 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 · of 165 1st
- 6 Damn Fine Beef & Swine2023 · of 211 2nd
- 7 YSB BBQ2021 · of 185 3rd
- 8 T-N-T QUE CREW2019 · of 135 3rd
- 9 DR. NORDY'S BBQ2014 · of 165 3rd
- 10 KG Cookers BBQ2017 · of 129 4th
Every American Royal on record has an edition of its own. ← 2025
American Royal editions: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013
The other invitationals: Jack Daniel’s · World Invitational · every invitational on record
The season: 2026 in review · the latest edition