The World Invitational edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2026 KCBS World Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
The 2026 KCBS World Invitational
The 2026 KCBS World Invitational
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ Wins the World Invitational
Their 710.8344 beats Phantom Smoke & BBQ by 2.8572 points, in a field of 82 invited teams.
The highest winning score of 8 World Invitationals on record
LEBANON, Tenn. — WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ won the 2026 KCBS World Invitational in Lebanon, Tenn., with 710.8344 out of 720, 2.8572 points clear of Phantom Smoke & BBQ, the reserve grand champion. 82 teams were invited.
It was their 3rd World Invitational, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 3rd Grand Championship of 2026. On the way they finished 1st in chicken, 10th in pork ribs, 4th in pork and 47th in brisket.
The meats went to WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ in chicken (180), SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ in pork ribs (180), Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ in pork (180) and JANKY LEG BBQ in brisket (180).
The winning score is the highest of the 8 World Invitationals on record. The field included five past champions and 26 teams at their first World Invitational. Judges handed out 18 perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every World Invitational on record to 2026, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
The defending champion
Defending Champion SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS Finishes 8th
The 2025 winner stays in the top ten.
8th of 82, after winning in 2025
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS won the World Invitational in 2025 and finished 8th this time, with 705.6800.
First time in
First-Timer Phantom Smoke & BBQ Finishes 2nd
26 teams cooked their first World Invitational in 2026.
2nd of 82, at a first World Invitational
Phantom Smoke & BBQ finished 2nd with 707.9772 at their first World Invitational, the best of 26 teams in the field for the first time.
Perfect scores
18 Perfect 180s at the World Invitational
Six judges, every card a nine.
18 perfect 180s
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ in chicken, SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS in chicken, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN in chicken, CHUNKY BBQ in chicken, HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ in chicken, SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS in chicken, Squealin N Dealin BBQ in chicken, SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ in pork ribs and 10 more scored a perfect 180.
Former winners
Five Past Champions Come Up Short
The best of them: SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS, 8th.
5 past World Invitational champions in the field
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS (won 2025) finished 8th, MAN MEAT BBQ (won 2023) finished 23rd, RAZORRACKS (won 2024) finished 35th, Heavy Smoke BBQ (won 2019) finished 66th and SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS (won 2022) finished 68th.
On the up
WHEN PIGS DIE Climbs From 53rd to 5th
The biggest jump on 2025.
+48 places gained on 2025
WHEN PIGS DIE finished 5th, up from 53rd in 2025: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
The regulars
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS Cooks Their 8th World Invitational
Level for the most appearances in the 2026 field.
8 World Invitationals cooked, of 8 on record
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS has cooked 8 of the 8 World Invitationals on record, starting in 2019 with a best finish of 1st, and finished 8th this year.
Also at the 2026 World Invitational
Kings BBQ Team Wins the Wells Cup
Kings BBQ Team won the Wells Cup with 711.4172, ahead of SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS. Every result from the week runs on A6.
Chicken
The top ten, out of 180 · 7 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | 180† |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 180† |
| 4 | CHUNKY BBQ | 180† |
| 5 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 180† |
| 6 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | 180† |
| 7 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | 180† |
| 8 | SWIG-N-PIG | 178.8572 |
| 9 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 10 | Kermit's Ex | 178.8572 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 1 perfect 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | Take It Easy BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 4 | Butts-N-Racks BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 5 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | 178.8572 |
| 6 | MUDVILLE BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | JANKY LEG BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 10 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 178.8572 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180 · 7 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | 180† |
| 3 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | 180† |
| 4 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 180† |
| 5 | GETTIN' BASTED | 180† |
| 6 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | 180† |
| 7 | BULL IN THE RING | 180† |
| 8 | SWIG-N-PIG | 178.8572 |
| 9 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | 177.7144 |
| 10 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | 177.7144 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JANKY LEG BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | 179.4400 |
| 5 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | 178.8572 |
| 6 | RAZORRACKS | 178.8572 |
| 7 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Butts-N-Racks BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 178.2972 |
| 10 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 177.7144 |
18 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ
- Chicken SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS
- Chicken ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN
- Chicken CHUNKY BBQ
- Chicken HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ
- Chicken SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS
- Chicken Squealin N Dealin BBQ
- Pork Ribs SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ
- Pork Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ
- Pork MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS
- Pork FRED VEGAS SMOKERS
- Pork WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ
- Pork GETTIN' BASTED
- Pork COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ
- Pork BULL IN THE RING
- Brisket JANKY LEG BBQ
- Brisket SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ
- Brisket Phantom Smoke & BBQ
Everything else scored at the 2026 World Invitational: the Open, the Backyard invitational and the finals, each on its own board.
World Rib Finals
8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) — May 22
World Chicken Finals
8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Chicken Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) — May 22
Wells Cup
Reserve: SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS
Backyard Series Invitational
Reserve: PUDDLEDUCK BBQ
Every team on the 2026 board, 82 in all: the overall out of 720 and each meat’s place. ★ a past World Invitational champion; ◆ a first World Invitational. Click a column head to sort.
Every board, with the score charts, on the contest’s own page →
Every World Invitational on record to 2026, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ2026 · 1st 710.8344
- 2 SMOKING BUTT HEADS2020 · 1st 708.5600
- 3 RAZORRACKS2024 · 1st 708.5488
- 4 SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS2022 · 1st 708.5372
- 5 Glamping Grillers2024 · 2nd 708.5372
- 6 MAN MEAT BBQ2023 · 1st 708.5256
- 7 Phantom Smoke & BBQ2026 · 2nd 707.9772
- 8 JANKY LEG BBQ2026 · 3rd 707.4060
- 9 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2026 · 4th 707.3944
- 10 SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS2025 · 1st 707.3828
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 SMOKING BUTT HEADS2020 1
- 2 SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS2022 1
- 3 WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ2026 1
- 4 Fergolicious BBQ2021 1
- 5 RAZORRACKS2024 1
- 6 MAN MEAT BBQ2023 1
- 7 Heavy Smoke BBQ2019 1
- 8 SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS2025 1
Most Appearances
World Invitationals cooked
- 1 Heavy Smoke BBQ2019–2026 · best 1st 8
- 2 SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS2019–2026 · best 1st 8
- 3 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2019–2026 · best 2nd 8
- 4 LOCAL YOKELS BBQ2019–2026 · best 3rd 8
- 5 GETTIN' BASTED2019–2026 · best 4th 8
- 6 THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE2019–2026 · best 7th 8
- 7 JANKY LEG BBQ2020–2026 · best 2nd 7
- 8 MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ2020–2026 · best 6th 7
- 9 WOOD HOOK BBQ2019–2026 · best 23rd 7
- 10 MAN MEAT BBQ2020–2026 · best 1st 6
Closest Finishes
Points between first and second
- 1 RAZORRACKS2024, over Glamping Grillers 0.0116
- 2 Fergolicious BBQ2021, over Organizer Portal 1.0856
- 3 SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS2025, over ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 1.1428
- 4 MAN MEAT BBQ2023, over JANKY LEG BBQ 1.7028
- 5 SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS2022, over Organizer Portal 2.2740
- 6 Heavy Smoke BBQ2019, over SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2.2972
- 7 WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ2026, over Phantom Smoke & BBQ 2.8572
- 8 SMOKING BUTT HEADS2020, over IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 6.3200
Biggest Fields
Teams invited
Best First Appearances
Finish at a first invitation
- 1 SMOKING BUTT HEADS2020 · of 94 1st
- 2 SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS2022 · of 61 1st
- 3 Glamping Grillers2024 · of 81 2nd
- 4 Phantom Smoke & BBQ2026 · of 82 2nd
- 5 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2020 · of 94 2nd
- 6 TEDDY CAMP2022 · of 61 3rd
- 7 LUCKY'S Q2020 · of 94 3rd
- 8 MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ2024 · of 81 5th
- 9 THE BBQ BUS2020 · of 94 5th
- 10 Bears Backyard Q2025 · of 70 6th
Every World Invitational on record has an edition of its own. ← 2025
World Invitational editions: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019
The other invitationals: American Royal · Jack Daniel’s · every invitational on record
The season: 2026 in review · the latest edition