When you see an official BBQ competition in the USA—or almost anywhere else in the world—there’s a 9 in 10 chance it’s sanctioned under KCBS rules.
But what is the KCBS?
THE KANSAS CITY BARBEQUE SOCIETY (KCBS), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating barbecue, is the world’s largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts, with over 20,000 members worldwide. KCBS sanctions more than 500 barbecue contests across the globe.
From volunteering to organizing events, members also support civic and charitable organizations that host competitions. KCBS serves as a central hub for sharing barbecue-related information, including:
- Networking with related professional associations and other sanctioning bodies (SCA, NBBQA, etc.)
- Monitoring trends in barbecue-related products and equipment
- Partnering with other organizations and the media to promote barbecue
With an extensive archive of barbecue-related articles, KCBS offers educational programs, consulting services, and presentations for civic organizations to help promote barbecue as America's favorite cuisine.
Chef Rohan and the KCBS
I’ve been a KCBS member for about 15 years. I canceled my subscription back in 2017 because I didn’t have time to stay involved, but I eventually came back to it.
I’m now planning to enter competitions again. And if I took the KCBS judge certification exam, it’s not just to be able to judge contests anywhere in the world—
it’s also because I want to share everything I’ve learned with my members.
I’m not talking about competition rules, but about how we should prepare our meats to get closer and closer to the holy grail of real American BBQ.
Discussion