BBQ / BBQ Judging Opportunities

Barbecue Judging Opportunities

Application Process

Judges application MUST be filled out online – no email or phone entries will be accepted. You may judge more than one contest. Only one form needs to be completed to judge for the World Series of Barbecue. You will be asked on the form which contest(s) you are applying to participate in. Select all that you are interested in judging.

Notes about Judging

  • Judges are encouraged to sign up to judge more than one event (with the exception of Open Sides and Kids Que due to timing).
  • Filling out an application does not guarantee you a spot judging or as a table captain.
  • Please only fill out one application per person
  • Please DO NOT share an email address with another judge. It is requested that each judge has their own email address.
  • Questions? Email the BBQ Team [email protected].

  • OPEN MEAT JUDGING

    Open Meats Application will be posted April 1, 2021

    Judges are selected on a first come – first serve basis.

    Judging is complimentary, but a small donation of $20 is appreciated and goes back to support the American Royal mission.

    Signing up for both a table captain and a judge is not recommended. Those who sign up as both will be placed as either a table captain or judge at the discretion of the American Royal based on need. Signing up for both table captain and judge does not increase your chances of being selected or guarantee a seat.

     

  • OPEN SIDE JUDGING

    Open Sides Application will be posted April 1, 2021

    Judges are selected on a first come – first serve basis.

    Judging is complimentary, but a small donation of $20 is appreciated and goes back to support the American Royal mission.

    Judges may not judge Open Sides and Kids Que due to timing. If a judge signs up for both, they will be placed at one of the events based on the American Royal’s discretion.

    Signing up for both a table captain and a judge is not recommended. Those who sign up as both will be placed as either a table captain or judge at the discretion of the American Royal based on need. Signing up for both table captain and judge does not increase your chances of being selected or guarantee a seat.

  • KIDS QUE JUDGING

    Kids Que Judging Application will be posted April 1, 2021.

    Judges will be tasting both divisions of the competition (hamburger and steak).

    Judges may not judge Open Sides and Kids Que due to timing. If a judge signs up for both, they will be placed at one of the events based on the American Royal's discretion.

     

  • BACKYARD BBQ & STEAK COOK-OFF JUDGING

    The Backyard BBQ & Steak Contest judging will occur on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the American Royal Complex.

    Judges are selected on a first come – first serve basis. The link below is an application only – selected judges will be notified in February/March.

    Judging is complimentary, but a small donation of $20 is appreciated and goes back to support the American Royal mission.

    BACKYARD BBQ & STEAK JUDGING APPLICATION

  • SAUCE & RUB JUDGING

    The Rub Contest judging will occur on Sunday, May 2, 2021 and the Sauce Contest judging will take place on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.

    If you are interested in judging the BBQ Sauce and/or BBQ Rub Contest, please apply online via the links below. You must apply per contest if interested.

    RUB CONTEST JUDGING APPLICATION

    SAUCE CONTEST JUDGING APPLICATION

     

  • BBQ JUDGING CLASSES

    Certified Barbecue Judge Class

    Tuesday, May 11, 2021

    Class will be held in the evening at the American Royal Complex

     

    Certified Table Captain Class

    Wednesday,  May 12, 2021

    Class will be held in the evening at the American Royal Complex

    CLASS DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Invitational Contest Judging Information

The process to become an Invitational Judge is as follows:

Invitational judges from the year prior (2019) are given first right of refusal to sign up to judge. If additional judging spaces become available, Open judges that have signed up will be selected at random* and asked to judge the Invitational. Invitational judges from 2019 will receive an email with an invitation to apply in May.  If you believe you should be receiving an invite and have not received the email by the end of May, please contact [email protected] with your name and a copy of your signed KCBS invitational judging papers from 2019.

All Invitational judges must be a Certified Barbecue Judge in good standing at the time of the event. Each judge and table captain will be verified with KCBS to confirm good standing.

If you are not a current CBJ or not in good standing, please take the CBJ courses offered by the American Royal in May or in September at the event.

All barbecue judging is complementary, but a small donation of $20 is appreciated and goes back to support the American Royal mission.

*Random judges selected are only those who are current Certified Barbecue Judges in good standing.