7 January 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 2026 Houston Barbecue Festival Returns for Its 13th Year, Showcasing the Full Spectrum of Houston Barbecue
2026 Festival Info:
https://houbbq.com/festivals/hou-2026/
Photos for media use:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/houstonfoodie/albums/72177720325803486
Video for media use:
https://youtu.be/eUU3ugEKsRE?si=wAu7SbzUMCBgqv1Y
Overview of previous festivals:
https://houbbq.com/festivals/
Tickets:
https://houbbq2026.eventbrite.com
When/where: Sunday, 12 April 2026, 1-4pm at the Humble Civic Center Arena Complex, 8233 Will Clayton Pkwy, Humble, TX 77338. VIP entry at 12pm.
Houston, TX – The Houston Barbecue Festival returns on Sunday, April 12, 2026, for its 13th year, celebrating everything that makes Houston barbecue unique in the world of Texas smoked meat traditions.
With its sheer number of barbecue joints and an unmatched diversity of styles, the greater Houston area has quietly become one of America’s great barbecue cities. The Houston Barbecue Festival is the only event that brings together the full spectrum of that scene – legendary institutions, neighborhood favorites, and the city’s most exciting rising stars – all in one place, at one time, for one price.
The festival is presented by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan.
A Star-Studded Barbecue Affair
Fan favorites return in 2026 alongside several new and up-and-coming barbecue joints making their festival debut. From established Houston institutions like Blood Bros BBQ, Ray’s BBQ Shack, and Roegels Barbecue Co. to newer standouts such as Eastbound Barbecue, Weaver’s BBQ, and Space City BBQ, the festival offers a rare opportunity to taste the past, present, and future of Houston barbecue in a single afternoon.
“Houston continues to push barbecue forward while honoring its roots,” said festival co-founder J.C. Reid. “The Houston Barbecue Festival is the only event in the greater Houston area where Houstonians can taste the full menu of our city’s barbecue and actually talk to the pitmasters who cook it, one bite and one conversation at a time.”
Houston continues to produce some of the most creative and ambitious barbecue in the country, and the festival remains committed to introducing these new talents not only to local diners, but also to visitors who travel from across the United States—and around the world – to experience Houston barbecue firsthand.
2026 Festival Lineup
This year’s festival will feature a star-studded roster of legendary and up-and-coming pitmasters. Attendees can look forward to sampling from an all-star lineup, including:
1701 Barbecue, Bar-A-BBQ, Blood Bros BBQ, Daddy Duncan’s BBQ, Eastbound Barbecue, Fire Craft BBQ, Harlem Rd Texas BBQ, Henderson & Kane, Hongdae 33 KBBQ, J-Bar-M Barbecue, La Cruda Brand BBQ, Pinkerton’s Barbecue, Ray’s BBQ Shack, Redbird BBQ, Roegels Barbecue Co., Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q, Southern Q BBQ, Space City BBQ, Tejas Chocolate & BBQ, The Pit Room, Tin Roof BBQ, Truth Barbeque, and Weaver’s BBQ.
Additional barbecue joints will be announced leading up to the event.
Get Tickets Before They’re Gone!
To ensure a quality experience, ticket sales are limited, and all tickets must be purchased online in advance – no sales at the gate. Given the festival’s history of selling out before the event, guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.
Tickets are on sale now at https://houbbq2026.eventbrite.com.
Pre-sale discounts are available for a limited time:
- General Admission: $65 (Regular Price: $80)
- VIP Admission: $125 (Regular Price: $150)
- Includes one drink ticket, festival T-shirt, and early entry at 12PM, one hour before general admission.
All tickets include entry into the festival and unlimited sample portions from each participating barbecue joint. A bar featuring craft and national beers will be available for purchase throughout the event.
Festival Partners
The 2026 Houston Barbecue Festival is presented by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, and proudly supported by Saint Arnold Brewing Company, and Aegis Insurance.
Join us for an epic day of smoked meats, incredible flavors, and the best of Texas barbecue. Don’t miss your chance to taste history in the making!
Media contacts:
J.C. Reid
Michael Fulmer
[email protected]
houbbq.com
832.454.6106
twitter/instagram/tiktok: @houbbq
www.facebook.com/HoustonBarbecueFestival
About the Houston Barbecue Festival: J.C. Reid and Michael Fulmer launched the first Houston Barbecue Festival in 2013 to celebrate and promote the talent and hard work of family-owned Houston and Texas barbecue restaurants. 2026 will mark the 13th year of the festival in which a focus on guest and vendor experience has established it as one of the premier barbecue festivals in the country. J.C. Reid is the barbecue columnist for the Houston Chronicle.
About Goodstock by Nolan Ryan: Founded by Baseball Hall of Famer and cattle rancher Nolan Ryan, Goodstock has built its reputation on delivering consistently tender, flavorful beef that meets the exacting standards of acclaimed chefs and operators. Goodstock supplies premium USDA Choice and Prime beef to over 400 restaurants throughout the southern and midwestern United States, as well as large-scale operations like Princess Cruise Lines.
With over 50 years of ranching expertise, Ryan established Goodstock on a foundation of quality sourcing and exceptional service. Today, the company is trusted by restaurants and foodservice operations that demand reliability and excellence in every cut.
For more information, visit www.goodstockbynolanryan.com, email [email protected], or follow @goodstockbeef on Facebook and Instagram