Who Won the 2026 Nugget Rib Cook Off?

Updated

Chicago BBQ took first place at the 2026 Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off, with Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ in second and Porky Chicks in third. The full top five, plus the specialty awards, are listed below. Winners were announced Monday, September 2 at 2pm on the Plaza Stage, and the competing pitmasters were chasing a total prize pool of $19,000 in cash.

2026 Top Five Rib Cookers

Place Rib Cooker
1st Chicago BBQ
2nd Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ
3rd Porky Chicks
4th Git-R-Smoked
5th Men Wielding Fire

Specialty Awards

Beyond the overall rankings, the 2026 event handed out three additional honors:

  • Best Sauce: Big Daddy's Sin City BBQ
  • People's Choice: Back Forty Texas BBQ
  • Hometown Voices Award: Big Show BBQ

The Hometown Voices Award is a newer category judged by a panel of local radio DJs, TV broadcast hosts, and digital creators.

What the Win Means

The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off is widely regarded as the most prestigious rib cook-off in the country, so a first-place finish carries real bragging rights on top of the cash. The $19,000 prize pool is split among the cookers who impress the judges, and the results are announced on the final Monday of the event.

Key Details at a Glance

  • Announcement time: Monday, September 2 at 2pm, Plaza Stage
  • Total cash prize pool: $19,000
  • Event dates: Wednesday, September 2 – Monday, September 7, 2026
  • Location: Victorian Square, Sparks, Nevada (Victorian Avenue between 14th Street and Pyramid Way)
  • Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 10:30am–10:00pm; Monday 10:30am–5:00pm

If you want to see the full roster of competing cookers rather than just the winners, the event site maintains a complete "Check all Rib Cookers" list alongside the results.