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2026 NATIONAL BARBECUE & GRILLING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

2026 NBBQA National Conference & 35th Anniversary Celebration

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Welcome to Nashville | Day 1

The National Barbecue & Grilling Association welcomes you to Music City as we kick off our 35th Anniversary Celebration. Enjoy a relaxed day of tours, food, and fellowship before the learning and competition begin.

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

BBQ Restaurant & Bourbon Tour (Add-On | Separate Ticket)

Enjoy a guided Nashville barbecue experience featuring some of the city’s most iconic stops:

  • Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

  • Jack’s Bar-B-Que

  • Peg Leg Porker – Bourbon tasting at Peg Leg Porker’s Tasting Room

Details:

  • Separate ticket required

  • Transportation provided

  • Advance registration required

  • Bus departs from and returns to the Host Hotel – Hilton Garden Inn

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

NBBQA Past Presidents’ Welcome Reception
📍 Travellers Rest Historic House & Museum
(Included with Full Conference Pass)

Reconnect with friends—both new and old—on the beautiful grounds of historic Travellers Rest. Enjoy light appetizers, refreshing drinks, and Southern hospitality as we officially open the 2026 NBBQA Celebration.

Past Presidents Attending:

  • Barbara Latimer (2021–2022)

  • Mark Lambert (2017–2018)

  • Kell Phelps (2011–2012)

  • John Bassimier (1997)

In Memoriam:

  • Howard Miller (2008)

  • Mike Mills (2006)

  • Joe Phelps (1994–1995)

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Grow the Business You Love

(Included with Full Conference Pass)

Tracks:

  • Track A – Business & Branding

  • Track B – Operations & Growth

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Track A: Show Me the Money – How to Fund Your BBQ Dream
Panel discussion exploring loans, investors, and crowdfunding.

Track B: From Kitchen to Co-Packer
Real-world steps for taking recipes to retail production.

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Networking Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM

Track A: Profit First for Pitmasters
Learn how to manage cash flow and build sustainable profit.

Track B: Save While You Smoke
Reduce costs, control waste, and track expenses.

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Networking Lunch (Meal Included)

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Pitmaster Power Hour – Roundtable Discussions

1:00 – 1:15 PM

Networking Break

1:15 – 2:15 PM

Track A: Brand Smoke – Digital Marketing That Converts
Using Canva, Meta, and AI tools.

Track B: Menu Engineering & Pricing for Profit
Price for profit without sacrificing quality.

2:15 – 2:30 PM

Networking Break

2:30 – 3:30 PM

Track A: BBQ Business Lifecycles – From First Flame to Final Sale
Panel discussion on growth, scaling, and exit strategies.

Track B: Hiring, Training & Retaining a Great Pit Crew
Build and keep a strong, motivated team.

3:30 – 3:45 PM

Networking Break

3:45 – 4:30 PM

  • Small Business Administration Session

  • Deep Dive Networking with Thursday instructors

5:00 – 9:00 PM

Awards of Excellence Dinner & Presentation

Powered by Prairie Fresh
(Meal Included with Full Conference Pass)

  • Buffet dinner served at 6:00 PM

  • Awards presentation begins at 7:00 PM

  • Evening concludes by 9:00 PM

Friday, March 27, 2026

Scaling & Marketing Smarter

(Included with Full Conference Pass)

Tracks:

  • Track A – Business & Branding

  • Track B – Operations & Growth

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Track A: Scaling Without Losing Your Smoke
Grow your brand while maintaining authenticity.

Track B: Retail Ready – Getting Your Product on Store Shelves
Step-by-step guidance for retail success.

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Networking Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM

Track A: Social Media & Sales Funnels for BBQ Brands
Turn followers into customers.

Track B: Smart Systems – Automating the Daily Grind
Using AI and automation tools.

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Meet the Masters Luncheon (Meal Included)

Hear success stories and lessons learned from industry leaders.

1:15 – 2:15 PM

Track A: Cash Out or Pass It Down
Selling or passing down your BBQ business.

Track B: Partnerships That Work
Insights from successful BBQ business partnerships.

2:30 – 3:30 PM

Track A: Reel Results – Short-Form Video & Photography
Create content using only your phone.

Track B: Problem Solver Session
Group networking and collaborative problem solving.

3:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Night of Fire Competitions

NBBQA Rhinestone Cowboy Steak Cookoff
NBBQA Rib Wrangler Rib Cookoff

Includes cooks’ meetings, turn-ins, and awards.
Celebrate as we crown the 2026 Rhinestone Cowboy Champion and Rib Wrangler Champion.

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Championship Saturday

(No Meals Served)

7:00 – 8:00 AM

Team Check-In & Setup

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

National Live Fire Invitational
Powered by Yoder Smokers

Includes People’s Choice, Pork Round, Beef Round, live demos, and tastings.

6:30 – 7:30 PM

Final Awards & Closing Toast

Celebrate the weekend’s champions and join Kell & Janet Phelps for final remarks and a farewell toast to 35 years of BBQ excellence.