Rib King NYC™ 2026 Tickets

We’re kicking off the summer of 2026 with our biggest Rib King NYC yet! Join us for Rib King NYC on May 23, 2026, at Industry City’s Courtyard 1/2, 635 2nd Avenue in Brooklyn.

Rib King NYC is presented by Food Karma Projects and NYC BBQ. The all-inclusive fest features 20+ chefs, restaurants, and BBQ experts smoking, saucing, grilling, and glazing their very best ribs, all vying for the 2026 Rib King crown. And we don’t stop at just the ribs. At Rib King NYC, you’ll also find even more standout bites, award-winning hot sauces, desserts, plus spirits, wine, hard cider, craft beer, and more.

We’re proud to feature Friends of Firefighters as the 2026 Rib King NYC community partner. Friends of Firefighters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides independent, confidential, and free mental health counseling and wellness services to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their family members.

The Rib King NYC Lineup

Rib King NYC features ribs from some of New York’s most creative chefs and restaurants. As we finalize the roster for 2026, take a peek at 2025’s Rib King NYC chefs and restaurants for an idea of what to expect:

  • Vincent Mangual of Empire BBQ – 2025 Rib King NYC™ Champion
  • Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats with Achilles Heat –2025 Rib King NYC™ Runner-Up, 2025 Brisket King® NYC Champion
  • Gavin, Jamie, and Chris Farella of Brothers BBQ – 2025 Rib King NYC™ Friends of Firefighters People’s Choice Award
  • Oak Marprasert of KAM RAI THAI – 2025 Pig Island NYC™ Best in Show
  • Darlene Lawrence of Sands Jerk Hut
  • Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
  • Cenobio Canalizo of Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ
  • Fefe Anggono of Taste of Surabaya
  • Jose Perez of Archie Moore’s and The Meat Truck
  • Samuel Alleyne of Fire + Smoke BBQ and Big Bob Gibson’s Memphis in May Team
  • Mike’s Hot Honey Team
  • Francis Maling of Bad For Business Popups
  • and more


Stay tuned for the full lineup announcement coming soon. For the latest information and sneak peeks, follow along on social media @ribkingnyc.

The Rib King NYC Judges

This year’s Rib King NYC Judges Panel brings together some of the most discerning and decisive palates in the industry, from professional chefs to storytellers, hospitality leaders, and philanthropists.

Brimstone – Celebrated entertainer, professional wrestler, food critic, and host of The Grindhouse Radio
Kyle Marcoux – Social media content creator known as @thevulgarchef, shocking his cult-like following with outrageous recipes.
Stephanie Perez – Visual storyteller and BBQ enthusiast of @yeahfoodbeer, pairing regional food with craft beer in New York and beyond
Anthony Ramirez II – A leader in New York’s hospitality scene and co-founder of Mainland Media, From The Bronx, and The Bronx Beer Hall.
Paul Ramirez – At the forefront of The Bronx’s vibrant, community-centered experiences and co-founder of Mainland Media, From The Bronx, and The Bronx Beer Hall.
Lala Ziemski – Longtime chef and food hospitality veteran, owner of The Firefly Bocas Del Toro, and host of Put It In My Mouth.
Ethan Fedida – Founder of craft harissa company Elfassy Foods and 2024 Sauce King NYC™ Grand Champion Award Winner
Gennaro Pecchia – Co-Founder of Chefs Who Care and former SiriusXM co-host of Roland’s Food Court
Michele Traina – Dynamic comedian and actor known for turning personal pain into punchlines, creator of hit one-woman show Divorce Diaries.
Adam Poch – All-season outdoor cooking devotee who turned his passion for grilling and smoking into a decade-long role as a respected New York food judge
Deepak Ballaney – Chef and founder of International Wings Factory in NYC and a Culinary Institute of America graduate with nearly three decades of hospitality experience and a passion for bold global flavors.
Brimstone
Celebrated entertainer, professional wrestler, food critic, and host of The Grindhouse Radio.
Kyle Marcoux
Social media content creator known as @thevulgarchef, shocking his cult-like following with outrageous recipes.
Stephanie Perez
Visual storyteller and BBQ enthusiast of @yeahfoodbeer, pairing regional food with craft beer in New York and beyond.
Anthony Ramirez II
A leader in New York’s hospitality scene and co-founder of Mainland Media, From The Bronx, and The Bronx Beer Hall.
Paul Ramirez
At the forefront of The Bronx’s vibrant, community-centered experiences and co-founder of Mainland Media, From The Bronx, and The Bronx Beer Hall.
Lala Ziemski
Longtime chef and food hospitality veteran, owner of The Firefly Bocas Del Toro, and host of Put It In My Mouth.
Ethan Fedida
Founder of craft harissa company Elfassy Foods and 2024 Sauce King NYC™ Grand Champion Award Winner.
Gennaro Pecchia
Co-Founder of Chefs Who Care and former SiriusXM co-host of Roland’s Food Court.
Michele Traina
Dynamic comedian and actor known for turning personal pain into punchlines, creator of hit one-woman show Divorce Diaries.
Adam Poch
All-season outdoor cooking devotee who turned his passion for grilling and smoking into a decade-long role as a respected New York food judge.
Deepak Ballaney
Chef and founder of International Wings Factory in NYC and a Culinary Institute of America graduate with nearly three decades of hospitality experience and a passion for bold global flavors.

Rib King NYC Tickets

Every Rib King NYC ticket is all-inclusive with all-access to food and drinks until 4:00 PM, but VIP Tickets give you even more! VIP ticket holders get early admission at noon for the Rib King NYC VIP Hour with first bite and sips, the chance to mix and mingle with chefs, and exclusive Rib King NYC swag. Whether you’re coming as a VIP, bringing a friend, or flying solo with General Admission, we’ve got tickets that work for you.

Noon Entry – VIP Admission
$75 + fee

Features early admission at noon with access to Rib King NYC VIP Hour, all-inclusive food and drinks, mixing and mingling with the chefs, and a Rib King NYC T-shirt.

Noon Entry – VIP Table for 10
$750

Grab your favorite people and make it a party! Get 10 VIP Tickets with reserved seating. VIP Tickets feature early admission at noon with access to Rib King NYC VIP Hour, all-inclusive food and drinks, mixing and mingling with the chefs, and a Rib King NYC T-shirt.

1:00 PM Entry – Kick-Off Pricing General Admission
$45 + fee

Special pricing for a limited time. Features all-inclusive access to food and drinks at 1:00 PM.

1:00 PM Entry – General Admission
$50 + fee

Features all-inclusive access to food and drinks at 1:00 PM.

For the latest information and sneak peeks, follow along on social media @ribkingnyc.

Rib King NYC is a 21+, rain-or-shine event. The lineup and offerings are subject to change without notice, and all sales are final.

How to Get to Rib King NYC

Rib King NYC is at Industry City’s Courtyard 1/2, 635 2nd Ave., Brooklyn, 11232.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

 NYC Local Media Partner

Photo Consent: By attending this event, you give consent for any films, videos, or photographs that may be taken of you to be used by Rib King NYC™, or any of its participating agencies and partners, in any educational, publicity and/or advertising programs which may be undertaken by these organizations in the conduct of their legally incorporated purposes. You release Rib King NYC™ and any consultants, producers, from any liability in connection with the use of such materials.

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