Rib King NYC - Get VIP Tickets Today

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:

Petra Bartosiewicz of Babysmoker BBQ
Gavin, Jamie, and Chris Farella of Brothers Barbecue – 2025 Rib King NYC Friends of Firefighters People’s Choice Award, 2026 Brisket King NYC Champion
Jamal Bland of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Samuel Alleyne of Fire & Smoke BBQ
Vincent DeGennaro of Friends of Firefighters
Francis Maling and Kevin Morgan of Mike’s Hot Honey Team
Cenobio Canalizo of Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ
Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats BBQ – 2025 Rib King NYC Runner-Up, 2025 Brisket King NYC Champion
Fefe Anggono of Taste of Surabaya
Matt Vranic of The Dancing Pig
Jose Perez of The Meat Truck
Michael Conlon of Virgil’s Real BBQ
and more

Beyond ribs, there will be specialty bites with spirits pairings at an exclusive Jimmy’s No. 43 popup with David Navarro and PM Spirits, sides from Albert Wong of Kin’s Kitchen, Glick’s Pickles, award-winning hot sauces, and dessert from Tipsy Scoop and MuMsKitchens NYC, and more.

Rib King NYC pays homage to local NYC drinks producers with pours from Brooklyn Gin, Fort Hamilton Distillery, Upstate Vodka, Round Table Brewery, Bed-Stuy Brewing, and Indian Ladder Farms Cidery. Zero-proof options will also be available throughout the afternoon.

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 journalists, storytellers, hospitality leaders, and philanthropists.

Brimstone – Celebrated entertainer, professional wrestler, food critic, and host of The Grindhouse Radio

Kara VanDooijeweert – Award-winning food journalist for USA Today and NorthJersey.com

Kyle Marcoux – Social media content creator known as @thevulgarchef, shocking his cult-like following with outrageous recipes

Lala Ziemski – Longtime chef and food hospitality veteran, owner of The Firefly Bocas Del Toro, and host of Put It In My Mouth

Gennaro Pecchia – Co-Founder of Chefs Who Care and former SiriusXM co-host of Roland’s Food Court

Stephanie Perez – Visual storyteller and BBQ enthusiast of @yeahfoodbeer, pairing regional food with craft beer in New York and beyond

Ethan Fedida – Founder of craft harissa company Elfassy Foods and 2024 Sauce King NYC™ Grand Champion Award Winner

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

**Brimstone**
Celebrated entertainer, professional wrestler, food critic, and host of The Grindhouse Radio.

Kara VanDooijeweert
Award-winning food journalist for USA Today and NorthJersey.com.

**Kyle Marcoux**
Social media content creator known as @thevulgarchef, shocking his cult-like following with outrageous recipes.

Lala Ziemski
Longtime chef and food hospitality veteran, owner of The Firefly Bocas Del Toro, and host of Put It In My Mouth.

**Gennaro Pecchia**
Co-Founder of Chefs Who Care and former SiriusXM co-host of Roland’s Food Court.

**Stephanie Perez**
Visual storyteller and BBQ enthusiast of @yeahfoodbeer, pairing regional food with craft beer in New York and beyond.

**Ethan Fedida**
Founder of craft harissa company Elfassy Foods and 2024 Sauce King NYC™ Grand Champion Award Winner.

**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.

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.

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

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.