It’s a Stockyards takeover. On Sunday, April 18, the Syndicate Smokedown barbecue competition and country music festival will return for its fifth year, filling the historic Fort Worth Stockyards with some of the country’s finest barbecue, country music hitmakers, and more than $20,000 prize money, all benefitting Texas students.
A star-studded lineup of pitmasters will fill the air with the rich, smoky aroma of perfectly rendered brisket during BBQ Time, Syndicate Smokedown’s all-you-can-eat tasting event and North Texas barbecue showcase. The experience will feature 24 pitmasters, including two-time Michelin Guide-recognized Panther City BBQ.
“For our fifth anniversary, we wanted BBQ Time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the music lineup, meaning it has to be big, bold, and unmistakably Texas,” says Andy Eldridge, festival director of the Syndicate Smokedown.
Joining Panther City BBQ in showcasing Texas’ best is Texas Monthly 2025 Top 50 pick Bar-A-BBQ; Aledo’s Dayne’s Craft Barbecue; Lubbock’s Jimenez y Friends BBQ; Addison’s Lane’s Oak’d BBQ; legacy pitmaster the Original Roy Hutchins BBQ; and famed Terry Black’s BBQ. Florida’s Blueline Q and Montana’s 406 BBQ will also join the pack.
“One of the greatest things about barbecue is the tradition behind it—the pits we use, the seasoning we choose, the cuts of meat we respect, and the lessons passed down from those who taught us the craft,” says Blueline Q owner Matthew Davis. “What makes it even more special is that you can be hundreds of miles away and still honor those traditions. At Blueline Q, we’re proud to be serving authentic Texas-style barbecue all the way from the Sunshine State of Florida.”
The festival is organized by the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, a nonprofit that dates back to the 1980s. At the heart of the event is a mission to support young Texans. One hundred percent of net proceeds from the event benefit the Jim Bob Norman Scholarship Fund, named in honor of the late chairman of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, James M. Norman. To date, the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate has donated more than $100 million. Smokedown Syndicate benefits children involved in Texas FFA and Texas 4-H, two of the state’s largest agriculture-based youth organizations.
Once the meat sweats set in at this year’s Syndicate Smokedown, head to the stage and get ready to two-step. The festival features its biggest lineup yet, with Texas’ own Whiskey Myers, known for its appearance in Yellowstone, headlining alongside Texas Red Dirt legends Randy Rogers Band.
Nashville’s Amanda Shires, Oklahoma’s Jason Scott and the High Heat, Ellis Bullard, The Broken Spokes, and Weldon Henson will kick off the celebration.
For backyard pitmasters, more than $20,000 is up for grabs at Syndicate Smokedown. The spring smokedown hosts one of the largest IBCA State Championship-sanctioned barbecue competitions in Texas, and this year it is making history. The 2026 competition expands to include more than 100 pitmasters and backyard teams, along with the largest competition footprint yet. Registration begins at $350. To sweeten the pot, 10% of registration fees will be added to the prize purse.
“I am proud of this stellar group of pitmasters, who represent some of the best of North Texas’ BBQ scene today, from legacy Fort Worth names to those earning national recognition, all coming together in the Stockyards to support Texas youth in agriculture,” Eldridge says.
Music, BBQ Time, and VIP tickets are on sale now.
