BBQ World Cup to Draw 100 Teams and $1M Prize to Las Vegas

Las Vegas residents and visitors will gain access to a new international culinary event in the spring. The inaugural BBQ World Cup & Expo is scheduled to take place from April 8 to 11, 2027. Approximately 100 teams will compete for a $1 million championship prize. The event will feature live entertainment and an expo on the lot behind the High Roller Observation Wheel, adjacent to the Caesars Forum Convention Center.

The event represents a major addition to the city's hospitality calendar. Tickets for the competition and expo are currently on sale at tixr.com. Organizers have confirmed the location and the participation of roughly 100 competing teams. The schedule spans four days in April.

Local dining options have also seen recent changes. Caesars Palace’s Vista Cocktail Lounge now hosts a pop-up from Barcelona’s Sips Drinkery House through the end of 2026. Sips was named The World’s Best Bar by The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2023. Founders Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez opened the venue in 2021 to promote a flavor-first approach to cocktails.

New establishments have opened in the city this month. Almond & Oat, a coffee bar operated by The Coffee Class, is now open at ShareDowntown in the Arts District. It operates daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Render Modern Kitchen, a 24-hour gastropub serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has also opened at Aliante Casino.

Future openings are planned for 2027. Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse will open at MGM Grand in early 2027. The restaurant is associated with the historic ranch in Guthrie, Texas, co-owned by Taylor Sheridan. A statement described the menu as combining time-honored ranch recipes with prime-grade beef and authentic Texas cuisine. Bang Bar by Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan’s Block 16 Urban Food Hall closed last month. It will be replaced in 2027 by a new all-day offering from Chinese Palace Group and Momofuku.