Canada's Largest Ribfest Is Back at Spencer Smith Park. Here's the Lineup.
Canada's Largest Ribfest runs September 4th to 7th, 2026, at Spencer Smith Park, and if the name sounds like a boast, the numbers back it up.
Mark the long weekend for meat, Burlington: Canada's Largest Ribfest runs September 4th to 7th, 2026, at Spencer Smith Park, and if the name sounds like a boast, the numbers back it up. This event broke its attendance record in 2016 with more than 183,000 people through the gates, and organizers say more than 150,000 pounds of ribs get sold over the four-day run. Sixteen Ribber Teams come in from across North America to compete every year. That's not a backyard cookout, that's an operation.
It's also a fundraiser with real receipts — close to $5 million raised for local community organizations and charities over the last 27 years, going toward causes across health, hunger, and humanity categories, from the Burlington Food Bank to Joseph Brant Hospital to the Burlington Humane Society.
Now, the part I actually care about between rib bites: the music. Here's the entertainment lineup, stage times included, so you can plan your eating around your listening (or vice versa, no judgment):
Friday, September 4 — The Raven's Pearl (1:45–3:00), Cherry Dogs (3:30–5:00), Electric Crush (5:30–7:00), The Killin' Time Band (7:30–9:00), Dirty Pioneers (9:30–11:00)
Saturday, September 5 — Spandau Café (11:30–1:00), Pulse X (1:30–3:00), Say Uncle (3:30–5:00), The Bomb (5:30–7:00), Stone The Radio (7:30–9:00), Freedom Train (9:30–11:00)
Sunday, September 6 — Bourbon & Co. (11:30–1:00), Project Phoenix (1:30–3:00), Chris Chambers (3:30–5:00), Blush (5:30–7:00), Fiddlestix (7:30–9:00), ABBA Revisited (9:30–11:00)
Monday, September 7 — Joel Guenther & The Black Bull Band (11:30–1:00), Soul Jam (1:30–3:00), Rib Judging Announcements (3:15), The Johnny Max Band (3:30–5:00), James Anthony (5:30–7:00)
If you're the type who'd rather not stand in line for ribs, drinks, or the washroom, there are VIP tickets available through the festival's own site — worth a look if patience isn't your strong suit on a holiday weekend.
Four days, sixteen teams, one very long line for ABBA Revisited on Sunday night probably. Get there hungry.
Details sourced from the official Canada's Largest Ribfest website. Confirm hours and lineup directly with organizers before heading out.
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