Best in Grass New Jersey crowns its 2026 winners on Thursday, November 12 at Starland Ballroom, 570 Jernee Mill Road in Sayreville. Doors open at 6:00 PM for red carpet arrivals and a cocktail hour, the awards show and winners' speeches start at 7:30 PM, and a DJ takes over at 8:30 PM before the night wraps at 10:00 PM. The dress code is cocktail attire or black tie.
Who produces it
Best in Grass is produced by Verita Viva Inc. The competition runs editions in several states, recruiting thousands of consumer judges in each one to find the top licensed products in that market. New Jersey is one of those editions, and November 12 is the night its results go public.
Judged by shoppers, not a panel
Instead of a small expert panel, Best in Grass hands the scorecards to everyday adult consumers. Brands submit products, and judge kits are distributed through dispensaries across the state. Judges evaluate everything anonymously at home, score each entry across set criteria and leave comments. All of that feedback goes back to the brands that entered.
Who can enter
Entries are open to state-licensed cultivators and processors, and every product must be properly tested before it goes into a judge kit.
How the season ran
New Jersey's calendar started with product submissions on August 3 and 4 at Valley Wellness in Raritan, the competition's intake partner. Judge kits launched on Saturday, August 22, and the judging deadline is Sunday, October 18. The November 12 show is where the winners are announced live.
Categories in play
The competition covers indica, sativa and hybrid flower, pre-rolls and infused pre-rolls, solvent and non-solvent concentrates, and rosin and non-rosin vape pens and cartridges. Edibles are split between gummies and non-gummies, so extraction method and format each get their own shot at a trophy instead of being lumped together.
Sponsors and partners
General Hydroponics is the presenting sponsor, with Cultivate Supply, Illicit Gardens and Brotherly Bud among the general sponsors. Green Lane Distribution is the transport partner.
The retail partner list runs across the state, including Valley Wellness, Nova Farms, Bloc Dispensary, Queen City, Unity, Shore House Canna, Northeast Alternatives, Scarlet Reserve Room, Monteverde Cannabis and The Green Initiative.
Tickets and entry
General tickets are sold through AXS and Eventbrite, with no refunds on Eventbrite orders. Any cultivator, producer or dispensary partner of Best in Grass New Jersey gets free entry. So does any judge who completed 100% of their judging by the deadline, so finish your scorecard and the show is on the house.
The night includes a live DJ, brand activations and the awards ceremony itself. Paid parking is available at the venue.
Age policy
This is a 21+ event. Bring a valid ID and plan a safe ride home from Sayreville.
More cannabis competitions
The next night, The Harvest Cup 2026 brings another cannabis cup to the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Out west, the Oregon Growers Cup 2026 closes out the year in December. Closer to home, the Lucky Leaf Expo Philadelphia 2027 is set for next August. Check the official site for last-minute changes.