The Harvest Cup brings New England's cannabis competition and expo to the DCU Center in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, 2026. This year the event moves to a Friday and Saturday format, pairing the judged cup with a vendor floor, artists, live podcasts and the reveal of every category winner. Entry is 21 and over.
Hours for both days
Friday runs noon to 6:00 PM, and Saturday opens earlier, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Friday's shorter afternoon window suits a focused walk of the floor, while Saturday gives you two extra hours with the vendors and the winners' board. Guests enter through Door 1 or Door 2 of the convention center.
Thirteen categories, judged separately
The 2026 competition splits the field into 13 categories: flower, solvent concentrates, solventless concentrates, vapes, standard prerolls, infused prerolls, topicals, sweet edibles, sugar confections, savory edibles, beverages, syrups, sauces and condiments, and tinctures and oral sprays. Flower gets broken down further by terpene profile, based on The Harvest Cup's own lab results.
That level of detail is the point. Splitting solvent from solventless and sweet edibles from savory means a win describes a specific craft, not a general popularity vote, which keeps the results useful at the dispensary counter long after the weekend. The competitor entry window ran September 4–13.
Art and glass galleries on the floor
Two new additions shape this year's show. Malcolm MacKinnon, known to High Times readers as Dan Sky, anchors an art gallery, and a separate glass gallery brings in glass blowers. Add the vendor booths and live podcasts, and there is plenty to work through beyond the awards.
Who runs the cup
Founder and director of operations Jeremy Borjeson came up with the idea after attending the Emerald Cup at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California, and set out to build a competition of his own for New England. The Harvest Cup has run since 2017, calls itself New England's premier cannabis competition, and has made room for nonprofits at the event in past years.
Getting to the DCU Center
The DCU Center sits at 50 Foster Street in downtown Worcester, less than a quarter mile from Union Station on the MBTA commuter rail, so the train from Boston is a real option. Parking and directions are posted on the DCU Center website.
Where to stay
Contact the Hilton Garden Inn at 35 Major Taylor Boulevard about current event rates and its October booking deadline. The published October 13 cutoff for the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Auburn has passed, so confirm current rates and availability directly with the hotel. The organizer's venue and lodging page has hotel contact details.
The Courtyard Marriott on Grove Street and the AC Hotel by Marriott on Front Street are also close to the venue, though neither offers an event discount.
Tickets and entry
Tickets run through Ticketmaster via the link on The Harvest Cup's site. You will need valid ID showing you are 21 or older at the door. Check the official site for last-minute changes before you head out.
More Massachusetts dates
The TeeHC Open in nearby Uxbridge was scheduled for October 1, and Blank Rome's State of the Cannabis Industry Conference for October 26. Both dates have passed. Looking ahead, the NECANN Boston Cannabis Convention returns to the Hynes Convention Center April 9–10, 2027.