Six years in, the NuWu Cannabis Cup is returning to Downtown Las Vegas with one question left to answer: which products will consumers crown the best of 2026?

On Saturday, October 17, weeks of blind judging will come to an end as the 6th Annual NuWu Cannabis Cup Awards Ceremony & Variety Show takes over the NuWu Courtyard. This year’s event brings the competition to life with participating cannabis brands, DJs, burlesque performances, food, art, contests, games, raffles, and the live announcement of the products that earned the highest scores from NuWu Cup judges.

Held at NuWu Cannabis Marketplace on sovereign Las Vegas Paiute Tribal Land, the event takes place inside the NuWu Courtyard—Nevada’s largest fully licensed outdoor cannabis consumption space. That setting has allowed the Cup to become something different from a traditional industry awards show: a Las Vegas cannabis festival built around the people who actually consume the products.

The Consumers Decide Who Takes Home the NuWu Cup

Brand recognition can carry a lot of weight in cannabis. At the NuWu Cannabis Cup, it’s intentionally taken out of the equation. Every competition entry is 100% blind-judged by consumers, allowing judges to focus on the product in front of them rather than the name on the package. Products compete across Flower, Concentrates, Vapes, Edibles, and Infused Pre-Rolls, with judges considering qualities including appearance, aroma, flavor, effects, and overall experience.

That process has helped put brands including CAMP, Tsunami, Fleur, Wyld, and STIIIZY in the NuWu Cup winner’s circle in previous years. For 2026, another field of cannabis products is now working its way through the same consumer-driven judging process.

Official judges have until October 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM to submit their final scores. A limited number of Category Kits are also available for this year’s competition, presented in custom NC26 utility sling bags and built around individual competition categories. Once judging closes and the scores are counted, the focus shifts from evaluating the products to celebrating the winners.

Nevada Cannabis Brands Meet Their Consumers at the Cup

The competition brings a broad mix of cultivators, extract producers, vape brands, edible makers, and infused-product companies into the same field.

Flower & Concentrates: STIIIZY, AMA, Fleur, Neon Moon, High Heads, CAMP, THC Designs, Srene, Rare Headstash, Tsunami, Buddies, All Day, Mojo, Bad Batch, GB Sciences, Fuze, and Buzz.
Vapes & Extracts: Rove, Packs, Range, Sauce, Indo, Plugplay, Select, Dabbar, Terpwoods, Dime, Rythm, Claybourne, and Trichome.
Edibles & Infused Products: Wyld, Good Tide, Evergreen, Kiva, Kanha, Incredibles, Keef, Slactavis, Presidential, Redwood, Caviar Gold, Doinks, The Clear, and Karma.

Participating competitors will have on-site pop-up booths throughout the festival, giving guests a chance to meet the people behind the products, explore brand activations, learn more about what they’re making, sample where available and permitted, and shop participating products at NuWu. It brings both sides of the Cup together: the competition judges products without the influence of branding, while the festival gives the people behind those brands an opportunity to meet the community face-to-face.

From Cannabis Competition to Variety Show

The awards are the reason everyone comes together, but they aren’t the only reason to stay. Returning main stage host Tom Nieves will guide this year’s Awards Ceremony & Variety Show as results, performances, music, and contests unfold throughout the day.

We have several return features scheduled like rapper/bucket drummer Red, local Rapper Pennwood Dough, and Burlesque performer Maude Zoleum join the variety show lineup, while CoCo Jenkins, OG Serg, Kameo, and Bucketz rotate through DJ sets that keep the courtyard moving between performances and award reveals.

Beyond the main stage, guests can move through a Puff & Paint hosted by Paint Puff Educate, test their skills in the Live Joint Rolling Contest, compete for cash prizes in the Costume Contest, join OG Tokin Triva host Kevin Biegel for a “NuWu History” round of Tokin Trivia, or jump into courtyard games like corn hole and ring toss that earn you raffles tickets.

Live Music Brings the Courtyard to Life

The NuWu Cup isn’t just about finding out which products take home the trophies—it’s an all-day festival experience with a soundtrack to match. Throughout the event, guests can catch live performances from Mojo Reggae, Roots Riddim Kollective, and California-based Sublime tribute act Garden Grove, bringing a mix of reggae, rock, and SoCal vibes to the NuWu Courtyard. Best of all, all live performances are included with General Admission, so guests can enjoy the full lineup without purchasing an additional concert ticket.

A Different Kind of Legal Cannabis Experience in Downtown Las Vegas

For visitors searching for things to do in Las Vegas beyond the Strip, the setting is a major part of what makes the NuWu Cup different. The festival takes place on sovereign Las Vegas Paiute Tribal Land, where NuWu has built a destination centered around legal adult-use cannabis, community events, and social consumption. The NuWu Courtyard provides an open-air environment where adults 21 and older can experience the festival in a space specifically designed for cannabis consumption.

A full day in the courtyard also means making room for the munchies. Mr. Big Stuff joins the NuWu Cup as the official food truck partner, while Señor Barriga brings Mexican street food into the mix and Spoon Me Cheesecake covers dessert. Grab something to eat, head back through the Vendor Village, catch the next DJ, and see where the day takes you.

General Admission Comes With 8 Pre-Rolls

At just $30, General Admission comes with more than access to the festival. Every GA ticket includes 8 pre-rolls, featuring one strain from each competition flower entry, giving attendees a chance to experience the products competing for this year’s NuWu Cup. With only 150 General Admission tickets available, this is a limited opportunity to experience the event, catch the live performances, explore the Vendor Village, enjoy the food and activities, and walk away with eight pre-rolls—all included with admission. Once the 150 GA tickets are gone, they’re gone.

See the 2026 NuWu Cannabis Cup Winners Crowned Live

By October 17, the entries will have been sampled, the scores submitted, and brand recognition removed from the judging process. What remains is the part everyone has been waiting for: finding out which products actually won.

General Admission is $30 and includes full festival access, one raffle ticket, and 8 pre-rolls featuring one strain from each competition flower entry.

Event Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Schedule: Doors Open @ 12:00 PM | Event Starts @ 1:00 PM
Address: NuWu Courtyard, 1235 Paiute Circle, Las Vegas, NV 89106
Age Limit: 21+ with valid government-issued ID
Questions? Email contact@nuwu.vegas or call (702) 844-2707

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NuWu Cannabis Cup 2026: Las Vegas Cannabis Festival Returns to the NuWu Courtyard