Looking exterior on the dreary climate, getting exterior and firing up the barbecue might be the very last thing in your thoughts. But this time of 12 months is when most huge identify barbecue manufacturers launch their latest collections – living proof: Weber not too long ago introduced its 2026 barbecue line-up, that includes good charcoal grills and meat probes.
I’ve been overlaying barbecues for a couple of years now for T3, and I’ve liked watching which pattern dominates annually. In 2024, good barbecues started to emerge, and in 2025, charcoal grills and people who smoke began to make a giant comeback.
1. The rise of the griddle
The first prediction from Weber is that griddles or ‘planchas’ will begin to turn out to be far more standard as “this style of cooking is one of the fastest growing trends.” Despite griddles being each indoor and out of doors home equipment, the previous tends to win out right here, however apparently, not for lengthy.
Griddles supply a flexible, flat-top cooking floor with edge-to-edge constant warmth and a large cooking space. As extra persons are having fun with cooking exterior than ever, with some even making full out of doors kitchens, a griddle seems to be a rational subsequent step, as they will cook dinner nearly something, from a full English breakfast and pancakes, to seafood and greens.
2. Smart related barbecues proceed to develop
(Image credit score: Weber)
Smart barbecues started to emerge a couple of years in the past, and whereas some thought it to be pointless so as to add good know-how to the sort of cooking equipment, the pattern has most actually caught on – and Weber thinks it would proceed to take action this 12 months. The most important pressure behind that is folks wish to cook dinner tasty meals with minimal effort which is the place barbecue apps come into play.
As Pierre-Yves Gibut, Weber Brand Activation Manager (France & UK) states, “smart grilling is a game-changer for outdoor cooking.” With apps like Weber Connect, customers can verify in on their meals’s progress, monitor temperature and obtain alerts with out having to hover across the grill. This form of distant management can be extra accessible for each barbecue newcomers and grill masters, so everybody can take pleasure in out of doors cooking.
3. Premium sturdy designs
According to Weber, barbecue possession has elevated to 40% over the previous few years. As this enthusiasm continues to develop, extra persons are searching for premium, sturdy fashions for all-year-round use, relatively than simply seasonal or low-cost, disposable fashions.