The Emerald Cup
The Emerald Cup
| Status | Unconfirmed |
| Full Name | The Emerald Cup |
| 2026 Date | August 15–16, 2026 (tentative) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA (per third-party sources) |
| Organizer | The Emerald Cup |
| Website | theemeraldcup.com |
| Note | Official website compromised. Monitor social media for official announcements. |
About The Emerald Cup
The Emerald Cup is California's most prestigious cannabis competition, with deep roots in the Emerald Triangle — Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties, the historic heartland of American cannabis cultivation. What began as a small growers' competition has evolved into a major event with awards, an expo, and educational programming, historically drawing 13,000–30,000 attendees.
The Emerald Cup is distinguished by its commitment to craft cannabis and sun-grown cultivation. While other competitions focus on potency or production scale, the Emerald Cup celebrates the artisanal growers who defined California's cannabis culture.
Competition Categories
- Flower (Sun-Grown): The signature category, honoring outdoor and light-dep cultivators
- Flower (Mixed Light/Indoor): Indoor and greenhouse entries
- Concentrates: Solvent and solventless categories
- Edibles: Innovative and traditional cannabis-infused products
- Pre-Rolls: Quality, construction, and smoking experience
- CBD: Non-intoxicating products
History
The Emerald Cup was founded in 2003 as a gathering of Emerald Triangle growers. For years, it was held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds before moving to accommodate growing attendance. The competition has survived the transition from medical to recreational legalization, but recent years have brought venue changes, financial pressures, and the apparent compromise of its official website — raising questions about its future.