# Inaugural Wood-Fired Grills The Weber Santa Maria Grill Was at the Open Fire World Championship By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-05-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weber-santa-maria-grill References: [businesswire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260513517036/en/Weber-Unveils-Its-First-Santa-Maria-Style-Live-Fire-Grill-at-Memphis-in-May-During-Inaugural-Open-Fire-World-Championship) & [weber](http://weber.com)  The [Weber Santa Maria Grill](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weber) was introduced by the brand at the Open Fire World Championship at Memphis as its first-ever live-fire grill that's expected to catch the attention of avid outdoor chefs. The grill features an adjustable grate that will move thanks to a wheel and cable pulley system that goes from two-inches to 27-inches for maximum temperature control. The [wood or charcoal-fired brasero](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thaan-grill) has a [sear grate for controlled, consistent searing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-huntsman-kettle-kamado) while the multi-zone cook system has a firebrick cookbox and a vented tailgate to deliver even heat with ample flavor. The unit has a heavy-duty design with a durable stainless steel frame and cooking grates. The Weber Santa Maria Grill will arrive in early 2027 for consumer purchase starting at $899 and will come backed by a five-year limited warranty. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 9.3/10 - Popularity: 100% | Activity: 100% | Freshness: 78% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Adjustable-grate Precision Cooking:** An integrated wheel-and-cable adjustable grate system enables fine-grained temperature control across cooking zones, creating scope for precision-focused grilling technologies. - **Live-fire Outdoor Culinary Experiences:** Experiential open-fire events and products are elevating outdoor cooking into a culinary spectacle that blends tradition with modern design aesthetics. - **Durable Premium Outdoor Appliances:** Heavy-duty stainless-steel construction combined with multi-zone engineering signals a market shift toward long-lasting, high-performance premium grills. ### Who This Affects Most - **Outdoor Cooking Equipment:** Product developers in this sector could leverage advanced materials and mechanical control systems to differentiate high-end grills and accessories. - **Hospitality and Competitive Culinary Events:** Event organizers and venues are positioned to capitalize on branded live-fire demonstrations that enhance guest engagement and sponsorship models. - **Consumer Home Goods and Warranties:** Extended warranty offerings paired with robust build quality are reshaping consumer expectations around reliability and after-sales service for premium appliances. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multifunctional Grill Appliances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multi-use-grill.md) - [Modular Outdoor Cooking Appliances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cuisinart-3in1-bbq-grill-and-pizza-oven.md) - [Modern Charcoal Fire Ovens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fire-oven.md) - [Electric Outdoor Grills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-outdoor-grill.md) - [Connected Backyard Charcoal Grills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-charcoal-grill.md) - [Battery-Powered Portable Grill Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nexgrill.md) - [Smart Pellet-Powered Grills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/traeger-westwood.md) - [Performance-Driven Outdoor Grill Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/american-outdoor-grill.md) - [Advanced Gas Grill Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monument-grills1.md)