Table of Contents
- What Weber Announced
- How the Grill Works
- Pricing and Availability
- The Memphis in May Debut
- Why This Matters
- Conclusion
- Sources
What Weber Announced
Weber, the company credited with popularizing the backyard kettle grill nearly 75 years ago, is entering the live-fire segment for the first time with a Santa Maria-style cooker. Santa Maria grilling is a California tradition built around cooking over wood or charcoal with an adjustable grate — raising and lowering food over the flame is the primary temperature control mechanism.
The new grill is a departure from Weber's gas and charcoal product lines, which rely on vents, dampers, or burner knobs. This design is intentionally analog: a manual wheel-and-cable pulley moves the cooking grate between 2 and 27 inches above the fire.
How the Grill Works
The grill is built around a firebrick cookbox with a vented tailgate for airflow management. It includes:
- Adjustable grate — manual wheel-and-cable pulley, moves 2 to 27 inches above the fire
- Wood or charcoal brasero — the fire box, paired with a dedicated sear grate for direct high-heat cooking
- Multi-zone cooking — firebrick construction retains heat; vented tailgate controls air and smoke
- 750+ square inches of cooking surface across both size configurations
- Heavy-duty stainless steel frame and grates
The multi-zone setup allows cooks to sear, roast, and slow-cook during a single session — a capability that usually requires multiple pieces of equipment.
Pricing and Availability
Weber will offer the Santa Maria grill in two sizes when it launches in early 2027:
| Model | Expected Retail |
|---|---|
| Base | ~$899 |
| Premium | ~$1,299 |
Both models include a 5-year limited warranty. Exact launch dates and final pricing have not been confirmed as of this writing.
The Memphis in May Debut
Weber chose the inaugural Open Fire World Championship — part of the Memphis in May festival — as the launch venue. Weber Head Grill Master Dustin Green led a company team competing against professional open-fire cooking crews from around the world at the event.
Weber described live-fire cooking as "about more than just heat — it's about control, creativity, and the experience of cooking over flame." The event gave Weber an immediate competitive showcase for the product before its consumer availability.
Memphis in May is one of the largest outdoor cooking competitions in the US, drawing teams and spectators from across the country each spring.
Why This Matters
Santa Maria grilling has historically been the domain of custom-built or imported equipment, often costing several thousand dollars or requiring DIY construction. Weber entering the category with a branded, warrantied product at under $1,300 lowers the barrier to entry significantly.
For US home cooks who already own a Weber kettle or gas grill, this is a logical step up — same brand familiarity, same retailer channels, but a fundamentally different cooking method. Wood- and charcoal-fired cooking continues to grow in popularity: live-fire restaurants, whole-animal cookery, and campfire-style backyard setups have all seen mainstream coverage in recent years.
The grill won't suit every backyard — it requires a fuel supply of wood or charcoal, open space, and a cook willing to manage fire by hand. But for the home cook who has maxed out a kettle and wants more control and capacity, this fills a gap Weber didn't previously address.
Conclusion
Weber's Santa Maria live-fire grill is the brand's first move into open-flame adjustable-grate cooking, announced May 13, 2026 at Memphis in May. It launches in early 2027 in two sizes from $899. Home cooks interested in live-fire cooking now have a branded, warrantied option from the most recognized name in American grilling.