The Community Speaks: Early Rankings for the Best Autoflower Breeder

With two months still to go before the American Autoflower Cup 2026 takes over Los Angeles, the early voting is finally giving us a sense of how this year’s community sentiment is beginning to form. And it is exactly that: the beginning.

Voting is open until January 31st, which means what we’re seeing now is only the first pulse of a long race. The community vote itself has its own lineage: Fast Buds took the top spot last year, and for the two years before that, Mephisto Genetics held the community’s first position in a row - a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift between editions.

So far, 1033 voters have cast 1943 votes (each choosing up to three breeders), revealing a preliminary ranking that’s already creating conversation inside the AAC community.

Each of these breeders has shown up in different ways across past AAC editions, and the early vote reflects memories, expectations, and curiosity about what they’ll bring to the judging tables this year.

Fast Buds
Currently holding the strongest early position with 500+ votes, Fast Buds has established itself as one of the most consistent and active contributors to the AAC ecosystem. Their past performances, community presence, and recognizable autos make them a natural early favorite.

Mephisto Genetics
Mephisto holds second place at this stage, backed by years of strong support within the U.S. grower community. Their foothold in the autoflower world is the result of long, steady work - not association with anyone else. Voters showing up for them in the early phase is a reflection of that.

Night Owl Seeds
Night Owl sits in third with a completely distinct trajectory and following. Their position reflects the stability they’ve built with growers who appreciate character, expression, and small-batch precision. Their community votes independently, and it shows.

Humboldt Seed Company
Fourth place fits perfectly with Humboldt’s standing in the American cannabis landscape. They have a strong California identity, a reputation for thoughtful breeding, and a natural connection to the AAC’s West Coast culture.

Speedrun Seeds
The biggest surprise of this preliminary ranking.
New on the AAC board, already in the Top 5.
Growers clearly want to see what they’ll do next. Whether they submit entries or choose to observe this year, their early numbers show they’ve caught the community’s attention faster than expected.

Ethos, Dutch Passion, Seedsman, Smoking Monkey
These names fill the center of the ranking with the kind of global recognition that doesn’t need embellishment. They appear in grows across the world, and the AAC’s early voters reflect that reach.

And at the edge of the Top 10, the gap tightens:
Twenty20 Mendocino holding a bit above forty votes, with Atlas Seeds immediately behind them. Atlas carries the distinction of achieving the highest THC score in AAC history so far - 30.33% THC with Mendo Breath Auto in 2025. That kind of result tends to resurface in voters’ minds, so their position could easily rise as more people join the poll.

This early ranking is not a verdict. It’s simply the first contour of the 2026 season.
Growers are still harvesting. Cures are still stabilizing. Breeders are still preparing what will ultimately be judged on aroma, structure, potency, smoothness, hashability, and full expression — not on preliminary votes.

But these early numbers show something meaningful:
the AAC community remembers excellence, follows consistency, and recognizes dedication.
It also stays open to new names, as Speedrun’s sudden rise proves.

The early vote is simply the first layer of the 2026 AAC season - a hint at where minds are leaning, not where the Cup will end.

If you want to be part of the story:
Entries are open.
Tickets are live on Eventbrite.
Voting stays open until January 31st.

https://americanautoflowercup.com/