Strong crowds filled the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo across its 21-day run, extending its record-setting momentum. The season featured a dynamic entertainer lineup and record-breaking moments across all auctions, along with the induction of rodeo legend Ty Murray and iconic bucking bull Bodacious into the RODEOHOUSTON® Hall of Fame, marking the first animal athlete honored. We closed out an incredible season with a special concert-only performance by Cody Johnson, joined by Jon Pardi and Randy Houser, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 80,203 fans and setting a new all-time concert attendance record at NRG Stadium.
“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues to represent the very best of Texas traditions, bringing our community together through exceptional entertainment, world-class competition and meaningful educational experiences,” said Chris Boleman, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “The 2026 season has once again demonstrated what we can accomplish together. None of this would be possible without the unwavering dedication of more than 36,000 volunteers across 109 committees, along with the generous support of our donors and sponsors who share our commitment to celebrating Western heritage while investing in the future of Texas youth and education. We are deeply grateful to our community, whose enthusiasm and support make this iconic event possible year after year.”
The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, ran from Feb. 26 – 28, followed by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from March 2 – 22, 2026.
2026 RODEO HIGHLIGHTS
Attendance
- Total attendance for all activities on the grounds, Feb. 26 – 28 (World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest and March 2 – 22 (Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo) reached 2,621,765.
- In three days, the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest entertained 231,304 guests.
- Showtime highest daily total attendance from 2026:
- Saturday, March 14, 2026 – 185,785
- Saturday, March 21, 2026 – 168,583
- Thursday, March 12, 2026 – 142,984
- Friday, March 20, 2026 – 138,847
- Friday, March 13, 2026 – 137, 976
History was made on the 21st night of the 2026 Rodeo season. The concert-only performance with Cody Johnson and special guests, Jon Pardi and Randy Houser, broke the all-time concert attendance record in NRG Stadium with 80,203 fans to close out the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This was the fourth full-length concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Johnson’s performance was the first since George Strait performed on the final night in 2022. Strait held the previous record of 80,108 set in 2019.
RODEOHOUSTON®
- RODEOHOUSTON awarded $2,533,500 million to its contestants in 2026.
- The 2026 RODEOHOUSTON Super Series invited the world’s top rodeo athletes to compete in eight traditional rodeo events.
- RODEOHOUSTON Super Series athletes competed for a share of $2,533,500 in prize money. Each event champion rode out of NRG Stadium with $65,000, plus winnings from the preliminary rounds.
- The 2026 RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Champions, with total money earned, are:
- Tie-Down Roping: Riley Webb, Denton, Texas, $71,500
- Bareback Riding: Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, $72,750
- Team Roping: Korbin Rice, Lipan, Texas – $69,750 and Cooper Freeman, Carthage, Missouri- $141,500
- Saddle Bronc Riding: Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah – $71,250
- Steer Wrestling: Holden Myers, Van, Texas – $70,750
- Barrel Racing: Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas – $71,250
- Breakaway Roping: Hali Williams, Comanche, Texas – $69,375
- Bull Riding: Jake Gardner, Wheatland County, Alberta – $71,750
- 360 contestants competed across the 20-day event.
- Three athletes were back-to-back champions in their event, including Kassie Mowry, Rocker Steiner and Riley Webb.
RODEOHOUSTON Hall of Fame
- Rodeo legend Ty Murray and iconic bucking bull Bodacious were inducted into the RODEOHOUSTON® Hall of Fame during the 2026 season, honoring their lasting impact on the sport. The recognition highlights the powerful partnership between athletes and livestock, both central to rodeo’s legacy and continued success. To read more about this click here.
Livestock Show and Horse Show
- Horse Show competitions drew 5,087 entries.
- The Livestock Show saw 33,513 entries: Junior Show: 21,596 and Open Show: 11,917.
Auctions
Junior auction sales totaled $35,217,099, a Rodeo record (unaudited preliminary totals)
- Commercial Steer: $1,823,159 (live auction of choice steers)
- Market Lamb and Goat: $5,757,505
- Market Poultry: $4,102,826
- School Art: $4,659,517
- Barrow: $5,645,737
- Market Steer: $13,228,355
- Fourteen auction Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion lots set Rodeo records.
- Junior Market Barrow
- Barrow Grand Champion: $505,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Barrow Reserve Grand Champion: $375,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Junior Market Pen of Broilers
- Grand Champion Pen of Broilers: $432,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Broilers: $250,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Junior Market Goat
- Grand Champion Goat: $450,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Reserve Grand Champion Goat: $250,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Junior Market Lamb
- Grand Champion Lamb: $1 million (Rodeo Record)
- Reserve Grand Champion Lamb: $310,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Junior Market Steer
- Grand Champion: $1.5 million (Rodeo Record)
- Reserve Grand Champion: $750,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Junior Market Turkey
- Grand Champion, Turkey: $316,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Reserve Grand Champion, Turkey: $175,000
- School Art
- Grand Champion: $525,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Reserve Grand Champion: $300,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Wine
- Grand Champion: $300,000
- Reserve Grand Champion: $285,000 (Rodeo record)
- Junior Market Barrow
Auction sales totaled $39,896,081, a Rodeo record (unaudited preliminary totals)
- Rodeo Uncorked!® Champion Wine Auction: $3,991,742
- Ranching & Wildlife: $687,240
- Junior Commercial Steer: $1,823,159 (live auction of choice steers)
- Junior Market Lamb & Goat: $5,757,505
- Junior Market Poultry: $4,102,826
- School Art: $4,659,517
- Junior Market Barrow: $5,645,737
- Junior Market Steer: $13,228,355
Scholarships and Education
- The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced a record-breaking $30,353,380 educational commitment in 2026 — the largest in its 94-year history — bringing its total support of Texas youth and education to more than $660 million since 1932.
- $15,126,000 in scholarships to be awarded this summer;
- $11,273,500 to junior show exhibitors;
- $3,430,880 in educational program grants; and
- $523,000 in graduate assistantships
- Calf scramble and judging contest winners received 372 certificates, each worth $2,500, to apply toward the purchase of a registered beef heifer or steer to exhibit at the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Certificate premiums totaled $930,000.
AGVENTURE, presented by Oxy
- 389,418 people took an official tour at the Rodeo.
- 71,000 tickets were given to local schools.
- More than 25,000 little cowboys and cowgirls rode the pony rides.
- 1,015 chicks hatched in the poultry exhibit.
- 60 piglets, 28 lambs and 21 calves were born at the Birthing Center.
- 102,000 sunflowers were planted in the soil exhibit.
The Junction
- Over 121,000 little farmers visited Fun on the Farm.
- Over 3,800 kids participated in mutton bustin, presented by H-E-B.
Official Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Merchandise
- Over 249,000 individual items of Rodeo merchandise went home with guests during the 2026 event.
- 17,097 pins were sold
- 34,989 t-shirts were sold
- 8,324 hats were sold
Drone Show, powered by Reliant
- A fan-favorite show in the sky returned for the 2026 season. For the first time in Rodeo history, the drone light shows featured 100 pyro-drones. This was also the first pyro drone show in Houston. In total, 400 synchronized drones lit up the night sky, creating a dynamic display celebrating Western heritage.
Carnival, presented by First Community
- RCS, the carnival provider, drove nearly 420,000 miles to deliver the carnival to Houston, which is 14 times the distance around the world
- Approximately 2.5 million rides were taken at the carnival. The top five rides were:
- Skyride
- Raptor Coaster
- La Grande XL Wheel
- Rave Wave
- Heidi Coaster
- 116 semi-trucks full of carnival prizes were brought to the 2026 Rodeo
- Approximately 480,000 prizes were won at the games
- The top five food items were:
- Turkey legs
- Michelagua
- Jumbo Corn Dogs
- Deep Fried Oreos
- Funnel Cake