Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston rode Virgil to win the championship round of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo on Sunday, July 13, 2025 with a score of 92.5. Photo by Brent Calver/Postmedia /Brent Calver/Postmedia

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The Calgary Stampede Rodeo is in full swing, and we’ve got all the info you need to stay up to date on rodeo action. If you’re looking for a primer on how the rodeo works, you’ll find the answers to all your questions in this article (right underneath the daily rodeo results.)

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CALGARY STAMPEDE RODEO

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Showdown Sunday — Day 10

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BAREBACK RIDING — brought to you by Bennett Jones

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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LADIES BARREL RACING — brought to you by The Calgary Herald

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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TIE-DOWN ROPING — brought to you by Halliburton

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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STEER WRESTLING — brought to you by Plains

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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SADDLE BRONC — brought to you by Cenovus Energy

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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LADIES BREAKAWAY ROPING — brought to you by Imperial

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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BULL RIDING — brought to you by WestJet

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bolded — 2026 Calgary Stampede champion

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The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth begins Friday at GMC Stadium, and with it comes the world’s largest outdoor rodeo.

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The Calgary Stampede Rodeo features 210 of the globe’s top cowboys and cowgirls competing for a prize purse of more than $2.1 million in 2026.

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It’s big money for the toughest and most talented rodeo stars.

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“This year’s lineup brings together proven champions, rising stars and athletes with powerful stories of grit, family legacy and incredible comebacks,” said Kristina Barnes, director of agriculture & western events at the Calgary Stampede. “From lightning-fast rides to edge-of-your-seat competition, every afternoon at GMC Stadium will showcase the strength, precision and determination that make the Calgary Stampede Rodeo unforgettable.

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“The energy at Stampede Park will be incredible.”

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But just who will have the right stuff to grab hold of the $50k payday in each event?

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A good bet would be on one of four decorated brothers from Utah making their way to Calgary.

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Indeed, the Wright Brothers — Rusty, Ryder, Statler and Stetson — have the … er … Wright stuff to become Stampede champs in any given edition of the Calgary Stampede.

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Statler Wright from Beaver, UT, riding Borderline Untimely during the Saddle Bronc event at Day one of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in Calgary on Friday, July 5, 2024. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia.

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But with four in the ring in 2026, the money is on them to kick up a whole lotta dirt and cash in the next 10 days at GMC Stadium.

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Stetson Wright, especially, who has blazed a trail of success to Calgary.

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“I haven’t felt this good going into the Fourth of July in a long time,” Wright, 26, told reporters after his take of bull-riding and all-around titles at the Sisters Rodeo in Oregon. “I feel like I’ve been riding everything, and I feel like I’m on fire at a good time.”

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The 10-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champ is not only feeling it in bull riding but also in the saddle-bronc event, putting the cowboy from Milford, Utah, in the spotlight of two of rodeo’s toughest events at the Stampede.

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In fact, Wright currently has pocketed $269,361 on the rodeo season to ride tops on the PRCA’s world all-around leaderboard.

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He’s first in saddle bronc and second in bull riding and is chasing the never-before-won roughstock triple crown of rodeo.

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“The triple crown has been at the forefront of my mind for a long time,” Wright told reporters in Oregon, of trying to capture the world titles in each of saddle bronc, bull riding and all-around disciplines. “I may have never done it, but each year, I’ve gotten closer than I was the year before.

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“So I’m just going to keep trying.”

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Wright boasts three PRCA world championships in bull riding (2020, ’22, ’25) and one saddle bronc (2021). He added the all-around title — his sixth last December — to go along with the bull-riding belt at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

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“These ones dang sure mean more to me than any of them, and I’m a very greedy person,” Wright told reporters at the time. “I’m never satisfied, so I’m always wanting more. All this did … is get me thinking 2026. I want that triple crown.

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“It takes a lot to get there, but we’re going to keep fighting for it. But these world titles (mean a lot), just because they said I’d never do it again. There was bets and wagers saying that I would never win world title ever again, and I showed back up and got two of them.”

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Wright’s other brothers are all competing in saddle bronc at the Calgary Stampede.

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Here is a breakdown of what you need to know to get the most out of the Calgary Stampede rodeo, including the second year of ladies breakaway roping at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth …

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THE FIVE Ws OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE RODEO

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What: The Calgary Stampede Rodeo is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, with a whopping total payout of $2.17 million in prize money.
When: Daily at 1:30 p.m. during the Stampede (July 3-12, 2025.)
Where: On the Stampede Grounds in central Calgary; 1410 Stampede Trail S.E.. The Grounds are accessible by car, bus and CTrain.
Who: 210 of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the world.
Why: Rodeo is a celebration of Western Heritage and a competitive sport that allows athletes to showcase skills, while competing at a high level in events that reflect real life ranching duties.

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HOW ARE THE SEVEN MAIN RODEO EVENTS JUDGED?

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With help from CalgaryStampede.com, here’s a breakdown of the rodeo events at the Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth and what judges look for in each event. Don’t forget it’s only the second year of ladies breakaway roping at the Stampede …

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Ladies Barrel Racing: Competing against the clock, a rider and her horse run a course that circles three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern before racing back across the line from which they started.
Time is measured with an electronic eye-timer, and a hundredth-of-a-second can determine a winner.
If a competitor and her horse knock down a barrel, a five-second penalty is added to their total time.
The quickest time wins the event.

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Bull Riding: A thick-braided bull-rope, complete with handhold, is wrapped around the bull and weighed down by a cowbell that allows the rope to fall when the ride is over. The rope is only kept tight by the bull-rider’s grip.
The riders must try to keep their arms from straightening and their hands from breaking loose before the end of the ride. The riders aren’t required to move their feet, but if they do spur the bull, they get higher marks.
The highest score out of 100 wins the event. Bull riding is sometimes called “the most dangerous eight seconds in sports,” in reference to the time a rider attempts to stay atop the massive animals.

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Tie-down Roping: The ropers, one at a time, wait on horseback behind a rope barrier. When they give a nod, the calf is released and it gets a 10-foot head-start from the cowboy.
The roper must quickly rope the calf, dismount on the run to reach it, turn it on its side and tie three of its legs.
Time is called when the roper throws his hands in the air. Once it’s determined that it’s a fair and legal tie, the calf is immediately released.
The quickest time wins the event.

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Steer Wrestling: The steer wrestler waits on horseback behind a rope barrier. When he gives a nod, the steer is released and gets a 12-foot head-start.
The bull-dogger chases the steer and then drops from the horse and grabs the steer’s horns to bring it to a halt. The steer must be on its feet before being rolled to the ground. Once on its side with all legs extended, the official time is taken.
An extra horse, ridden by a hazer, teams up with the wrestler to keep the steer running straight.
The quickest time wins the event.

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Saddle Bronc: Riders move their feet from the horse’s neck toward the back of the saddle, in time with the bronc’s bucking action.
The rider holds on to a braided rein that is connected to the horse’s halter, using it to help balance them.
If the rider’s hand placement is too low on the rein, they could be pulled over the front. If it’s placed too high, the rider may be bucked off the back before the requisite eight seconds are up.
The highest score out of 100 wins the event.

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Bareback: The rider holds on to the leather handhold of a rigging — a pad wrapped around the bucking horse’s girth — as they first extend their feet far forward. They then pull their feet back up toward the rigging in a spurring motion.
The higher the spurs in the air, the higher the score.
The stress on the rider’s arm is intense as it absorbs most of the horse’s power, but a ride of at least eight seconds is required for a score.
The highest score out of 100 wins the event.

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Ladies Breakaway Roping: The ropers position themself and nod their head, giving the signal to release a calf.
Once released with a head-start, it is up to the ropers to rope the calf and stop their horse as quickly as possible. This causes the rope to “breakaway” from the saddle horn in which it is tied to with a string, stopping the time.
If the roper cues her horse too early and “breaks the barrier” rope, the roper receives a 10-second penalty. Missing a calf entirely results in a no-time.

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HOW IS THE STAMPEDE CHAMPION DETERMINED?

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Staged in the infield of GMC Stadium, a total of 10 shows — all matinees — make up the Calgary Stampede Rodeo. That’s one for each day of the Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth.

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The field of 30 competitors for each of the seven senior events is split into three pools of 10.

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Each pool runs for three consecutive days — Pool A from Friday through Sunday, Pool B from Monday through Wednesday and Pool C from Thursday through Saturday.

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And each day, the top-six participants of each event, determined either by score or time, earn respective payouts — $7,000 for first, $5,500 for second, $4,500 for third, $3,250 for fourth, $2,000 for fifth and $1,000 for sixth.

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The participants with the three best aggregate money totals from each event after the three days of pool action earn berths into Showdown Sunday. That’s different from the past years of four which advanced. And that makes for a nine-participant final day — down from 12 — on Showdown Sunday to crown a champion.

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Showdown Sunday is as follows …

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• The four participants with the top scores or times from the long go-round of nine participants in each event advance to the final four.
• The final-four participants then ride in the short go-round to determine a champion.
• If there is a tie for the top score or time, ride-offs are completed to determine the top score or time and the title of Calgary Stampede champion.

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The champion of each event pockets $50,000 and a coveted Stampede bronze statue. Second- and third-place finishes earn payouts of $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.

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HOW DO I GET TICKETS TO THE RODEO?

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Tickets are available in advance through https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/rodeo.

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If you buy a ticket in advance, the ticket also allows you access onto Calgary Stampede park for the day. If you’re already at the Stampede, same-day tickets can also be purchased through ticket booths near the Grandstand. Those same-day tickets can become scarcer towards the end of the Stampede.

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INSIDER TIPS FOR WATCHING THE CALGARY STAMPEDE RODEO

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• If you want to get close to the action, standing-room spots at the rodeo are available for sale at the park each day. For those who can afford to splurge, in-field seating provides the seats closest to the action.
• While seven main rodeo sports are featured each day, spectators will also be treated to a variety of other events, such as the novice bareback, junior steer wrestling and novice saddle bronc.
• Calgary weather can change in a flash. Dress appropriately and bring sunscreen or an umbrella, or both, depending on the weather forecast.
• Don’t forget a cowboy hat. Yes, everyone (almost) wears one. It protects you from the heat and sun or wind and rain.
• The rodeo occurs right on the Stampede grounds, meaning there’s a myriad of entertainment, midway rides, exhibits and other shows to check out once you’re at the Stampede.
•The preferred rodeo cheer in Calgary is ‘Yahoo!’, as opposed to ‘Yee-haw!’

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WHO ARE THE RODEO COMPETITORS?

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The field is made up of the top money earners in the world and the Canadian standings.

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Specifically, the Stampede invites 30 contestants for each event — the top five from the 2025 Canadian Pro Rodeo Association’s final standings (drop-down until filled), the top 10 from the 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s World Standings (drop down through 15th only) and the top 14 or 15 from the PRCA current-year standings as of May 2026, not already qualified (drop-down until filled).

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The only exceptions are barrel racing and breakaway roping, because competitors in those events fall under the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in the United States.

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Two qualifiers — one from each side of the U.S.-Canada border — help to round out their fields.

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Specifically, the Stampede invites 30 contestants for each of the barrel racing and breakaway roping — the top four from the 2025 CPRA final standings (drop-down until filled), the top 15 from the 2025 WPRA Pro Rodeo final standings (no drop down), the top five from the WPRA current-year standings as of April 1, 2026, not already qualified (drop-down until filled), the top two from the 2026 WPRA Regional Event Qualifier not already qualified (drop-down until filled) and the top four from the 2026 Calgary Stampede Ladies Barrel Racing Qualifier / Ladies Breakaway Roping Qualifier not already qualified (drop-down until filled).

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Bareback Riding – Presented by Bennett Jones
Sage Allen — Blackfoot, Idaho
Tanner Aus — Granite Falls, Minn.
Leighton Berry — Weatherford, Texas
Clayton Biglow — Clements, Calif.
Waylon Bourgeois — Church Point, La.
Taylor Broussard — Estherwood, La.
Richmond Champion — Stevensville, Mont.
*Cooper Cooke — Victor, Idaho
Daxtyn Feild — Roosevelt, Utah
Kashton Ford — Sturgis, S.D.
Cole Franks — Clarendon, Texas
Tristan Hansen — Dillon, Mont.
Carson Hildre — Velva, N.D.
Tilden Hooper — Granbury, Tex.
Roedy Farrell — Thermopolis, Wyo.
Kody Lamb — Sherwood Park, Alta.
R.C. Landingham — Veneta, Ore.
Orin Larsen — Inglis, Man.
Jacob Lees — Caldwell, Idaho
Ethan Mazurenko — Thorhild, Alta.
Bradlee Miller — Huntsville, Texas
Nick Pelke — Mondovi, Wisc.
Jesse Pope — Waverly, Kan.
Cole Reiner — Buffalo, Wyo.
Garrett Shadbolt — Merriman, Neb.
Kade Sonnier — Carencro, La.
Mason Stuller — Hat Creek, Calif.
Ty Taypotat — Nanton, Alta.
Luke Thrash — Stephenville, Texas
Weston Timberman — Columbus, Mont.

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Ladies Barrel Racing – Presented by Calgary Herald

Tricia Aldridge — Sanger, Texas
Michelle Alley — Madisonville, Texas
Catherine Asmussen — Laredo, Texas
Emily Beisel — Weatherford, Okla.
Andrea Busby — Brock, Texas
Jordan Driver — Garden City, Texas
LaTricia Duke — Henrietta, Texas
*Anita Ellis — Blackfoot, Idaho
Hayle Gibson-Stillwell — Redcrest, Calif.
Sydney Graham — Abilene, Texas
Kathy Grimes — Medical Lake, Wash.
Heidi Gunderson — Murdock, Minn.
Gracen Harman — Hempstead, Texas
Wenda Johnson — Kanab, Utah
Hailey Kinsel — Cotulla, Texas
Halyn Lide — China Spring, Texas
Lisa Lockhart — Oelrichs, S.D.
Taylor Manning — Ponoka, Alta.
Megan McLeod-Sprague — Marsing, Idaho
Tayla Moeykens — Three Forks, Mont.
Blake Molle — Chauvin, Alta.
Kassie Mowry — Dublin, Texas
Jaylan Neatherlin — Brock, Texas
Jennifer Neudorf — Bluffton, Alta.
Carlee Otero — Perrin, Texas
Acey Pinkston — Stephenville, Texas
Julie Plourde — Krum, Texas
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi — Lampasas, Texas
Katelyn Scott — Odessa, Texas
Jayden Wilson — Gleichen, Alta.

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Tie-Down Roping – Presented by Halliburton

Britton Bedke — Oakley, Idaho
Logan Bird — Nanton, Alta.
Tyler Calhoun — Richards, Texas
Cole Clemons — Okeechobee, Fla.
Beau Cooper — Stettler, Alta.
Blane Cox — Stephenville, Texas
Tom Crouse — Gallatin, Mo.
Bryce Derrer — Portales, N.M.
John Douch — Huntsville, Texas
Stran Dunham — Souris, Man.
Shane Hanchey — Sulphur, La.
Dylan Hancock — San Angelo, Texas
Joel Harris — San Angelo, Texas
Ty Harris — San Angelo, Texas
Kincade Henry — Mount Pleasant, Texas
Hunter Herrin — Apache, Okla.
Quade Hiatt — Canyon, Texas
Cash Hooper — Pampa, Texas
Zack Jongbloed — Iowa, La.
Kyle Lucas — Carstairs, Alta.
*Shad Mayfield — Lipan, Texas
Haven Meged — Miles City, Mont.
Brushton Minton — Witter Springs, Calif.
Macon Murphy — Keatchie, La.
Bo Pickett — Caldwell, Idaho
Shane Smith — Wimborne, Alta.
Pecos Tatum — La Plata, N.M.
Riley Webb — Denton, Texas
Chantz Webster — Ponder, Texas
Kyan Wilhite — Clovis, N.M.

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Saddle Bronc Riding – Presented by Cenovus Energy

Ben Andersen — Rocky Mountain House, Alta.
Kole Ashbacher — Arrowwood, Alta.
Allen Boore — Axtell, Utah
Chase Brooks — Deer Lodge, Mont.
Kade Bruno — Challis, Idaho
Wyatt Casper — Miami, Texas
Brody Cress — Hillsdale, Wyo.
Zachary Dallas — Albuquerque, N.M.
Gus Gaillard — Morse, Texas
Shorty Garrett — Eagle Butte, S.D.
Dawson Hay — Wildwood, Alta.
Logan Hay — Wildwood, Alta.
Lefty Holman — Visalia, Calif.
Sage Newman — Melstone, Mont.
Nicholas Patterson — Rocky Mountain House, Alta.
Weston Patterson — Waverly, Kan.
Darcy Radel — Injune, Australia
Tyrel Roberts — Drayton Valley, Alta.
Coleman Shallbetter — Gunnison, Colo.
Waitley Sharon — Ordway, Colo.
Riggin Smith — Winterset, Iowa
Blake Steuck — Hume, Mo.
Quinten Taylor — Nanton, Alta.
*Zeke Thurston — Big Valley, Alta.
Kolby Wanchuk — Stettler, Alta.
Brody Wells — Powell, Wyo.
Rusty Wright — Milford, Utah
Ryder Wright — Beaver, Utah
Statler Wright — Beaver, Utah
Stetson Wright — Milford, Utah

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Steer Wrestling – Presented by Plains

Tucker Allen — Ventura, Calif.
Bridger Anderson — Carrington, N.D.
Jesse Brown — Baker City, Ore.
Harley Cole — Okotoks, Alta.
Cody Devers — Perryton, Texas
Riley Duvall — Checotah, Okla.
Ty Erickson — Helena, Mont.
Colin Fox — Manvel, Texas
*Scott Guenthner — Provost, Alta.
Clay Guthrie — Ponoka, Alta.
Clay Tom Hurt — Dilley, Texas
Kyle Irwin — Robertsdale, Ala.
Trisyn Kalawaia — Hilo, Hawaii
Tyke Kipp — Lordsburg, N.M.
Eli Lord — Sturgis, S.D.
Will Lummus — Byhalia, Miss.
Tristan Martin — Sulphur, La.
Dalton Massey — Hermiston, Ore.
Mike McGinn — Haines, Ore.
Holden Myers — Van, Texas
Rowdy Parrott — Mamou, La.
Don Payne — Stephenville, Texas
Seth Peterson — Minot, N.D.
Riley Reiss — Manning, N.D.
Cash Robb — Altamont, Utah
Justin Shaffer — Hico, Texas
Ryan Shuckburgh, Innisfail, Alta.
Gavin Soileau — Bunkie, La.
JD Struxness — Milan, Minn.
Tyler Waguespack — Gonzales, La.

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Ladies Breakaway Roping – Presented by Imperial

Bailey Bates — Tohatchi, N.M.
*Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Langdon, Alta.
Kinlie Brennise — Craig, Colo.
Audrey Butler — Wheatland County, Alta.
Josie Conner — Iowa, La.
Caitlyn Dahm — Duffield, Alta.
Jenna Dallyn — Nanton, Alta.
Jordi Edens-Mitchell — Gatesville, Texas
Rylee George — Oakdale, Calif.
Sawyer Gilbert — Buffalo, S.D.
Bradi Good — Abilene, Texas
Jaci Hammons — Dublin, Texas
Bobbi Henderson — Alix, Alta.
Hadley Hiner — Walla Walla, Wash.
Maddy Jacobs — Hope, N.M.
Cheyanne McCartney — Kingston, Okla.
Aspen Miller — Santa Fe, Texas
Taylor Munsell — Harmon, Okla.
Madison Outhier — Utopia, Texas
Beau Peterson — Council Grove, Kan.
Celie Rogers — Choteau, Mont.
Payton Scalzo — Stephenville, Texas
Mikenna Schauer — Halkirk, Alta.
Jill Tanner — Stephenville, Texas
Bradi Whiteside — Longview, Alta.
Cadee Williams — Big Timber, Mont.
Hali Williams — Comanche, Texas
Joey Williams — Volborg, Mont.
Suzanne Williams — Standish, Calif.
Macy Young — Wittmann, Ariz.

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Bull Riding – Presented by WestJet
Qynn Andersen — Koumala, Australia
Hudson Bolton — Milan, Tenn.
Dustin Boquet — Bourg, La.
Colton Byram — Mound City, Kan.
Boudreaux Campbell — Crockett, Texas
Ernie Courson — Okeechobee, Fla.
Edgar Durazo — Moctezuma, Mexico
Jacob Gardner — Fort St. John, B.C.
T.J. Gray — Dairy, Ore.
Garrett Green — Meeting Creek, Alta.
Jordan Hansen — Amisk, Alta.
Tristen Hutchings — Monteview, Idaho
Cooper James — Erda, Utah
Bryce Jensen — Huntsville, Texas
Noah Lee — Mineral Wells, Texas
Luke Macke — Ignacio, Colo.
Jax Mills — Montgomery, Texas
Mason Moody — Letcher, S.D.
T Parker — Winnie, Texas
Clayton Sellars — Fruitland Park, Fla.
Jordan Spears — Caldwell, Idaho
JR Stratford — Byers, Kan.
Cullen Telfer — Plant City, Fla.
Lane Vaughan — Klamath Falls, Ore.
Hayden Welsh — Gillette, Wyo.
Braxton Whitesell — Walker, La.
Stetson Wright — Milford, Utah
Creek Young — Rogersville, Mo.
Grady Young — Leader, Sask.

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* — 2025 Calgary Stampede champion

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