Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is Colorado Springs’ biggest summer rodeo: five days of championship ProRodeo competition at the Norris-Penrose Event Center, July 14-18, 2026. As the home of the NFR Open, it brings more than 200 elite cowboys and cowgirls from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to compete for over $1 million in payouts.

If you are planning a trip, buying tickets, or just wondering what “or bust” means, this guide covers it all. You will learn the 2026 dates and showtimes, every rodeo event, ticket and parking tips, and the family activities around the arena.

In this guide

1. What the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is
2. The events you will see in the arena
3. 2026 dates, showtimes, and tickets
4. Visiting tips for families and first-timers
5. At a glance: rodeo nights vs matinees
6. Frequently Asked Questions

What the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is

• 1. A Colorado Springs tradition since 1937, The rodeo has entertained audiences in the Pikes Peak region since 1937, making it one of Colorado’s longest-running summer traditions.
  Generations of families have made the July rodeo week part of their summer, and many seats are held by long-standing season ticket holders.
• 2. The home of the NFR Open, The event hosts the NFR Open, a championship-format rodeo that gathers the best competitors from the U.S. and Canadian circuits plus national champions from Mexico.
  Think of it as an all-star championship rather than a regular tour stop: only top qualifiers earn a place in the field.
• 3. The name comes from Gold Rush history, “Pikes Peak or Bust” was the slogan painted on wagons by 1859 Gold Rush travelers heading for the Pikes Peak region, they would strike it rich or go bust trying.
  The rodeo borrowed that all-or-nothing spirit, which fits a sport where a single eight-second ride decides everything.
• 4. Proceeds support local military families, Colorado Springs is home to the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, and more, and rodeo proceeds go toward supporting service members and their families in the Pikes Peak region.
  Buying a ticket is also a way of backing the military community that surrounds the city.
• 5. It sits in the shadow of Pikes Peak itself, The arena sits at the foot of the Front Range, so the mountain that gave the rodeo its name is visible from the grounds on a clear evening.
  Arrive before sunset and you will see why the setting is half the show.

The events you will see in the arena

• 1. Bareback riding: pure strength, no saddle, The rider hangs onto a rigging handle with one hand while the horse bucks, and must stay on for eight seconds to score.
  Judges score both the rider’s control and the horse’s bucking power, so a wild horse can actually help the score.
• 2. Bull riding: the eight-second headline act, The rider grips a rope with one hand and tries to survive eight seconds on a bull bred to buck, then dismounts cleanly.
  Bull riding usually closes the night because it is the most explosive event in the arena.
• 3. Saddle bronc riding: the classic rodeo event, The rider uses a specialized saddle and a rein, marking out the horse with spurs on the first jump and riding in rhythm for eight seconds.
  It is often called the most graceful event in rodeo, closer to ballet than to a brawl.
• 4. Barrel racing: speed around three barrels, Riders race a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels, and the fastest clean run wins; a knocked barrel adds a five-second penalty.
  A winning run takes under 15 seconds, so one wide turn can cost the whole event.
• 5. Roping and wrestling: the timed events, Breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling are all races against the clock, where fractions of a second separate first from fifth.
  In team roping, two riders must work together: one ropes the horns, the other the heels, and the clock stops only when both ropes are tight.

2026 dates, showtimes, and tickets

• 1. The dates are July 14-18, 2026, The rodeo runs Tuesday through Saturday, with four evening performances plus a finals championship Shoot Out on Saturday night.
  Mark the whole week: the action builds toward Saturday’s finals, when the champions are crowned.
• 2. Evening shows start at 7:30 p.m., Grounds open at 4:00 p.m. for evening performances, giving you time for vendors, food, and drinks before the show.
  Arrive early: the grounds are part of the experience, not just a waiting room.
• 3. Matinees run Friday and Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Matinee grounds open at 10:00 a.m., and these daytime shows are a good pick for families with younger kids.
  The Friday and Saturday matinees include the popular Mutton Bustin’ preliminaries for kids.
• 4. Buy only from the official site, The official ticket site warns against resellers: performances sold out in 2025 and are expected to sell out again in 2026.
  Box seats are closest to the action and the most sought-after, grandstand seats still offer a great view, and endzone seats sit in front of the roping chutes.
• 5. Parking and the free shuttle, On-site parking costs $20 in advance or $30 at the gate, but a free off-site park-and-ride shuttle runs for 2026.
  The shuttle is the smart move: you park for free, skip the traffic, and ride straight to the grounds.

Visiting tips for families and first-timers

• 1. Mutton Bustin’ is the kids’ main event, Children ages 4-9 who weigh under 50 pounds can ride sheep, and preliminary winners are invited to Saturday’s matinee.
  It is the loudest cheer of the day, small riders, big applause.
• 2. There is plenty beyond the arena, Pony rides, mechanical bull rides, a climbing wall, vendors, and the Coors Roadhouse Saloon with live music and line dancing each night keep the grounds busy.
  Plan at least an hour on the grounds before the show, especially with kids.
• 3. Thursday night ends with a drone show in 2026, After the Thursday, July 16 evening performance, a free drone show celebrates America’s 250th birthday and Colorado’s 150th.
  Stay in your seat after Thursday’s last ride, the 14-minute show is Thursday only.
• 4. Note the 2026 parade change, Organizers canceled the 2026 annual parade, which had been scheduled for July 11, while the rodeo itself continues July 14-18 with ticket sales open.
  Do not plan your trip around the parade this year; plan it around the rodeo nights instead.
• 5. Pair it with a Colorado Springs trip, The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is also in Colorado Springs, and combo tickets with the Pikes Peak Highway are available for visitors.
  A rodeo night plus a drive up Pikes Peak makes a classic two-day Colorado Springs weekend.

At a glance: rodeo nights vs matinees

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in 2026?

July 14-18, 2026, at the Norris-Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs. Evening shows start at 7:30 p.m. and matinees on Friday and Saturday start at 12:30 p.m.

What is the NFR Open?

The NFR Open is the championship format hosted at the rodeo, featuring top ProRodeo athletes from the U.S. and Canadian circuits and national champions from Mexico competing for over $1 million in payouts.

What events are in the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo?

Bareback riding, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding, plus fan favorites like Mutton Bustin’ and American freestyle bullfighting on select nights.

Is the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo good for kids?

Yes. Mutton Bustin’, pony rides, a mechanical bull, and a climbing wall are all aimed at kids, and the Friday and Saturday matinees are the most family-friendly showtimes.

Where do I buy official tickets?

Buy through the rodeo’s official website, pikespeakorbust.org, and avoid resellers. Shows sold out in 2025, so book early for 2026.

Five nights, eight seconds at a time, that is the whole sport, and the whole point.

Final thoughts

The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is more than a sports event: it is a Colorado tradition since 1937, a championship rodeo with over $1 million on the line, and a night out that ends with live music under the Front Range. Book early, arrive before showtime, and take the free shuttle if you can. Visit Colorado Springs lists the full 2026 schedule and ticket details. Planning more summer fun? Check the Texas vs Kentucky matchup, the Canelo vs Crawford fight results, or the mobile games guide.