What the National Western Stock Show Is
The National Western Stock Show is a 16-day livestock show, rodeo and horse show held every January at the National Western Complex in Denver. The 2027 show runs January 9 to 24. Livestock exhibiting has been part of the show since 1906, and it is where breeders sell genetics, youth exhibitors compete for banners and buckles, and families come to see animals up close. Grounds admission covers livestock viewing, and the show also carries pro rodeos and horse shows.
The livestock side is large: more than 20,000 entries are processed each year across more than 25 breeds of beef cattle, plus bison, yaks, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, stock dogs, llamas and alpacas.
Ways to Take Part
| Program | What it is |
|---|---|
| Open and junior breeding cattle | Breed shows for more than 25 beef breeds, plus prospect steers and heifers |
| Herd sire display bulls (the Yards) | Four days in January, more than 200 pens in the Stockyards Wagner Family West Plaza, with association, sales, feed and genetics tents |
| Junior market shows | Steers, lambs, goats and swine for youth ages 9 to 18 |
| Catch-A-Calf | Since 1943, nearly 3,000 calves have been awarded to youth, usually 4-H members with a sponsor, to raise and show as a market steer a year later |
| Specialty shows | Stock dogs, wool, llamas and alpacas, bison, Boer goats and breeding sheep |
| Judging contests | Hundreds of teams judge livestock, meat and wool, including collegiate, 4-H and FFA contests |
Auction of Junior Livestock Champions
The Auction of Junior Livestock Champions, presented by Farm Credit, sells 96 top market animals (steers, lambs, hogs and goats) raised by 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Denver's 9NEWS televises the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion sales. Most of the winning bid goes to the exhibitor and 10 percent supports the National Western Scholarship Trust. In January 2026, the grand champion steer shown by Cannon Reinmann of South Dakota sold for a record $320,000. The sale was held for the first time in the new CoBank auction arena at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center, which seats 725.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- Show dates: January 9 to 24, 2027
- Junior market entries (lamb, goat, steer, swine): October 1 to November 1, 2026, online at nwssrm.fairwire.com. Goat, lamb and steer DNA kits are ordered September 1 to October 1, 2026. The swine draw is closed for 2027.
- Catch-A-Calf entries: October 1 to November 1, 2026. The 2027 Catch-A-Calf application runs from early August to January 1, 2027.
- Open and junior breeding cattle, prospect steers and heifers, and Yards entries: October 1 to November 20, 2026, at nwsscs.fairwire.com. Late entries run November 21 to December 10, 2026, with a $35 per head late fee.
- Highland cattle: November 10, 2026, no late entries
- Breeding sheep, open Boer goats, junior ewe lambs, wool, llama and alpaca, and stock dogs: October 1 to December 10, 2026, at nwssss.fairwire.com, with no late fee through December 10
- Junior heifer ownership deadline: December 1, 2026
Who Can Enter
Junior market exhibitors are ages 9 to 18 and animals must be owned by the exhibitor by the deadline. Swine exhibitors are chosen by lottery, and the 2027 draw is closed. Open classes are open to breeders and owners who enter online in their own name. Judging contests are open to collegiate, 4-H and FFA teams.
Where
National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216. Parking and maps are on the show's website.
Questions
Is the junior swine show still open for 2027?
No. The swine draw is closed for 2027, and so are the extra swine DNA orders.
Is there a late fee on cattle entries?
Yes. Late entries for open, junior and Yards cattle run November 21 to December 10, 2026 at $35 per head.
Where do I find rules and premiums?
In the 2027 Livestock Premium Book, the Junior Market Signature Form, the tentative livestock schedule and the arrival and release schedule, all on the exhibitor page.
Who do I call?
The livestock office at 303-299-5559.
Official Links
- National Western Livestock Shows
- Livestock exhibitors: deadlines and documents
- 2027 Livestock Premium Book
- Junior Market Premium Book
- Junior Livestock Auction
- Catch-A-Calf Program
- Colorado Politics: 2026 auction results
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Western National Roundup
Four-day 4-H and FFA event in Denver with livestock and horse judging, quiz bowl, public speaking and parliamentary procedure contests. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 7-10, 2026.
- National Western Stock Dog Trials
Cattle and sheepdog competition during the opening days of the Denver stock show. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 10-13, 2026.
- National Western Sheep Show
Market and breeding sheep exhibited in the Junior Barn at the Denver stock show. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 12-14, 2026.
- National Western Swine Show
Market and breeding hogs shown in the Junior Barn at the National Western. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 18-20, 2026.
- National Western Bison Show
Bison breeders gather in the Yards at the Denver stock show. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 23-24, 2026.
4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216 Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.