What the National High School Finals Rodeo Is
The National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), run by the National High School Rodeo Association, is the national championship for high school rodeo athletes and is billed as the world's largest rodeo. The 78th edition ran July 19 to 25, 2026, at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln, with just under 1,800 contestants. They came from 44 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Guatemala.
Events and Who Competes
Students earn a place by qualifying for their state or provincial National High School rodeo team. The events are:
- Rough stock: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding
- Timed events: tie-down roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, goat tying and team roping
- Barrel racing
- Cutting and reined cow horse
Spectators can also see contestant activities including volleyball, dances, family activities, church services sponsored by Golden Spur Ministries and a trade show.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Sunday, July 19: opening performance at 7 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, July 20 to 24: performances at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day.
- Saturday, July 25: performance at 9 a.m., then the championship round at 7 p.m.
Contestants must finish in the top 20 after the first two rounds to advance to the Saturday final. World champions are decided on combined times or scores across all three rounds. The Saturday championship airs nationally as part of the Cinch Highschool Rodeo Tour telecast series, and performances stream live at thecowboychannel.com.
Prizes and Awards
The finals offer more than $150,000 in prizes, over $200,000 in added money and more than $375,000 in college scholarships.
Tickets and Admission
| Ticket | Adults (13+) | Kids (5-12) | 4 and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single performance (sold in person on the day) | $18 | $11 | Free |
| All-session wristband (online or at the ticket booth) | $145 | $73 | Free |
The ticket booth opens one hour before each performance. For the 2026 finals the last day to buy wristbands was Tuesday, July 21.
Where
Sandhills Global Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St., Lincoln, NE 68507. RVUniverse Campgrounds reserved 1,300 camping spaces for contestants, who are assigned sites within their state block. Lincoln has more than 70 hotels.
What Happens Next
The finals will not return to the Lincoln venue in 2027. Organizers announced on September 15, 2026 that the event has outgrown the building, which had about $10 million in upgrades after the 2021 finals. The association's executive director said the event could move to Wyoming, but that has not been confirmed. More details will be announced later.
Questions
Can I watch from home?
Yes. Each performance streams live at thecowboychannel.com, and daily results are posted at NHSRA.com.
Do kids need a ticket?
Children 4 and under are free. Ages 5 to 12 pay the kids' price.
Who do I call to volunteer or sponsor?
Sandhills Global lists Kathleen Orton at 402-441-1814 for volunteers and sponsors.
How did the 2021 Lincoln finals do?
The 2021 finals drew 19,233 visitors and generated $17.9 million in state and local tax revenue.
Official Links
- Sandhills Global Event Center: NHSFR: tickets, camping and venue
- NHSRA 2026 press release: contestants, prizes and scholarships
- WOWT: rodeo returns to Lincoln: events and performance schedule
- WOWT: finals to relocate in 2027
Major Nebraska Stock Shows and Rodeos: The Essentials
Nebraska's major junior stock shows are held at Fonner Park in Grand Island: the Nebraska State Fair (August 28-September 7, 2026; August 27-September 6, 2027) and the Aksarben Stock Show (September 24-27, 2026; September 23-26, 2027). Husker Harvest Days follows September 15-17, 2026, and Nebraska's Big Rodeo runs in Burwell in July.
State Fair
4-H and FFA shows cover beef, swine, sheep and goats. Nominate animals and submit DNA by June 15; entries and YQCA are due August 10 at 8 p.m.
Aksarben
Open to youth ages 9 to 19 from 14 states, with no 4-H affiliation required. In 2026, DNA nominations were due July 1 and entries ran August 1 to September 4.
Rodeos and farm shows
Nebraska's Big Rodeo in Burwell ran July 22-25, 2026, with PRCA competition and the Garfield County Fair during the same week. Husker Harvest Days is a working farm show with irrigation, crops, livestock and machinery on display. Plan around the June 15, July 1 and August 10 exhibitor deadlines.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Nebraska Wheat Board Meeting
Wheat checkoff board meeting on the Nebraska Wheat calendar, held in Lincoln on Nov. 18, 2026, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
- Nebraska Farm Bureau YF&R Conference
Young Farmers and Ranchers conference of Nebraska Farm Bureau at the Graduate Hotel in Lincoln, scheduled for Jan. 29 to 30, 2027.
- Nebraska FFA Career Development Events State Finals
State finals for 25 FFA career development events, run alongside the state convention at UNL East Campus and Southeast Community College in Lincoln. The next dates posted are March 31 to April 2, 2027.
- Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE)
Statewide youth contest with livestock judging, meats judging, poultry judging, quiz bowl, skill-a-thon, animal welfare judging and a companion animal challenge. The next dates posted are June 2 to 4, 2027, in Lincoln.
- Lancaster County 4-H BB Gun, Air Rifle and Air Pistol Contest
Morning shooting sports contest for BB gun, air rifle and air pistol at the Nebraska Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. Held each year; the most recent contest was February 7, 2026.
Lincoln, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.