What the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Is
The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is a week-long festival held each January in Elko, Nevada, hosted by the Western Folklife Center. It began in 1985 as the Elko Gathering, created by Waddie Mitchell and Hal Cannon. It centers on cowboy poetry but has grown to include music, folklore, film, workshops and other Western traditions, celebrating rural Western life and the contemporary and traditional arts that come from working land and livestock. The Western Folklife Center describes it as a coming-together of people rooted in the poetry, music and arts of cowboy country.
The 41st Gathering, January 2026
The 41st Gathering ran January 26 to 31, 2026, with the theme "A Cow Town State of Mind." The theme celebrated agricultural communities and asked what keeps rural lands and communities thriving. The invitation went to cowhands, poets, singers, land stewards, ag teachers, 4-H and FFA members, butchers, beekeepers and others connected to ranching and farming, so it is a good fit for farm and ranch families, not only poetry fans.
What Happens During the Week
- Open mic poetry sessions, hosted in 2026 by Nevada State Folklorist Brad McMullen.
- Featured readings and concerts, including a "Here We Remain" reading with poets George N. Wallace and M.L. Smoker, a featured performance by Michael Martin Murphey, and shows from Dave Stamey, Jeff Carson, Wylie Gustafson and the Kristyn Harris Trio.
- Workshops in guitar repair, hat making, rawhide braiding, cumbia, zydeco and craft cocktails, and sometimes Basque or Italian cooking.
- "Type Like a Cowboy," where participants wrote poetry on vintage typewriters.
- The exhibit "A Cowtown State of Mind" in the Wiegand Gallery and a magnet poetry installation where visitors add their own words.
- A black box theater screening films including "A Ranch Musical" and "Fire Tender."
Tickets and How to Attend
Ticketed shows and workshops are listed on the Gathering's website under ticketed shows and workshops. Western Folklife Center members, whose memberships are available year-round, get early access to tickets, and general ticket sales typically open in late summer. Hotel rooms in Elko fill quickly, so book lodging early. Attendees in 2026 came from across the country, including Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta and Dallas.
Key Dates
| Edition | Dates |
|---|---|
| 41st Gathering | January 26 to 31, 2026 |
| 42nd Gathering | January 25 to 30, 2027 |
Where
The Western Folklife Center, 501 Railroad Street, Elko, NV 89801, is the home base. Elko is about four hours east of Reno and three hours west of Salt Lake City, near the Ruby Mountains. The Western Folklife Center's phone is 775-738-7508. The Elko Convention and Visitors Authority, 700 Moren Way, Elko, can help with lodging and has a free visitor guide; its phone is (775) 738-4091.
Questions
Do I have to be a poet to come?
No. The Gathering welcomes ranchers, ag teachers, 4-H and FFA members and anyone who enjoys music, storytelling and Western culture.
Is there more than poetry?
Yes: concerts, workshops, films, exhibits and open mic sessions.
When should I buy tickets?
Members get first access, and general sales typically begin in late summer.
Official Links
- Western Folklife Center: the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
- Explore Elko: Cowboy Poetry in Elko
- Munro Review: National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Cattlemen's Update - Elko
Elko session of the Cattlemen's Update held in the Great Basin College theater, with dinner in the Reynolds Solarium and updates on cattle markets and range production.
1500 College Parkway, Elko, NV | Organizer: University of Nevada, Reno Extension Official event details - National Basque Festival
Basque music and dancing, wood chopping and stone lifting contests, family-style meals, handball, a 5K run and a golf tournament at Ruby View. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 4-5, 2026.
1601 Flagview Drive, Elko, NV 89801 | Organizer: Elko Euzkaldunak Club Official event details - Silver State Stampede
PRCA-sanctioned rodeo begun in 1912 and described as Nevada's oldest, with mutton busting, mini-bulls, nightly dances and a Western trade show in mid-July.
- Nevada Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
107th annual meeting of Nevada Farm Bureau with breakout sessions, an advocacy lab, Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet, small farms dinner and awards lunch.
Las Vegas, NV | 775-674-4000 | Organizer: Nevada Farm Bureau Federation Official event details - Buckaroo Traditions Gathering
Three-day Winnemucca gathering honoring Great Basin buckaroo work, with big loop roping, doctoring, family goat roping, a ranch horse show and Sunday Big Loop Finals. Single-day tickets are $8 and three-day passes $20.
Winnemucca, NV Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.