What Is Cheyenne Frontier Days?
Cheyenne Frontier Days is a long-running, 10-day Western celebration and professional rodeo held each summer in Cheyenne, Wyoming, widely promoted as the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western festival. It began in the late 19th century and has grown into a major tourism driver, blending rodeo competition, concerts, parades, cultural exhibits and community events.
The festival’s reputation as the “Daddy of ’em All” reflects both its scale and its role in preserving and showcasing Western heritage. Visitors encounter everything from working ranch culture and Native traditions to modern country music stars and military demonstrations, all condensed into a single, high-energy event.
Rodeo and Xtreme Bulls in 2026
In 2026, Cheyenne Frontier Days is expanding its PRCA rodeo to ten consecutive performances under a tournament-style format that leads to Championship Sunday. This gives fans an extra day of competition and more chances to see top cowboys and cowgirls in events like bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and barrel racing.
The PRCA Xtreme Bulls tour also returns for two nights of bull-riding-only action, featuring 40 of the sport’s best riders matched against some of the toughest bulls in professional rodeo. Because money earned at Cheyenne counts toward PRCA world standings, these performances can influence who qualifies for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, raising the stakes for competitors and intensifying the drama for spectators.
Frontier Nights Concerts and Festival Experiences
Frontier Nights is the evening concert series that anchors the entertainment schedule at Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the 2026 lineup combines big-name country stars with emerging artists. Treaty Oak Revival with Jessie Murph, Alex Warren, The Red Clay Strays with Wyatt Flores, Riley Green with Trace Adkins, Blake Shelton, HARDY with Cameron Whitcomb, and Zach Top with Jo Dee Messina highlight a schedule designed to appeal to both traditional country fans and younger audiences.
Around the music and rodeo, the grounds transform into a full festival environment, with a large carnival offering more than 50 rides and games, extensive food and beverage options, Western vendors, and premium viewing and hangout spaces such as the Rooftop and Tunes on the Terrace. These layers of activity let visitors build flexible days that might start with a parade or pancake breakfast, move into afternoon rodeo or museum visits, and end with a night of live music and midway lights.