CHOOSE YOUR DATE
The round number identifies the performance night. Round 1 is December 3, Round 2 is December 4, and the sequence continues daily through Round 10 on December 12. There is no rest day within this ten-night schedule.
DECEMBER 3–12, 2026 · LAS VEGASNFR SCHEDULE
NFR SCHEDULE
2026
All ten nights. All the start times. Your NFR, planned.
Independent guide · No live video hosted
THE DATESDecember 3–12
FIRST PERFORMANCE5:45 PM Pacific
THE VENUEThomas & Mack Center
WATCH LIVECowboy Channel / Cowboy+
DECEMBER 3–12 · LAS VEGAS
All performance times ↗THE 2026 NFR SCHEDULE
ROUND 1
UPCOMINGROUND 2
UPCOMINGROUND 3
UPCOMINGROUND 4
UPCOMINGROUND 5
UPCOMINGROUND 6
UPCOMINGROUND 7
UPCOMINGROUND 8
UPCOMINGROUND 9
UPCOMINGROUND 10
UPCOMINGYOUR NATIONAL FINALS RODEO GUIDE
NFR SCHEDULE 2026: THE KEY DATES
The 2026 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs from Thursday, December 3 through Saturday, December 12 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. There are ten performances on ten consecutive nights. Opening night is Round 1; the final Saturday is Round 10.
Every scheduled performance begins at 5:45 p.m. Pacific. Choose a round in the schedule above for its date, theme and individual details, or use the time-zone selector to see the start where you live. The calendar download saves all ten performance starts to your calendar app.
The nightly performance time, television program time and daytime event timetable serve different purposes. Use the arena start to plan your round, then check your broadcaster or the specific daytime event for its own hours.
- Opening night
- Thu, December 3
- Final performance
- Sat, December 12
- Performances
- 10 rounds · 10 nights
- Nightly arena start
- 5:45 p.m. PST
ONE START · DIFFERENT CLOCKS
All performance times ↗WHAT TIME DOES THE NFR START?
PACIFIC5:45 PMLas Vegas · PST
MOUNTAIN6:45 PMDenver · MST
CENTRAL7:45 PMDallas · CST
EASTERN8:45 PMNew York · EST
Watching overseas? Each Las Vegas performance starts at 1:45 a.m. the following morning in the UK, or 12:45 p.m. the following day in Sydney. The December 3 opening round therefore falls on December 4 in both places.
These are clock conversions. Confirm streaming access in your country separately. The homepage’s My local time option uses your device’s time zone; the downloadable calendar also converts the starts in compatible calendar apps.
PLAN YOUR NFR NIGHT
UNDERSTAND THE TEN-NIGHT PROGRAM
HOW TO READ THE NFR ROUND SCHEDULE
CHECK THE THEME
Several nights have named themes. Golden Night is December 5, Memorial Night December 6 and Pink Night December 7. Resistol Rookie, Military, Canadian and Legacy nights follow December 8–11, with Wrangler National Patriot Night on December 12.
PLAN FOR THE START
The listed start is when the performance is scheduled to begin. For an arena visit, allow extra time for travel and entry. For a live stream, sign in early and check that the selected event is live rather than a replay.
The evening NFR program includes bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The schedule here identifies the overall performance start; it does not promise a separate clock time for each discipline. Competition progress determines when a particular ride or run takes place.
Start with the Round 1 guide ↗PERFORMANCE START VS. PROGRAM LISTING
NFR TV SCHEDULE & LIVE COVERAGE
Cowboy Channel carries live television coverage, while the organizer names Cowboy+ Annual for direct streaming and on-demand replays. Check your package and the dated live listing before settling in for a round. A TV guide may include build-up before the scheduled arena start.
If you want to record the rodeo, select the dated NFR program in your provider’s guide and review its recording options. If you miss a performance, use the official replay listing rather than assuming a later live-channel slot is the same round. Pre-shows, replays and late-night buckle coverage can have their own program times.
DAYTIME EVENTS · EVENING RODEO
Plan a Las Vegas visit ↗BUILD YOUR DAY AROUND THE NFR
The main arena schedule is only one part of NFR week. Shopping, youth competition and contestant appearances happen at separate locations and use their own times. Choose the event you want first, then leave a realistic gap for travel, food and entry before the evening performance.
DAYTIME
SHOPPING & JUNIOR RODEO
Cowboy Christmas opens 9 a.m.–4 p.m., December 3–12. Junior NFR has division-specific starts across the same ten dates; it is a separate ticketed competition.
FAN EVENTS
MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Check the autograph schedule for your athlete’s discipline, date and exact room. These sessions are not at the main arena and may have venue age restrictions.
EVENING
YOUR ROUND & AFTERWARD
Plan around the 5:45 p.m. arena start. If you prefer a public viewing venue or want music afterward, use the viewing and after-party guide for published times, rooms and admission rules.
A daytime event listing does not include access to the evening NFR. Confirm each reservation or ticket separately and check the return journey before heading out.
BEYOND THE ARENA
Las Vegas guide ↗NFR SCHEDULE: COMMON QUESTIONS
More NFR questions ↗When is the NFR in 2026?
December 3–12, 2026, with one performance each night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
When does the NFR start and finish?
Opening night is Thursday, December 3. Round 10 is Saturday, December 12. See the NFR start-date guide for opening-night details.
What time does the NFR start every night?
The scheduled performance start is 5:45 p.m. Pacific. That is 6:45 p.m. Mountain, 7:45 p.m. Central and 8:45 p.m. Eastern.
How many rounds are in the NFR schedule?
Ten rounds over ten consecutive nights. Each card above links to the matching round guide.
Is the final round at a different time?
The published December 12 performance also starts at 5:45 p.m. Pacific. Do not assume that the final Saturday is an afternoon session.
What NFR round is scheduled for tonight?
Match the Las Vegas date to the cards above. During December 3–12, the round number advances by one each day. Outside those dates, there is no 2026 NFR performance scheduled in this ten-night calendar.
What channel is the NFR on?
Cowboy Channel is the announced television network. Use your provider’s current channel lineup or our TV channel guide to check access.
Where can I stream the NFR and watch replays?
The organizer identifies Cowboy+ Annual for live and on-demand coverage. Our watching guide covers plans, devices and playback help.
Are the TV program and arena start times the same?
The arena starts at the listed performance time. A broadcaster can schedule build-up earlier, while replays and other programs use separate slots. Check the dated live guide.
What if I watch from the UK or Australia?
The performance falls on the next calendar day in the UK and Sydney. Use the selector above or save the calendar, and confirm access to your viewing service separately.
Is Junior NFR part of the nightly arena schedule?
No. Junior NFR is a separate youth competition with daytime division schedules and its own admission. See the full Junior NFR schedule.
Can I add the full NFR schedule to my calendar?
Yes. Download the ten-round calendar and import it into a compatible calendar app. Entries identify performance starts; an end time is not supplied.
Are the times and themes subject to change?
Event programs can change. This independent guide was checked against the linked organizer information; recheck your ticket, provider listing and official notices before making plans.