LAS VEGAS NFR / NEWS
2026 NFR Field Confirmed: 119 Qualifiers Head to Las Vegas
October 23, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. PDT
The field for the 2026 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is set, with 119 qualifiers preparing for ten nights of competition in Las Vegas.
The championship field takes shape
The October 22 announcement confirms the top-15 qualifiers in each event and assigns their back numbers for the finals. The competition is scheduled for December 3–12 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Bareback names and back numbers
The bareback field includes Bradlee Miller with back number 5, Jacob Lees with 15, Jess Pope with 17 and Kade Sonnier with 31. Keenan Hayes has number 35, Cooper Cooke 37 and Clayton Biglow 45. These identifiers help fans match contestants to the published field; they are not a prediction of finishing order.
Seven disciplines, ten performances
Fans will follow bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Team roping includes separate heading and heeling roles. The qualifier announcement sets the field; it does not decide the eventual champions.
Planning your arena nights
For visitors, the confirmed field offers a starting point for choosing which athletes and events to follow. Check your performance dates before arranging other activities, and leave room for travel and entry screening. Our performance schedule brings all ten arena nights together in one place.
Visitor planning: choose your performances first
Build your trip around the nights you intend to attend rather than treating every day as interchangeable. Write the performance date beside each ticket in your itinerary, then add your hotel departure time and an arrival buffer. If different members of your group are following different events, agree on what you want to watch before booking other evening plans. A simple shared itinerary can keep the focus on the competition.