Cheyenne Frontier Days Blends Old and New in 2026

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 27, 2026) — From sunup to sunset, the 130th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) delivered new experiences and existing traditions.

This year’s theme, the “Year of the American Indian,” honored the American Indians who have been a part of Cheyenne Frontier Days since its inception. CFD opened the Morning Star American Indian Village on July 17, a complex dedicated to the history and culture of the Plains Indians. Mo Brings Plenty, star of Yellowstone and Marshals, was the Master of Ceremonies for a capacity crowd.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, established in 1897, is made possible with the dedication of the Cheyenne community, staff, and more than 2,600 volunteers who put in countless hours to bring the celebration to life.

Over 800 rodeo contestants came to Frontier Park to compete for $1.1 million in prize money. A Friday rodeo performance was added so fans were able to attend 10 full days of rodeo. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Xtreme Bulls returned for its second year after winning 2025 Event of the Year. Wyoming native Hayden Welsh won the event and $26,660.

Across 10 rodeo performances, 113,787 fans attended the event, compared to 110,383 in 2025. All performances were broadcast by the Cowboy Channel. Thursday’s performance celebrated the Day of the American West, in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, and the final Saturday honored the National Day of the Cowboy.

Cheyenne Frontier Days opened the new Chute 9 VIP facility at the south end of the historic arena, offering new views and experiences for guests.

The new Morning Star American Indian Village introduced visitors to native dance, art and storytelling with Northern Arapahoe and Eastern Shoshone central to the experience. Over 55,000 people visited the village in its new location.

On-site attractions included various musical stages around the park, vendors and the carnival. New this year, fans got a front-row seat in The Garden for Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen, a live talk show hosted by rodeo’s famous barrelman.

The Behind the Chutes Tours remained a popular free experience, with 2,398 guests getting a behind-the-scenes look at the rodeo arena and livestock.

Military Monday paid tribute to all branches of the armed forces, with free admission for active-duty service members and veterans. Special opening ceremonies included a performance by the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, a display of military vehicles around the track, and a giant American flag carried by volunteers. The U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds made a special flyby during the rodeo. The Red Eyes of the 120th Fighter Squadron, 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard took to the Wyoming skies for flybys throughout the week.

Frontier Nights drew 109,861 attendees, compared to 99,167 in 2025. The return of the PRCA Xtreme Bulls two-night event brought the top 40 bull riders in the world together to compete against some of the toughest bulls in the sport. 15,146 fans turned out for high-scoring rides compared to 13,977 in 2025.

In addition to rodeo and concert attendance, 44,344 gate admission tickets were sold, compared to 26,060 in 2025.

Total attendance was 283,138 compared to 249,587 in 2025.

Veterinarians conducted multiple daily health inspections on all animals. 33 animals were checked by veterinarians. Two did not recover.

Downtown Cheyenne hosted four parades and three pancake breakfasts as part of the festivities. Horse-drawn wagons and other historic entries paraded through the streets, celebrating Western heritage. The Kiwanis Club, CFD volunteers and community members served 17,559 people during the free pancake breakfasts.

“Cheyenne Frontier Days 2026 was remarkable,” said General Chairman Hans Ritschard. “Celebrating the Year of the American Indian gave us an incredible platform to honor a history and culture that’s been part of this celebration since the very beginning. At the same time, we could welcome new generations of fans to the sport and traditions that we love. Our volunteers, staff, sponsors and community members once again made it all possible. We can’t thank them enough.”