July 17-26, 2026
Days
Hours
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July 17-26, 2026
Episode #15:
You’ve heard about the changes coming to our arena this year; you’ve gotten a preview of who’s joining us at Frontier Nights; and now, we’re switching the focus to a different part of Frontier Park… the Morning Star American Indian Village.
Foundation Board Member Affie Ellis joins us in the studio to share what makes this new addition so special, and why you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to explore this one-of-a-kind space.
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
Episode #13:
2026: The Year of the American Indian, the 250th anniversary of our great nation, and the biggest, most exciting Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration yet… capped off with some extra-bright stars to light up Frontier Nights!
Listen in as Tara Vreeland, former Miss Frontier 2004, catches up with Carly Dibble—Talent Buyer, for Romeo Entertainment Group—about this year’s lineup, and what it takes to bring these world-class performers to our stage.
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
Episode #14:
The countdown to Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) 2026 is on, and there’s more to look forward to this year than ever… starting with the rodeo!
Hang on to your cowboy hats, because CFD Chief Executive Officer Tom Hirsig and Foundation Board Member / Former Public Relations Chairman Bob Budd are about to let you in on all the exciting upgrades coming your way.
(Here’s one big hint… it all kicks off on Friday, July 17.)
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ (CFD), the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration, today announced the complete Frontier Nights® entertainment series for 2026.
July 17: Treaty Oak Revival with Jessie Murph
July 18: Alex Warren
July 19: The Red Clay Strays with Wyatt Flores
July 20-21: PRCA Xtreme Bulls
July 22: Riley Green with Trace Adkins
July 23: Blake Shelton
July 24: Hardy with Cameron Whitcomb
July 25: Zach Top with Jo Dee Messina
July 17-26: PRCA Rodeo
Night show prices range from $72 – $110, rooftop starts at $200, and Tunes on the Terrace range from $225 – $275. Fans can upgrade to a Frontier Nights® Fast Pass for early admission to the Party Zone. Xtreme Bulls tickets range from $25 – $95. A $5 discount is offered on night show tickets purchased before July 1.
Frontier Nights® tickets will go on sale Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. MST at www.cfdrodeo.com. To streamline fan access, tickets will be sold online only that day to accommodate purchase volume. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Ticket Office, the only authorized source of tickets for the event, will open for in-person and phone sales on Friday, December 12 at 9 a.m. MST.
“The 2026 Frontier Nights is stacked with superstar power and fresh talent,” said Mike Wilkinson, Contract Acts Chairman. “We’re proud to bring together iconic headliners and rising stars for nights that will stay with our fans long after the lights go down. It’s one of our most dynamic lineups yet.”
Cheyenne Frontier Days partners with AXS, a global leader in ticketing for the entertainment world. For the full schedule, artist profiles, and more event information, please visit www.cfdrodeo.com.
Rodeo, Carnival, Chuckwagon, and More on sale December 4
Rodeo ticket sales were announced in November and will go on sale December 4. Rodeo tickets range from $26–$53, with a $3 discount available before July 1.
The carnival midway, hosted by Carnival Americana and Fun Biz Concessions, along with hundreds of vendors, and Western entertainment will also return to the Daddy of ‘em All.
Carnival Armbands are $45 per session or $155 for all ten days.
VIP Chuckwagon Experience tickets are $35 – $85 and now include an option for breakfast, along with the existing dinner and takeout option on the second Saturday.
Episode #12:
He’s a 4X Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) saddle bronc champion, 9X National Finals Rodeo qualifier, and bona fide hometown hero… and still, Cheyenne’s own Brody Cress is as down to Earth as it gets.
Today, Brody—along with his parents, Tommy and Lannette Cress—joins CFD Chief Executive Officer Tom Hirsig to share what it means to represent your hometown, stay true to your roots, and inspire the next generation of cowboys and cowgirls.
Let’s ride.
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
Cheyenne Frontier Days has been honored with the 2025 PRCA Remuda Award, recognizing the rodeo committee that provides the best and most consistent pen of bucking horses in professional rodeo.
The Remuda Award, presented annually by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), celebrates a rodeo and stock contractor that offers contestants the highest-quality livestock, giving cowboys the best opportunity to showcase their talent and compete on a level playing field.
“It’s really exciting for us to even be considered for the Remuda Award,” Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO Tom Hirsig said. “There are so many great rodeos out there and the quality of bucking horses has gone through the roof.”
Cheyenne Frontier Days has worked diligently to develop its tournament-style format, with nine evenly matched performances designed to give each cowboy an equal shot at the title. Working closely with Smith Pro Rodeos, the committee collaborates with multiple subcontractors to assemble nine balanced pens of horses, a process requiring months of planning and deep knowledge of each animal’s style and ability.
Hirsig gave a special thank you to Stace Smith Pro Rodeos, the primary stock contractor for Cheyenne Frontier Days, and acknowledged the other contractors that provide livestock for the eight-day rodeo extravaganza.
“I think we’re just very thankful that we’ve got Stace Smith, who really cares about our rodeo and is trying to make it one of the best ones when it comes to the bucking horses,” Hirsig said. “He’s worked hard to try to get us to this level and it’s great to see that we’re getting acknowledged for it.”
Cheyenne Frontier Days also continues to invest in animal welfare and performance excellence. In collaboration with Smith Pro Rodeos and the Samuelson Family, the organization developed a dedicated resting and grazing area north of Cheyenne to provide bucking stock with a quiet, natural environment during the celebration, ensuring the horses remain in peak condition.
The Samuelson Family has been a tremendous supporter of Cheyenne Frontier Days, and their generosity made this important project possible. Their unwavering commitment to the sport, the animals, and the spirit of the Daddy of ’em All has strengthened CFD’s foundation and helped ensure that both contestants and livestock perform at their best.
The award will be presented at the PRCA Awards Banquet on Dec. 3 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, ahead of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Episode #11:
From the celebrated Paramount series Yellowstone, to riding horseback as the Grand Marshal in our grand parade, actor and American Indian cultural advisor Mo Brings Plenty carries a distinct presence and energy everywhere he goes.
You’ll see—and hear—that energy in action as we welcome Mo to the podcast, where Former Miss Frontier 2004 Tara Vreeland finds out:
When Mo realized his voice and work would shape how people understand American Indian culture
Mo’s greatest hopes for the next generation
How Mo felt about being part of the 2025 Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration
What sets the Morning Star American Indian Village apart from traditional concepts
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
Episode #10:
A Bright Future for Native Culture at Frontier Park
As the sun sets on this year’s Daddy of ‘em All, a new star begins to sparkle in the distance: the Morning Star Indian Village, a living celebration and immersive experience of American Indian culture.
Slated for opening in 2026—when Cheyenne Frontier Days celebrates the Year of the American Indian—this dynamic venue will come to life during our annual 10-day event, then transition into a seasonal educational destination for the rest of the year.
Here to share their insights on what you can look forward to inside the Morning Star American Indian Village—and its deep significance to the Native populations in our region—we’re joined by Ivan Posey (Tribal Education Coordinator for Central Wyoming College), Sandra Iron Cloud (Coordinator for the Little Sun Drum and Dance Group), and Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation Board Member Affie Ellis.
Find out more about the Morning Star American Indian Village project at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation website.
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
MeadowAnn King has been named the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) 2026 Lady-in-Waiting after a selection process that included a written application, an accomplishment book, a horsemanship skills demonstration and an interview.
MeadowAnn is the daughter of John and Ginger King. She is a 2024 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School, where she was involved in wrestling, softball, cheerleading, volleyball, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FFA, 4-H and multiple leadership roles. She is currently attending Laramie County Community College, pursuing degrees in elementary education and kinesiology.
Her family has proudly served as CFD volunteers for decades. King and her siblings, Wyatt and Bella, have carried on the volunteer tradition in roles such as mounted marshals, ticket committee workers, mare and colt race competitors, night show security, and outriders for the parade. One of King’s most meaningful high school experiences was serving as a CFD Dandy, a dream she had since childhood.
“For me, this role is not about standing in the spotlight but about riding for the brand, doing everything I can to make the committee, my community and our volunteers proud while celebrating and advocating for the growth of rodeo,” King said. “I want to be a small part of the incredible machine of volunteers who make Cheyenne Frontier Days possible, carrying forward the same spirit of service and dedication my family has lived by for generations.”
King will work with Miss Frontier Katherine Olson in 2026 to represent Cheyenne Frontier Days.
The leadership of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) has named new General Committee members for the 2026 celebration.
The Board of Directors has selected Hans Ritschard to be the next General Chairman. Ritschard is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who now directs improvement work at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. He served as Military Chairman from 2014 to 2016 and was a member of the CFD Board of Directors from 2018 to 2024, including two years as board chairman.
Jenny Lakin has been selected as the new Concessions Chairman. Lakin is a manager in provider relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. She has volunteered on the Concessions Committee for 17 years. Lakin was named Concessions Committee Volunteer of the Year in 2014 and was inducted into the HEELS in 2021.
Richard “Bull” Singhas has been selected as the new Parades Chairman. Singhas is a construction manager for the U.S. Air Force and holds a master’s degree in management. He has volunteered on the CFD Parades Committee for 21 years and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2014. Singhas was inducted into the HEELS in 2018.
Jimbo Tanner has been selected as the new Rodeo Chairman. Tanner is the general manager at B&W Glass Inc. He has volunteered on the Rodeo Committee since 2003, was named Rodeo Committee Volunteer of the Year in 2014 and was inducted into the HEELS in 2016.
“It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve Cheyenne Frontier Days as the next General Chairman,” General Chairman Hans Ritschard said. “It is also humbling to succeed those leaders who have built such a strong foundation. St. Bernard of Chartres compared us to dwarves perched on the shoulders of giants. He said that though we might see more and farther than our predecessors, it is not because we have keener vision or greater height, but because we are lifted and held up by their giant size. I would like to thank outgoing General Chairman John Contos, along with Chairmen Woody Acord, Jason Bain, Byron Matthews, and Jim VanCise for their longstanding dedication and commitment to our organization.”
The General Committee has already begun planning for the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2026 — the Year of the American Indian — which will feature the grand opening of the Morning Star American Indian Village and the reconstruction of Chute 9.