Big wins, emotional moments, and live performances highlighted The American Rodeo’s takeover of Globe Life Field during Memorial Day weekend.
A sea of cowboy hats stretched across the stands. Country music echoed throughout Globe Life Field. Fans lined the concourses in their best boots and denim as rodeo's biggest stars competed beneath the infamous stadium lights for millions of dollars.
For one weekend, Arlington became the center of the Western sports world.
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The American Rodeo Championship Weekend transformed the home of the Texas Rangers into a celebration of competition, Western lifestyle, and cowboy culture, awarding more than $3 million while bringing together rodeo's elite athletes, rising contenders, musicians, celebrities, and fans.
Rodeo's crown jewel once again delivered unforgettable moments, crowning champions, awarding life-changing payouts, and creating an immersive Western experience throughout Memorial Day weekend.
Three athletes in particular saw their lives change in a matter of moments. Qualifiers Rickie Fanning, Sage Newman, and Gavin Soileau each claimed their share of the $2 million bonus, besting the field of invitees and qualifiers. Combined with the $100,000 event championship payout, each athlete earned more than $760,000 during Saturday's finale.
Gavin Soileau
It was a truly historic moment in Western sports.
Stars from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) also shined in Arlington. While invited athletes were not eligible for the qualifier bonus, event champions still earned career-defining $100,000 paydays.
Among those champions was reigning American Rodeo and world champion bareback rider Rocker Steiner, who successfully defended his title with a 90.5-point ride aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Secret's Out to take home the $100,000 title.
Rocker Steiner
One of the afternoon's most emotional moments came in the team roping, where Clint Summers and Jade Corkill captured the championship with a 4.83-second run. Following the victory, Corkill dedicated the win to breakaway roper Kelsie Domer and her late daughter, Oaklynn.
Tie-down roper Kincade Henry continued his standout 2026 campaign, stopping the clock in a personal-best 6.57 seconds aboard his horse, Mario, to earn the championship. Meanwhile, in the barrel racing, invitee Hayle Gibson-Stilwell claimed the title and $100,000 with a 15.428-second run before celebrating with the iconic Polaris victory lap.
Kincade Henry
The action came down to the final performances, keeping fans and athletes on the edge of their seats while adding another chapter to rodeo history. Closing out the event, 10-time world champion Stetson Wright secured the bull riding championship with an 89-point ride. Stetson also won the All-Around title, bringing his total The American Rodeo championships to a record-setting five — the most in the event’s history.
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Beyond the competition, The American Rodeo Championship Weekend embraced its leading role as a celebration of Western sports and culture. Fans packed Globe Life Field for performances by Midland and Chris Young, whose music provided the soundtrack for a weekend defined by rodeo, tradition, and the cowboy way of life.
Midland
A Texas-sized rodeo and concert lineup also brought a showcase of Western fashion. Celebrities, athletes, and fans alike embraced the lifestyle through carefully curated looks featuring custom embroidery, vintage-inspired pieces, boots, and, of course, cowboy hats.
Constant cheers of excitement came from all angles of the ballpark, reinforcing the event's place at the intersection of Western sports, entertainment, and Western culture.
Chris Young
More than a rodeo, The American Rodeo Championship Weekend has become a gathering place for the people, traditions, and stories that define the modern West. The event showcased the sport's most decorated champions, emerging stars, and passionate fan base while delivering record-setting payouts, memorable performances, and a weekend-long celebration of Western lifestyle.
As the final champions were crowned and the dust settled inside Globe Life Field, The American Rodeo wrote another chapter in its 13-year history as rodeo's crown jewel, honoring the sport's traditions while shaping the future of Western sports and culture.
