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Tucson Rodeo 2026: Rodeo Days, Parade & Schedule
Experience part of Southern Arizona's living history and explore the Western heritage of Marana.
Rodeo Days, also known as La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros, is a nine-day celebration of ranching history, started in 1925. It unites families and celebrates centuries of history through a parade, a carriage museum with one of the largest and most complete collections in the country, and professional competitive rodeo events. The rodeo is so important to our area that students have two days off from school each February to attend the parade and events!
Rodeo Events
February 21 – March 1, 2026
Tucson Rodeo Parade
February 26, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Location
Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85714
Across nine days, Rodeo Days features:
- Professional rodeo competitions
- Junior rodeos and youth events
- Barn dances and community celebrations
- Women’s rodeo clinics
- 600 human contestants, 1,000 equine participants, 2,000 cowboy hats sold, and over 40 hours of rodeo action!
Each year, the Tucson Rodeo welcomes hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators, making it one of the largest winter rodeo events in the country.
Explore the official Tucson Rodeo schedule for daily event details.
Tickets
Ticket options vary by seating and experience level and include:
- General admission
- VIP packages
- Multi-day and seasonal passes
Purchase Tucson Rodeo tickets in advance to secure preferred seating and event access.
Billed as the World’s Longest Non-Motorized Parade, the Tucson Rodeo Parade draws more than 200,000 spectators each year.
Expect to see:
- Historic horse-drawn coaches
- Western-themed floats and buggies
- Marching bands
- Mexican folk dancers
- Riders in traditional western attire
Parade Route
- Start: Drexel Rd & 12th Ave
- End: Irvington Rd
Grandstand seating is available at Drexel Rd & Liberty Ave.
- Adults: $16.78
- Children 12 and under: $11.63
Where to Stay During Rodeo Days
The White Stallion Ranch
The top-rated dude ranch in Arizona, a classic high-end dude ranch centered on horse riding situated in majestic scenery and offering experiences to be long-remembered.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
Secluded in canyon in the Tortolita Mountains, this Forbes Double Five-Star-Certified resort offers an experience at the peak of luxury, all inspired by the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
My Place Hotel
This pet-friendly hotel is conveniently situated near Interstate 10, allowing quick access to all of the area's must-visit attractions with plenty of nearby shopping and dining options. Enjoy an in-room kitchen, a grab-and-go shop, and more.
Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson Marana
From outdoor hikes and shopping to playing golf and trying new restaurants, the Hampton Inn is located near an array of unforgettable activities around Marana.
Where to Dine
Cayton’s Restaurant
Family-friendly with gorgeous views, unmatched food, upscale resort casual.
- Location: The Golf Club at Dove Mountain (at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain)
- Contact: Reservations are required for lunch and dinner, call (520) 572-3530
Li’l Abner’s Steakhouse
Authentic rustic cowboy steakhouse and Old Hollywood hangout from when Marana and Southern Arizona was a hotspot for western movie filming. Full bar available.
The idea of La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros was originally conceived by Leighton Kramer, then-president of the Arizona Polo Association, to draw visitors to Tucson during mid-winter. Kramer himself had visited Tucson in the winter and wanted to show the rest of the country what it was about.
Also, in 1925, the country and world were rapidly modernizing, and what would be thought of as the “Old West” with its cowboys and ranching culture was rapidly fading away, and the rodeo would be a great way to remember Tucson’s ranching roots. The irony? Many Tucsonans did not like the idea of the rodeo or rodeo parade because they saw “the staging of a rodeo and parade as too pretentious.”
Now, 100 years later, the Tucson Rodeo is one of the top 25 professional rodeo events in North America, with prize monies exceeding $320,000. Because of Southern Arizona’s great weather, it is the only one of those Top 25 Rodeos to be held outside between the months of September and May.
What the Tucson Rodeo Has to Do With Marana?
Marana remains deeply connected to Southern Arizona’s ranching and rodeo culture. Marana is still home to many family ranches, rodeo arenas, and rodeo champions!
Notable connections include:
- Sherry Cervi, a nationally-ranked barrel racer and World Rodeo Champion, among the sport’s best, calls Marana home
- You can live out Marana’s western and ranching history at the Marana Heritage Arena (a kid-friendly riding establishment)
- The White Stallion Ranch is rooted in western guest ranch traditions
- Li’l Abner’s Steakhouse, an old and storied cowboy-style steakhouse that attracted some of the Western film genre’s biggest stars, is a must-visit
Marana’s western roots continue to shape its identity today.
If you cannot attend the parade or rodeo, visit the Tucson Wagon & History Museum, formerly the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, where you can see many of the vehicles featured in the parade!
The museum houses:
- Four hangars filled with restored horse-drawn vehicles
- Stagecoaches, carriages, wagons, and farming equipment
- Vehicles featured in western films and historic events
Highlights include carriages used in Oklahoma! and High Chaparral, a coronation carriage from 1864, and a personal buggy owned by Andrew Carnegie. Exhibits also showcase daily life in Old West Tucson through recreated storefronts and artifacts.
