Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR)
2026 · Thomas & Mack Center
- Next dates
- 2026: December 3, 2026 to December 12, 2026, Thomas & Mack Center
- Venue
- Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
- Doors
- 4 p.m. at the Cowboy Corral and Cowboy+ Bar entrances; 4:15 p.m. at the Main Entrance
- Organiser
- Las Vegas Events with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)
- Who can attend
- Open to the public with a ticket. Children 3 and under do not need a ticket if they can sit on a parent's or guardian's lap
- Tickets
- Only through NFRexperience.com / Las Vegas Events (AXS). 2026 face values: balcony single performance $130.50; NFR Access Only $80 all-in (concourse entry, no seat). Mini packages are sold out
- Typical length
- Ten consecutive nights
- In Las Vegas since
- 1985; Oklahoma City had hosted the event for the 20 years before that
- Official site
- nfrexperience.com
About
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is professional rodeo's season-ending championship, produced by Las Vegas Events with the PRCA. It runs ten straight nights at the Thomas & Mack Center, each a full performance from bareback riding to barrel racing and bull riding.
The NFR came to Las Vegas in 1985 after 20 years in Oklahoma City. Las Vegas Events guaranteed a $1.8 million prize fund for contestants and $700,000 for stock contractors, against $900,000 and $200,000 in Oklahoma City in 1984. The PRCA board tied 5-5, and president Shawn Davis cast the deciding vote for Las Vegas.
The rodeo has stayed at the Thomas & Mack Center since, apart from 2020, when it was held in Arlington, Texas. Themed 2026 nights include Pink Night (Dec. 7), Military Night (Dec. 9) and Wrangler National Patriot Night (Dec. 12).
What to expect
Every performance starts at 5:45 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. at the Cowboy Corral and Cowboy+ Bar entrances and 4:15 p.m. at the Main Entrance, and metal detectors are used at every entrance. Arena parking is very limited and costs $30 per vehicle per performance. The free NFR Express shuttle runs from official sponsor hotels, most departing every 15 minutes; the last buses leave the arena at 9:45 p.m. Rideshare uses the Scarlet Lot south of the arena.
By day, Cowboy Christmas fills the Las Vegas Convention Center's South Halls from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., December 3-12. Entry is free, with more than 375 exhibitors of western wear, jewelry, art and home goods, plus a live stage and the YETI Junior NFR.
Also that month
More Las Vegas events
Plan the trip
Good to know
- Clear bag policy at all ten performances: one clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a clutch up to 8 x 11 inches. Bag check costs a fee.
- Tickets are mobile; screenshots and printouts are not accepted. Save them to your phone's wallet first.
- Outside food and drink, noisemakers, cowbells, balloons and tripods are prohibited.
- Smoking is banned campus-wide, with no designated smoking areas.
- Children 3 and under do not need a ticket if they sit on a lap. Buy only through NFRexperience.com or Las Vegas Events.
Questions about Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR)
When is the NFR in 2026?
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs December 3-12, 2026, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. There are ten performances, one each night, and all start at 5:45 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. at the Cowboy Corral and Cowboy+ Bar entrances and at 4:15 p.m. at the Main Entrance.
How much are NFR tickets?
The official ticket FAQ lists 2026 general-public face values of $130.50 for a single balcony performance and $80 all-in for NFR Access Only, which admits you to the concourse without a seat. Mini packages are sold out, and single-night seats depend on remaining inventory. Buy only through NFRexperience.com or Las Vegas Events.
What is an NFR Access Only ticket?
Entry to the Thomas & Mack Center without a seat. It covers the concourse experiences, including the Cowboy Corral with live music nightly, the Cowboy+ Bar, the Bull 'N Barrel Saloon and the ProRodeo Zone, where you watch the rodeo on TV screens. The 2026 price is $80 with no extra fees.
How do I get to the Thomas & Mack Center for the NFR?
The free NFR Express shuttle runs from the official sponsor hotels, and you can ride it even if you are not staying at one. The last buses leave the arena at 9:45 p.m. Arena parking is very limited and costs $30 per vehicle per performance, and rideshare uses the Scarlet Lot south of the arena.
What is Cowboy Christmas?
The NFR's official gift show, a Las Vegas tradition since 1986. It runs December 3-12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, is free to the public and has more than 375 exhibitors. Its NFR Express shuttle to the arena is one way only.
How long has the NFR been in Las Vegas?
Since 1985. Oklahoma City had hosted the rodeo for the 20 years before that, and Las Vegas won it after Las Vegas Events guaranteed a bigger prize fund and PRCA president Shawn Davis broke a 5-5 board vote. Apart from 2020, when it was held in Arlington, Texas, it has stayed at the Thomas & Mack Center.