Mark your calendars! From ranching challenges to major championships, the 2026 AQHA schedule unveils exciting opportunities for every western horse enthusiast.
The American Quarter Horse Association has officially announced their 2026 dates for shows nationwide. Now’s the time to plan your calendar around the opportunities offered in the year to come for western quarter horse owners and competitors. There’s much to look forward to!
The new year starts off strong with ranching heritage challenges. These challenges will occur across the west, with the first one being held January 15-February 7 at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. Next is the Black Hills Winter Stock Show in Rapid City, South Dakota January 22-25, followed by the Sunflower Celebration in Lyons, Kansas February 13-15.
The Spring brings a flurry of shows with the CSU Legends of Ranching Futurity and Maturity RHC in Fort Collins, Colorado April 17 and then the Romals and Rowels Ranch Showdown in Decatur, Texas, April 25- May 3, and the Celebrating Kansas RHC in Topeka, Kansas April 30-May 3.
These events culminate with the summer ranch horse championship shows presented by the legendary Four Sixes Ranch. Events include the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals, and the AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, June 21-27 at the Amarillo Tri-State Exposition Center in Amarillo, Texas.
For those looking for more high level show opportunities beyond ranch classes, there will be a variety of championship shows as well. Regional championships are as follows: the Region Five Championships at the DREAM Park Equestrian Center, Logan Township, New Jersey on June 24. The Region Six Championships are to be held at the Eastern States Expo in West Springfield, Massachusetts, while the Region One Championships will be held August 8-9 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington, and lastly the Region Two Championships on September 16-20 at the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City, South Dakota.
In addition to the regional championships, there are several bigger championships. There’s the AQHA West Level 1 Championships May 11-16 at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. The AQHA East Level 1 Championships will be at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio April 20-26. The AQHYA World Championship Show will be at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City July 29-August 9. Then the Markel AQHA World Championship Show; Adequan® AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan); Adequan® Level 2 Championships; and AQHA Level 1 Champion of Champions will be at the OKC Fairgrounds .
For those interested in overarching breed events, the 2026 AQHA convention will be at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas March 13-16 and then the AQHA Breeder Recognition Banquet, presented by John Deere, will be March 15 during the convention in Vegas.
It’s a full calendar representative of the incredible diversity of talent within the quarter horse world from racing to ranching. Whether it’s roping at the world show, competing in reined cow horse events, or showing in ranch versatility or trail classes, there is something for every competitor and everyone who shares a love of this special breed of horse.