As the clock strikes midnight and the calendar flips to 2026, rodeo stands in a rare in-between moment—one that isn’t an ending or a beginning, but a pause before the next run begins.
When the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, much of the world presses reset. In the rodeo world though, it’s not that simple.
While January 1 marks a new chapter on the calendar, the sport moves to a different rhythm, one built around miles traveled, seasons overlapped, and goals that don’t always align with a traditional year.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) year officially begin on October 1 and runs through September 30 of the following calendar year. By the time New Year’s Eve arrives, many competitors are already deep into their early season, chasing winter rodeos, building earnings, and setting the tone for what’s still months away.
Yet, the turning of the year still matters.
The days between Christmas and New Year’s bring a rare pause. Trailers sit still a little longer, the horses rest, and families gather. It’s a brief window to reflect before the next long haul begins. Time at home is rare for the the cowboys and cowgirls.
For some, the new year brings momentum, but for others, it brings resolve. For many of us, it’s a reminder that the goals set months ago still demand daily commitment. Rodeo doesn’t offer clean breaks, but it does offer perspective.
As 2026 begins, winter rodeos remain in full swing. College rodeo athletes prepare for the spring semester. Young competitors look toward regional finals, circuit championships, and long-term dreams of qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo or College National Finals Rodeo.
The calendar may change, but the work stays the same. It’s about staying healthy, staying sharp, and staying grateful for the opportunity to do what we all love to do, whether that means chasing a world title, making the next short round, or roping our next calf.
Even without a formal reset, the New Year carries weight. It’s a moment to take inventory you could say and to acknowledge what went right, what didn’t, and what still lies ahead.
In rodeo, success is rarely instant and never guaranteed. It’s built over seasons, over miles. So while the PRCA season doesn’t restart tonight, the mindset often does.
As the calendar turns to 2026, rodeo athletes aren’t starting over, they’re continuing forward.
The goals are already written, the roads are already calling, and the next chapter is already underway.
Happy New Year from all of us at Rodeo Roundtable. We can't wait for what 2026 brings. Stay tuned!