Set for April 10–12, The Hondo Rodeo arrives in New Orleans with a handpicked roster of the best rodeo athletes in the game continuing to blend elite competition with major entertainment, this time inside Caesars Superdome.
Rodeo is headed somewhere new.
Next weekend, April 10–12, The Hondo Rodeo Fest will take over Caesars Superdome, bringing Western sports to a stage commonly associated with football championships and sold-out concerts, not bucking ropes and bucking horses.
That’s exactly the point. Rodeo is growing. The stage is getting bigger and broader, and the competition is only getting tougher.
The Hondo isn’t trying to fit into the traditional rodeo model. It’s built to bring rodeo, music, and Western culture together under one brand, creating an experience that goes beyond the arena. From the dirt to the stage, the goal is to deliver a full weekend that feels bigger than just a rodeo for the fans and the cowboys.
This event marks the latest step in that vision. After building a phenomenal production in Phoenix, Arizona, The Hondo now moves into one of the most recognizable venues in the country hoping to expand both its reach and its audience.
At the center of it all is the athletes. This isn’t an open-entry rodeo or even a qualification style. This is an invite-only style.
That means every name on this stacked roster has been hand selected bringing together a mix of world champions, veterans, and the hottest rising stars. It creates a different level of intensity for fans, rather they are new to the sport or have been fans for decades. These 8 cowboys and cowgirls in each event are recognizable names with a fan base of their own. Only the best get this invite.
Stepping into a venue like the Superdome isn’t something that happens every weekend. This is an opportunity to be part of something new.
Alongside the rodeo, the event will feature a full concert lineup, including Jason Aldean and Lynyrd Skynyrd on night one, followed by Cody Johnson and Old Dominion on night two, and Creed with Bailey Zimmerman closing out the weekend.
It’s a lineup that matches the scale of the venue, and the ambition of the event.The Hondo isn’t just about where rodeo has been, it’s about where it can go. This packed weekend in New Orleans, that idea gets one of its biggest stages yet.
Invited Contestants – The Hondo Rodeo New Orleans Style
Bareback Riding
This past November, the Hondo returned to Phoeniz, Arizonia for the second year. In the bareback riding, Jess Pope took the title with 261 points on three head after winning the first round. Pope returns now to New Orleans hoping to do it all again.
Also on the roster is the reining World Champion Rocker Steiner who is currently back in the number one spot of the PRCA World Standings in 2026. Jacob Lees, the inaugural Hondo Rodeo champion in 2024 is also headed to New Orleans.
Jess Pope, Rocker Steiner, Jacob Lees, Sam Peterson, Bradlee Miller, Kade Sonnier, Waylon Bourgeois, RC Landingham
Steer Wrestling
The steer wrestling is packed with the greatest guys in the game too. In November, Ty Erickson came out as the Hondo Champion. He looks to repeat again while in New Orleans. Dakota Eldridge won the 2024 Hondo rodeo and is back on the roster. The 2025 PRCA World Champion Tucker Allen will take his chances in the Superdome too.
Ty Erickson, Dakota Eldridge, Tucker Allen, Justin Shaffer, Rowdy Parrott, Tyler Waguespack, Jesse Brown, Kyle Irwin
Team Roping
In the team roping it is sure to be a show with the greatest guys to ever do it on the list. In November in Phoenix, Kaleb Driggers and Paul Eaves teamed up to take the average win. In 2024, Eaves heeled for Erich Rogers and took the win that year too. Eaves is going for 3 Hondo Rodeo titles in a row. Driggers and Rogers also are on the list as well as the reining World Champions Andrew Ward and Jake Long. Header Dustin Egusquiza recently set a new World record at Rodeo Austin before heading to the Superdome himself. It really could not be a better set of team ropers.
Headers: Kaleb Driggers, Erich Rogers, Andrew Ward, Cyle Denison, Dustin Egusquiza, Kolton Smidt, Tyler Wade, Clint Summers
Heelers: Paul Eaves, Jake Long, Corty Petska, Lane Mitchell, Junior Nogueira, Jonathan Torres, Wesley Thorp, Jade Corkill
Tie Down Roping
The tie-down roping has been one of the fastest and most intense events in Hondo history. This year is sure to be no different with this list of talented guys. Riley Webb is looking to continue his dominance. He is a 3x consecutive and reining World Champion and is leading this years standings following a dominating and record breaking RODEOHOUSTON performance.
In 2025 Tuf Cooper won the Hondo Rodeo, and in 2024 it was Shane Hanchey on top. Cooper and Hanchey also return looking to repeat their titles.
Riley Webb, Tuf Cooper, Shane Hanchey, Ty Harris, Kincade Henry, Joel Harris, Dylan Hancock, John Douch
Saddle Bronc
The trends continue in the saddle bronc with World Champions headed to New Orleans. The youngest of the Wright brothers, and the reining World Champion Statler Wright will be representing the blue in the Superdome. 2025 Hondo Champion Kade Bruno looks to repeat along with 2024 Co Champion Zeke Thurston.
Statler Wright, Zeke Thurston, Kade Bruno, Wyatt Casper, Sage Newman, Lefty Holman, Damian Brennan, Zac Dallas
Breakaway Roping
The ladies with a rope will also take on New Orleans. 2022 World Champion Martha Angelone has now won the Hondo Rodeo Fest title in Phoeniz two years in a row. She is the only lady to ever get that presitigous title in the breakaway so far and is looking to continue that streak in the Superdome this year. She is joined by reining World Champion Taylor Munsell and current World Standings leader Hali Williams who is fresh off of a $60,000 win at RODEOHOUSTON. With this list of ladies it is sure to be a knife fight.
Martha Angelone, Taylor Munsell, Hali Williams, Josie Conner, Jackie Crawford, Rylee George, Bradi Good, Cheyanne McCartney
Barrel Racing
There is a similar story in the barrel race with only one lady who has ever walked out of Chase Field with the title. That talented barrel racer happens to be the one and only Lisa Lockhart who recently became the first lady to surpass 4 million dollars in WPRA earnings.
Also on the list this year is the 5x World Champion Hailey Kinsel and the 2025 Rookie of the Year Makenzie Mayes.
Lisa Lockhart, Hailey Kinsel, Makenzie Mayes, Wenda Johnson, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Emilyl Biesel, Carlee Otero, Tricia Aldridge
Bull Riding
The bull riding is the only event that invites 12 contestants. This includes Colorado kid Luke Mackey who is having a stellar 2026 season after making his NFR debut last year. Hayden Welsh is a rookie and is also having an incredible start to his year.
Luke Mackey, Hayden Welsh, Boudreaux Campbell, Dustin Boquet, Trey Kimzey, Tristen Hutchings, Cooper James, Braxton Whitesell, Noah Lee, JR Stratford, Hayes Weight, Lane Vaughn
With these lists of cowboys and cowgirls, the Hondo Rodeo in Ceasers Superdome is sure to be a show. 3 rounds will determine this years first champion as the Hondo continues to make history putting rodeo on the biggest stages.
Stay tuned on Rodeo Roundtable for all your Hondo Rodeo coverage and updates.