The rodeo, a staple of Texas culture, will not return to the most Texan place on earth, the State Fair of Texas, this year — a decision that has left many in the rodeo community heartbroken.
In mid-January, the State Fair of Texas announced it would pause both the prefair horse show and the rodeo for the 2026 fair season. Fair officials said in a news release the decision was part of a broader evaluation following the 2025 season. Although the rodeo returned only a few years ago, organizers said its absence is not meant to be permanent.
Karissa Condoianis, spokesperson and senior vice president of public relations for the State Fair of Texas, said in a statement the 2025 fair did not perform to expectations. As a nonprofit organization, the fair has a responsibility to plan thoughtfully and make adjustments when necessary, she said.
“It is part of a broader effort to identify opportunities for cost savings and operational adjustments so the State Fair of Texas can remain affordable for families and continue to thrive for future generations,” Condoianis said.
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According to reporting from The Dallas Morning News last year, attendance at the 2025 State Fair declined by 15.3% to the lowest point in eight years.
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Plans disrupted
Since the rodeo’s return in 2018, National Champion and his family were among the first contractors involved. Champion, who prioritized animal safety and oversaw livestock welfare in the Fair Park Coliseum, also supplied livestock for the event. He said he and several others had already begun planning for the 2026 rodeo when they were informed it had been canceled.
“We were pretty shocked,” Champion said. “It had grown substantially, and it just started getting better and better every year as far as people watching the rodeo and participation.”
Kyle Welch competed at the State Fair of Texas rodeo in 2024. The State Fair announced it would pause both the prefair horse show and the rodeo for the 2026 fair season.
Jason Janik / Special Contributor
Champion said his family structured their entire October around the State Fair because of their role in the rodeo, making it a major part of their lives and their children’s upbringing.
“Every rodeo we go to throughout the year, they compare everything to the State Fair of Texas, and nothing is comparable,” Champion said. “They loved it, and it became a major part of our family.”
With the cancellation, Champion said he now faces the challenge of reworking plans for the entire month.
“It’s a big downfall because we relied on it, so it’s pretty tough,” he said.
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Not everyone is disappointed by the rodeo’s cancellation. Steve Hindi, founder of SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness, said rodeos abuse, overwork and mistreat animals.
Hindi argued that rodeo animals are domesticated farm animals that appear calm before and after events, and said their sudden bucking behavior is the result of discomfort rather than athleticism. The use of flank straps, he said, places pressure on a sensitive area and causes distress.
“They’re not animal athletes,” Hindi said. “They’re tormented, docile farm animals.”
Economic impact
JJ Hampton, a member of the United Professional Rodeo Association for nearly 30 years, said the cancellation will also impact competitors. The organization had planned for its contestants to compete on the State Fair stage in the finals.
“It’s the finals that pay a lot of money and help them win extra income throughout the year,” Hampton said.
In a statement, the association expressed its full support for the State Fair of Texas, its leadership and the Western way of life both organizations promote.
“The State Fair of Texas has provided an incredible platform for showcasing our sport, our talent, and our traditions,” Jerry Hill, president of the association, said in a statement. “We respect their decision and remain optimistic that ‘The Most Texan Place on Earth,’ with the most Texan event on Earth, held in the greatest city, will one day return stronger than ever.”
Hampton, who grew up attending the State Fair with her father when he competed in rodeo events, said the event represents Western heritage and a way of life in Dallas — something she believes is important for younger generations to experience.
An advocate for rodeo, Hampton said the cancellation will also have an economic impact on the city. Visitors who traveled to compete and attend events often spent money locally on food, fuel and lodging.
Rodeo riders and their horses greet fairgoers at the State Fair of Texas in 2024. The rodeo returned to the State Fair in 2018.
Jason Janik / Special Contributor
Tara Lee Woodall, a barrel horse trainer who has competed at the State Fair of Texas over the years, said the rodeo was her main reason for attending the fair. Without it, she does not plan to go this year.
Woodall said the cancellation will have a significant financial impact on the surrounding area. The arena brought competitors and spectators who supported nearby restaurants and businesses, boosting the local economy.
“I would say most people that are in the rodeo or in the barrel race, we have no reason to go to the fair,” Woodall said.
‘I was super sad’
T.C. Long, who has served as a rodeo announcer for several years, said one of the special aspects of the State Fair rodeo was the number of first-time fans it attracted.
“There are a lot of first-time rodeo fans who come to Texas to see a rodeo, and it’s neat to watch them learn to love our sport,” Long said.
Long said he received a phone call about the cancellation just as the press release was being distributed.
“I was super sad,” Long said. “I mean, it’s how we make our living.”
“It does affect us financially in the short term, but we will move on just like everybody else does,” Long said.
Long said it’s understandable that the fair has to make decisions financially like any business.
“You have to make hard decisions sometimes. I just hope that it gets to come back,” Long said.