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National Western Stock Show breaks attendance record

By January 26, 2026 | updated 14 hours ago

The 120th year of the National Western Stock Show was a bucking success, breaking the previous attendance record set in 2006.

“This year was bigger than ever, and Denver came together to celebrate the Western way of life, helping us crush the all-time attendance record,” said Wes Allison, first-year president and CEO of the NWSS, in a press release late Sunday.

Between Jan. 11-25, 750,039 people enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the 16-day event at the Stock Show grounds in northern Denver — breaking the NWSS’ previous attendance record of 726,972 set in 2006.

The overall attendance wasn’t the only record broken during the yearly event that transports Denverites back to the days of the old west with rodeos, cowboy hats and Rocky Mountain oysters.

The first two days of the 16-day event saw 118,919 people clomping boots and tipping hats, breaking the NWSS record for opening weekend attendance.

FILE PHOTO: People gather to have their picture taken with the National Western Stock Show’s Grand Champion Steer at The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver on Friday, January 23, 2026. (Michael G. Seamans/The Gazette)

Furthermore, the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions led to the Grand Champion Junior Market Steer, shown by 13-year-old Cannon Reinmann, breaking the auction record with a $320,000 purchase by the Bank of Colorado.

The overall auction sales totaled $1,875,500, a new record by $423,000, according to the release.

A portion of those proceeds — along with dinners, art exhibits and other events — went to the National Western Scholarship Trust, which goes to students studying agriculture, veterinary medicine and rural medicine.

“Thanks to our sponsors and partners, we’re able to award 120 scholarships each year, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per student,” Allison said. “These scholarships give students the chance to turn their passion for agriculture into meaningful careers and lasting impact.”

While the event was not actually the 120th consecutive show due to the COVID pandemic canceling the 2021 show, it was the 120th year the Stock Show has existed, leading to exciting developments that drove in the new boots and traffic.

The anniversary celebration included the grand opening of the 30-acre Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center and The Legacy, the National Western Stock Show’s new world headquarters.

But now the cowboys and cowgirls will ride off into the sunset, awaiting another year of dirt roads and grazing cattle within the heart of the metro.

Next year’s National Western Stock Show is scheduled for Jan. 9-24, 2027.

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Sage Kelley

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