ATHLETE
RULES & pAYOUTS
AMERICAN RODEO QUALIFIERS are hosted by independent producers of Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping, Tie Down Roping and Steer Wrestling events. Roughstock and Team Roping opportunities are offered at select rodeos.
Automatic Advancement (AA) is limited to 95 in each discipline. The number of entries in each American Rodeo Qualifier determines the number of AA positions awarded at an event (see Advancement Rulebook or FAQs for AA scale). Athletes can qualify for one or all three American Rodeo Regional Semi-Finals.
The American RODEO Weekend roars back into North Texas on MAY 22 and 23, 2026, promising the biggest rodeo payouts and hottest showdowns of the year. But there’s much more than what happens on the dirt.
There are several ways to qualify for The American Rodeo Regionals:
- Rank among the Top 95 AA Qualifiers in said region;
Five (5) athletes in each discipline from the 2025 PRCA/WPRA world standings #6 through #20 are seeded to each Region, and - No fewer than 10 spots are filled by regional points standings qualifiers;
- Any remaining spots are filled by high-stakes buy-in entries.
THE AMERICAN RODEO REGIONAL FINALS features the Top 10 in each discipline plus Top 3 in the Redemption Round (timed events only).
Guaranteed prize money of $540,000 is distributed across the three Regional Finals. Each season 27 winning athletes leave the Regional Finals with $10,000 EACH before they even get to Globe Life Field for The American Rodeo Weekend.
THE AMERICAN RODEO SEMI-FINALS draws the Top 5 athletes in each discipline from each Regional Finals riding for a shot to advance to The American Rodeo. Winning athletes are guaranteed a share of the $360,000 prize money.
THE AMERICAN RODEO is a winner-take-all showdown at Globe Life Field where only Qualifier athletes are eligible to win the $1 million bonus. If more than one wins their discipline, the bonus will be divided amongst them. $2.3 million was dispersed at The American in 2025.