Hondo Rodeo Fest Returns to Phoenix With Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and a $1 Million Rodeo

Three days of championship rodeo, major country music headliners and a massive Western street festival are headed back to Chase Field November 13-15.

Phoenix, Arizona has always had a strong connection to Western culture, even as the Valley continues to grow into one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. This November, Hondo Rodeo Fest is bringing some of that cowboy spirit right into the heart of downtown, and it’s bringing a pretty impressive lineup along with it.

Returning to Chase Field from November 13-15, 2026, Hondo Rodeo Fest will combine an invitation-only competition featuring some of the world’s top rodeo athletes with nightly concerts from Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Turnpike Troubadours, Parker McCollum and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

After launching in Phoenix in 2024 and selling out its 2025 edition, the festival is preparing for its biggest hometown event yet. With a $1 million rodeo purse, six major musical acts and an expanded free street festival, there’s plenty to draw both lifelong rodeo fans and people who have never set foot in an arena.

A Million Dollars on the Line at Chase Field

For anyone unfamiliar with professional rodeo, Hondo is a pretty compelling introduction to the sport.

The competition features eight traditional rodeo events, including bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and breakaway roping.

What makes Hondo particularly interesting is its independent format. Rather than operating under a traditional rodeo sanctioning body, organizers invite elite athletes from across the sport to compete against one another for a share of the $1 million purse.

Think of it as an all-star competition for rodeo, with the added intensity of serious prize money on the line.

Among the notable competitors expected this year is John Crimber, the 2026 PBR World Champion who also won Hondo’s Phoenix bull riding competition in 2024. He’ll be joined by accomplished competitors including three-time consecutive PRCA World Champion tie-down roper Riley Webb and barrel racing standout Lisa Lockhart, the WPRA’s all-time leader in career and National Finals Rodeo earnings.

The festival has also partnered with Bucktown, the bull riding organization founded by two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney, to create additional opportunities for talented riders to reach Hondo’s national stage. Professional bull rider Daniel Keeping earned his Phoenix invitation after winning BuckJam Season 2.

Whether you’re familiar with the names or learning about the sport for the first time, watching these athletes compete in person should offer a pretty good appreciation for the athleticism, risk and precision involved.

Six Major Artists, Three Nights of Live Music

Of course, the rodeo is only part of the weekend. Hondo has assembled a music lineup that could easily stand on its own as a major country festival.

Each night features two full-length performances following the rodeo, with a mix of country superstars, independent favorites and classic Southern rock.

Friday, November 13: Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert

Friday’s lineup brings together two of country music’s most recognizable names.

Tim McGraw has spent decades building a catalog of hits, from “Live Like You Were Dying” and “Something Like That” to “Humble and Kind.” He’s the kind of performer whose music reaches well beyond the usual country audience, and there’s a good chance even casual fans will know quite a few songs.

Miranda Lambert brings a different flavor to the evening, with a career built around sharp songwriting, a rebellious streak and songs like “The House That Built Me,” “Gunpowder & Lead” and “Mama’s Broken Heart.”

Between the two, Friday looks like a particularly strong opening night for fans of mainstream country music.

Saturday, November 14: Blake Shelton and Turnpike Troubadours

Saturday pairs one of country music’s biggest personalities with a band that has built an especially loyal following.

Blake Shelton brings the mainstream star power, with familiar hits including “God’s Country,” “Honey Bee” and “Austin.” His career has made him a household name far beyond country radio, thanks in part to his years on television.

Turnpike Troubadours, meanwhile, have become favorites among fans of Red Dirt and Americana-influenced country. Their music leans heavily into storytelling, with songs like “Good Lord Lorrie” and “Long Hot Summer Day” earning them a devoted audience.

It’s an interesting pairing, particularly for anyone who enjoys both the polished production of modern country and the more roots-oriented sound of the Oklahoma music scene.

Sunday, November 15: Parker McCollum and Lynyrd Skynyrd

Sunday closes the weekend with a combination of contemporary Texas country and Southern rock history.

Parker McCollum has established himself as one of the prominent younger names in country music, with hits like “Pretty Heart” and “Handle on You.” His songwriting and Texas roots have helped him build a following that stretches well beyond his home state.

Then there’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, a band whose influence on Southern rock hardly needs an introduction. Songs like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird” have remained staples of American rock music for generations.

Ending a weekend of rodeo with thousands of people singing along to “Free Bird” inside Chase Field sounds like a fitting way to close things out.

The Free Street Festival Is Getting Even Bigger

One of the more appealing parts of Hondo Rodeo Fest is that you don’t necessarily need a ticket to get involved in the festivities.

Outside the ticketed rodeo and concert experience, organizers are expanding their free Western-themed Street Fest, with two stages of live music, approximately 80 vendors and around 120 booth spaces planned for this year’s event.

Expect shopping, food, music, dancing and plenty of Western atmosphere surrounding Chase Field throughout the weekend.

The Street Fest opens at noon each day and is scheduled to run until 1 a.m. It’s free and open to the public, making it an accessible option for families, downtown visitors or anyone curious about the event before committing to the full stadium experience.

It’s also a chance to experience a side of Western culture that goes beyond competition. From the fashion and music to the businesses and traditions surrounding the sport, rodeo has always had a larger community around it.

And with the growing popularity of Western-inspired fashion, country music and lifestyle experiences, it’s easy to see why an event like Hondo is attracting attention outside traditional rodeo circles.

Why Phoenix Is the Right Home for Hondo

Although Hondo Rodeo Fest has begun expanding into other national markets, Phoenix remains its original home.

The event launched here in 2024, and its growth has been significant. According to organizers, the 2025 festival attracted attendees from all 50 states and 24 countries, with 45% traveling from outside the Phoenix market.

Those numbers say something about the event’s appeal. People are willing to plan an entire trip around a weekend of rodeo and country music, and Phoenix provides a pretty good setting for it.

There’s also something fitting about seeing Western culture celebrated on this scale in Arizona. Rodeo and ranching have deep roots in the state’s history, and events like Hondo introduce those traditions to an audience that might otherwise have little exposure to them.

It’s encouraging to see a festival build around that heritage while giving people another reason to get out, experience something in person and connect over a shared interest.

For more live music, festivals and experiences happening around Arizona and beyond, explore our Events & Entertainment coverage at Legendary Life Media.

Hondo Rodeo Fest 2026: Dates, Schedule and Tickets

Tickets are available for individual nights, with three-day packages and additional VIP experiences also offered. Concert floor access is available as an upgrade to a regular event ticket.

For those traveling from outside the Valley, the festival also offers ticket and hotel packages through its official website.

With three days of world-class rodeo, an unusually strong music lineup and a free festival surrounding the stadium, Hondo is shaping up to be one of the more interesting weekends on Phoenix’s November events calendar.

Even if you’ve never considered yourself much of a rodeo fan, this might be a good year to see what it’s all about.