Entertainment Magazine: Tucson Rodeo

The 2026 Tucson Rodeo Parade

The 101th Annual Tucson Rodeo Parade will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. In cooperation with the City of Tucson, the parade route will begin at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road, proceed East on Drexel to Nogales Highway, then turn North, ending at Irvington Road.

Included in the procession will be local and national dignitaries, Native American tribal leadership and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, royalty from three rodeos and working cowboys.

The League of Mexican American Women, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, and Mormon Battalion are entries that have been in the parade greater than 45 consecutive years. In all, the parade features over 130 entries – consisting of over 500 horses, approximately 2,300 people, 85 wagons and buggies and 11 marching
bands.

Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower.

Entries compete in 21 prize classes ranging from Western Riding Groups and Historical to Most Comical and Multiple-team Hitch. There are three special awards: The Curt Sullivan Sweepstakes award (overall best entry), the Chairman’s Award and the Judge’s Award; and two special band awards named after past Parade Committee members, the Paul Grimes Award (Outstanding music performance) and the Bucky Steele Award (Outstanding marching performance).

WHEN: 9 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

WHERE: The parade route circles the streets around the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Entrants start at South 12th Avenue and West Drexel Road, travel east to Nogales
Highway, north on Nogales Highway to Irvington Road/Sixth Avenue where they return to the Rodeo Grounds. The route is approximately 2.25 miles in
length.

Parking is available to the public adjacent to the grandstands at Drexel and Liberty; and at Rudy Garcia Park before 8:30 a.m., when Tucson Police close the
streets to accommodate the Tucson Rodeo Parade. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

The parade is FREE to spectators along most of its route. Ticketed grandstand seating that includes pre-parade entertainment is also available near the beginning of the parade on Drexel Road.

Pre-purchased grandstand tickets are $15 each for adults and $10 for children aged 12 and under. Tickets are available online at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org. Pre-parade entertainment includes performers from Old Tucson, Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School, and Los Guerreros de Pueblo Folklorico Dancers. The Tucson Wagon and History Museum is open through April 4, 2026.*

Walk among more than 125 horse-drawn vehicles and great displays featuring life as it was in late 19th century Tucson.

The Museum is at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, corner of 6th Ave and Irvington  Road. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday. Museum admission is $10 per adult; children under 16 are $2. Active military, first responders and educators (and families) with ID are 50% off. Private tours may be arranged year-round by contacting Tom Davenport at tmdavenport1@aol.com
or 520-349-4229.

* Special hours during Rodeo Week 2026 - 9:30 a.m. to Noon on February 21, 22, 30, 31, and March 1st. Closed Parade Day.

PUBLIC CONTACT: Call 520-294-1280 or visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org for more information.

2026 TUCSON RODEO PARADE ENTRY APPLICATIONS OPEN


Applications for entries in the 2026 Tucson Rodeo Parade are now open online at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org.  Applications will close at 5 p.m. January 16, 2026.  The Tucson Rodeo Parade is one of the longest non-motorized parades in the world and a 101-year Tucson tradition bringing the vibrant history and colors of the Southwest to life each February. The theme for this year’s parade will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

An average of 150,000 spectators line the streets in southern Tucson in anticipation of the parade.  The 101st Annual Parada de los Vaqueros, the Tucson Rodeo Parade, will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Included in the procession will be local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys. In all, the parade features over 135 entries – consisting of over 550 horses, approximately 2,200 people, 90 wagons and buggies and 10 marching bands.

Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower.

Entries compete in 21 prize classes ranging from Western Riding Groups and Historical to Most Comical and Multiple-team Hitch. There are three special awards:  The Curt Sullivan Sweepstakes award (overall best entry) the Chairman’s Award and the Judge’s Award; and two special band awards named after past Parade Committee members, the Paul Grimes award (Outstanding music performance) and the Bucky Steele award (Outstanding marching performance).

 
CONTACT:    Call 520-294-1280 or visit
www.tucsonrodeoparade.org for more information.

   
The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee appreciates the assistance of the City of Tucson and the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association in finding this new route that will offer plenty of spectator viewing opportunities.
   
The parade is FREE to spectators along most of its route.  Ticketed grandstand seating that includes pre-parade entertainment, is available at a new location on Drexel Road near Liberty Avenue. Pre-purchased grandstand tickets are $12 each for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under.  Limited parking is available before 8:30 a.m. adjacent to the grandstands for $5 per vehicle. Tickets are available online at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org.

Included in the parade will be local and national dignitaries, Native American tribal leadership and performers, historic wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, royalty from four rodeos and working cowboys. In all, the parade features over 120 entries – consisting of over 500 horses, approximately 2,300 people, 85 wagons and buggies and 8 marching bands.

Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower.

Read about Tucson Rodeo Parade Safety Protocols

About the Tucson Rodeo Parade and Committee

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc. (a 501c3) plans and organizes the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade, one of the longest non-motorized parades in the world, and operates the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, a collection of more than 125 historic horse-drawn vehicles in addition to Western memorabilia. For more, visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org.


The 101st Annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the Tucson Rodeo Parade for 2026 is a Tucson tradition that brings the vibrant history and colors of the Southwest to life each February in conjunction with the Tucson Rodeo. 

The Tucson Rodeo Parade is FREE to spectators along most of its 2.5 mile route. Ticketed grandstand seating is available.

 

Tucson Rodeo Events

Safety at the Tucson Rodeo Parade

Tucson Rodeo Parade Route and Parking

The parade route circles the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Entrants start at Ajo Way and Fair Avenue, travel east to Park Avenue, south on Park Avenue, west onto Irvington Road and north on Sixth Avenue where they return to the Rodeo Grounds. The route is approximately 2.5 miles in length.

Parking is available to the public at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds before 8 a.m., when Tucson Police close down the streets to accommodate the Tucson Rodeo Parade.



Included in the procession are local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and Mariachies, royalty from five rodeos and working cowboys. The League of Mexican-American Women and Mormon Battalion are entries that have been in the parade greater than 30 consecutive years.
  • WATCHING THE PARADE: The parade is free to spectators along the route. The Parade Committee asks all spectators to follow instructions from Tucson Police Department (TPD) officers and parade volunteers to help ensure a safe parade. All spectators must stay off the curb line. Arrive early to secure viewing spots along the parade route, or sit in the grandstands along Irvington Road near the Rodeo Grounds.
  • Noisemakers (horns, cap guns, balloons, poppers) may not be brought to the parade and will be confiscated. Also for safety, spectators are restricted to the official parade route and may not enter the staging and line-up areas in the Fairgrounds Neighborhood.
  • RODEO PARADE TICKETS: Grandstand tickets can be purchased online at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org or at the Rodeo Parade Office at 4823 South Sixth Avenue or via phone with a credit card (294-1280). Grandstand tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
  • PARKING: Parking is available at the Rodeo Grounds before 8 a.m. Pre-parade entertainment at the grandstands begins at 8 a.m. Spectators driving to the parade will have the traditional access to parking on the rodeo grounds through the gate on 3rd Avenue.  Access the 3rd avenue gate by traveling west bound on Irvington to 3rd, then through the gate. Please note that Irvington is completely closed at 8 a.m. except for parade spectators and performers. Arrive early to see our pre-parade entertainment beginning at 8 a.m.  Someone at the gate will provide instructions on where to park.
  • GRANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT seating includes pre-parade entertainment. Tickets are only $10 each for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Pre-parade entertainment includes Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School, the Sons of Orpheus men's chorus, and a showdown gunfight show featuring the Pinnacle Peak Pistoleros.
  • Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum is open now through April. * Here you can walk among more than 125 horse-drawn vehicles and great displays featuring life as it was in late 19th century Tucson. The Museum is at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, corner of 6th Ave and Irvington Road. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday; closed Sundays. Museum admission donation is $10 per adult; $7 for seniors over 65; children under 16 are $2. Private tours may be arranged year-round by contacting Bob Stewart @ 520-591-9585 or 520-294-1280. During the Rodeo, Feb 17-25, 2018 - Museum operates on reduced hours! Call 520-294-1280 for details.
  • TUCSON RODEO PARADE SPONSORSHIP Sponsorships are available in a variety of levels for Arizona's largest single-day spectator event with over 150,000 spectators on the parade route and a live Television broadcast to over 35,000 households.  Please contact the Parade office at 520-841-1131 for sponsorship information.

History of the Tucson Rodeo and Parade

In 1924, Frederick Leighton Kramer, President of the Arizona Polo Association and later recognized as the Founder of the Tucson Rodeo and Rodeo Parade, gathered a group of local business men to discuss the possibility of having a Rodeo. Continue reading about the Tucson Rodeo Parade History.

Tucson Rodeo

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum is now open.

For more information about the Tucson Rodeo Parade

Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc.
P.O. Box 1788 Tucson, Arizona 85702
Phone: 520-294-1280 | Museum: 520-294-3636

Tucson Parade web site: www.TucsonRodeoParade.org

Tucson Rodeo web site:
www.tucsonrodeo.com

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Discover the forgotten history and legends of the Catalina Mountains– the lost Iron Door Mine, the lost city and the lost mission; the history of Oracle and Buffalo Bill Cody's gold mines in the Catalinas. Purchase copies at the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum. Read sample chapters, download FREE PDF and order online: Treasures of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

 
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