Sunny and 70 has made for odd weather in Denver, Colorado lately. It is hard to believe that the National Western Stock Show Qualifier is already here, and the NWSS is right around the corner.
The 2026 Winter Rodeos Are Here
Rodeo never really has a down season, and a short week after the completion of the 2025 National Finals Rodeo, cowboys are right back at it in Denver, Colo. The NWSS hosts a qualifier each year for rodeo contestants who were not qualified from the 2025 standings to compete at the big show in late January.
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo
The NWSS brings 80 contestants to the Denver Coliseum from January 15th through the 25th. Forty of the contestants qualify from their performance in the 2025 rodeo season. The remaining forty earn spots by competing in a qualifying event nearly a month before the rodeo. The qualifying event is not limited.
Qualifying for NWSS
The qualifier is just held for the timed events for the PRCA contestants. Each event will take ten guys from the first round, ten contestants from the second round, and then twenty will advance from the average. Contestants are taken from the rounds first, then from average, so if a contestant places in both rounds, they will be removed from the second round, and they will drop down in the second round to fill that spot.
Essentially the cowboys have three ways to try and earn their spot in their event.
Denver Qualifier Not in Denver?
Last minute, contestants were alerted to a facility location change for the NWSS qualifier. Due to NWSS decisions to keep the facility prepared for all the incoming horse traffic for the event, NWSS officials worked with Douglas County Fairgrounds to host the qualifier.
With the recent EHV-1 cases, NWSS felt it was best to keep horses away from the Denver location longer in hopes of keeping the facility ready for the 2026 NWSS. Though there is still only one reported EHV-1 case in Colorado, the goal is to be diligent with biosecurity and take all measures to ensure the show can go on in January…