What You Need to Know About the 2026 NRCHA Celebration of Champions & World’s Greatest Horseman

From riders chasing a World Championship title to the elite 15 competitors in the World’s Greatest Horseman and the talented derby-aged horses in the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby, the NRCHA Celebration of Champions event showcases the incredible skill and versatility of the reined cow horse.

Full Schedule of Events & Classes

WGH Need-to-Knows:

• What is the World’s Greatest Horseman?
• How to Win
• Where to WatchTicketsLivestreamHerd WorkWGH Archives
  • Tickets
  • Livestream
  • Herd Work
  • WGH Archives
• When is the World’s Greatest Horseman?

What is the World’s Greatest Horseman?

Since its inception in 1999, this event is considered the crown jewel of reined cow horse events. NRCHA’s World’s Greatest Horseman competition challenges riders and their horses with a gauntlet of four events including cutting, reining, fence work, and steer stopping that proves challenging to even seasoned horsemen. Exhibitors may only show one horse, in the same bridle for each event, and the World’s Greatest Horseman is open to all breeds of any age regardless of show history.

This competition challenges riders and their horses to master four events in order to join the 15-rider finals and get a shot at taking home the winner’s purse and prestigious World’s Greatest Horseman title. Title sponsors, Western Bloodstock and Ray Shell Ranch, are bringing you another exhilarating event featuring a field of 15 talented horses and riders.

How to Win

The World’s Greatest Horseman highlights the athleticism and versatility of the cow horse, challenging competitors in four demanding events:

• Herd Work – Showcasing precision and control as riders work to separate a cow from the herd.
• Reined Work – Demonstrating finesse while riding a pattern of spins, circles, and sliding stops.
• Steer Stopping – Riders put their roping and dallying skills to the test as they break from the box to catch and stop a steer.
• Cow Work – A crowd favorite, where riders circle a cow and then take it down the fence at breakneck speeds.

As these talented teams slide, stop, turn, and cut cattle, they prove that the reined cow horse truly can do it all.

The total added money for the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman is $300,000.

[As you watch these riders go down the fence, learn the physics of cow work HERE]

Erin Taormino Rides Into History as First Woman to Claim World’s Greatest Horseman Title

Where to Watch

Tickets

If you’re in Fort Worth, catch all the action in-person! The World’s Greatest Horseman finals on Feb. 28 is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.

Livestream

Watch LIVE on the NRCHA website.

If you missed any of the action, though, log in to Ride TV following the event’s conclusion to watch the 2026 World’s Greatest Horseman on demand.

Herd Work

Catch the herd work in-person, even without tickets. This first event is free and open to the public. Herd work will be held in the John Justin arena. Event begins at 1:00 p.m – settle at 12:40 p.m.

WGH Archives

Relive past WGH events from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 on the Ride TV archives.

When is the World’s Greatest Horseman?

Feb. 28, 2026 will be the day to catch the World’s Greatest Horseman finals action. The steer stopping, rein work, and cow work finals will all be held in the Will Rogers Coliseum beginning at 4:00 p.m., with the herd work being held in the John Justin arena earlier in the day.