PBR | PBR’s premier tour returns to Tampa after a 13-Year hiatus on Jan. 23-24

TAMPA, Fl. – As Florida’s Tom Petty sang, “The waiting is the hardest part.”

For those in the Tampa Bay area and beyond, the waiting is over. For the first time since 2012, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will bring its elite Unleash The Beast to Tampa, January 23-24, 2026.

The best riders and rankest bulls in the world will meet at Benchmark International Arena for the most unpredictable and explosive 8 seconds in sports wrapped in a rock-show, family-friendly production.

The trip to Tampa will be the sixth event of the 18-event 2026 Unleash The Beast season.

Over two days, the riders and bulls will go head-to-head with the action starting at 7:45 p.m. EST Friday night and continuing 6:45 p.m. EST Saturday to announce an event champion.

When the tour last came to Tampa in 2012, Guilherme Marchi walked away the event champion, edging out second-place by three-fourths of a point, riding three bulls on the weekend. Marchi, the 2008 PBR World Champion, would go on to become the most prolific rider in PBR history, registering 635 qualified rides.

While PBR will sell fans the whole seat, most fans only use the edge. Tickets are available at PBR.com and ticketmaster.com. PBR Rewards members can call 800-732-1727.

PBR Elite Seats are available for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets, available in two tiers, offer premium seats, personal on-sire concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, and more. For more on elite seats, click HERE, or call (800) 732-1727.

Stay tuned to PBR.com for the full 2026 Unleash The Beast schedule announcement along with the latest news and results. Be sure to follow the sport on all social media platforms at @PBR.

EVENT FAST FACTS

750 tons of dirt (1.5 million pounds) are brought in to transform Benchmark International Arena into a bull-riding mecca.
The dirt is a special clay-sand blend establishing a firm enough surface for the bulls to buck hard but soft enough so that every rider is not injured when thrown like a rag doll.
It takes 7 semi-trucks to haul in the equipment for the event.
A crew of about 30 works around the clock to prepare the venue.
Over 50 of the rankest bucking bulls on the planet will be on site.
PBR bulls are remarkable animal athletes born to buck. Each is a member of a special breed: The American Bucking Bull.
By virtue of competing in PBR, they get the best food and care, avoiding a very brief career in the meat packing industry.
The average PBR bull weighs 1,800 pounds.
The average bull rider? Just 140 lbs.