There are arenas that host sports, and then there are arenas that define them.
For more than a century, Madison Square Garden has been the proving ground for champions, where moments become memories and legends are forged under the brightest lights in the world. This weekend, that tradition continues in a way few New Yorkers ever imagined, as the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden presented by Ariat returns to center stage.
Stop No. 4 of the PBR Unleash The Beast Buck Off at the Garden isn’t just another weekend on the schedule. It’s a collision of worlds. Wall Street precision meets Western grit. Suits and subways give way to spurs and stock contractors. And inside the world’s most famous arena, the toughest athletes on dirt prepare to test themselves against the rankest bucking bulls on the planet.
This is professional bull riding at its most dramatic — and its most demanding.
Event Information
Dates: January 9–11, 2026
Location: Madison Square Garden — New York City
Start times:
Friday: 7:45 p.m. ET
Saturday: 7:45 p.m. ET
Sunday: 1:45 p.m. ET
For tickets and event details click HERE.
Where to Watch
Fans around the world can catch every second of the action live on Paramount+, the official and exclusive home of the PBR Unleash The Beast Series.
Available on all major streaming devices, Paramount+ delivers every ride, every matchup and every championship point in real time.
To watch live and on demand click HERE.
For full broadcast schedule click HERE.
Why New York Matters
Madison Square Garden is just different.
The building is tighter. The lights feel closer. The margin for error is thinner. Riders don’t just compete against bulls here — they compete against history. Add in the fact that New York is a three-day event, and the stakes climb even higher.
With the additional go-round, riders will battle for:
• Extra round points toward the World Championship
• An enhanced event average worth 100 world points
• An additional 28 points available due to the expanded format
In a season where Fort Worth still looms large, New York has the power to dramatically reshape the standings.
A Tour Tightened by the Cut
After Boston, the Unleash The Beast Series did what it always does early in the season — it demanded separation.
Some riders were sent back to the Velocity Tour to earn their way back. Others remain due to injury exemptions and approved considerations. That’s why New York features 43 riders instead of the traditional 40.
More riders mean more pressure — and more eight-second rides that matter.
What to Watch for at the Buck Off at the Garden
The Buck Off at the Garden is never just another stop — it’s a pressure cooker. With a sharpened field, elevated point payouts and three full days of competition, this weekend could prove pivotal in the 2026 World Championship race.
Veterans with Unfinished Business
João Ricardo Vieira remains one of the most technically gifted riders in the sport. When his timing aligns, he is still capable of beating anyone in the field. New York’s environment rewards composure — and few possess it like Vieira.
Jess Lockwood, the two-time world champion, returns to Madison Square Garden continuing his quest for a third gold buckle. After looking rejuvenated during the Team Series, Lockwood arrives with momentum, confidence and championship calm.
Riders with Something to Prove
José Vitor Leme makes his return to the Big Apple determined to reset after a Boston outing that fell short of his own expectations. Few riders are better equipped to flip momentum in a single weekend.
Qynn Andersen understands the urgency of the moment. In a tightened field, advancement isn’t guaranteed — it’s earned.
Momentum Meets the Spotlight
Marco Rizzo enters New York carrying confidence into one of the season’s most demanding venues. How he handles the added rounds and pressure will be one of the weekend’s defining storylines.
Dalton Kasel will be looking to reassert himself after Boston and regain early-season momentum.
The Dangerous Middle
Riders like Daylon Swearingen, Cort McFadden, Mason Taylor and Kase Hitt form one of the most competitive middle tiers on tour. In a three-day event, this group often becomes the separator.
Toughness on Full Display
Callum Miller returns to competition after injury, embodying the grit and resilience that define the Unleash The Beast cowboys.
Beyond the Dirt
In Western sports — and across the Western industry as a whole — there is an unspoken understanding that we stand together and do the right thing simply because it is the right thing.
While fans come to watch what happens inside the arena, there is just as much inspiration happening beyond the dirt. Acts of generosity, compassion and unity quietly unfold behind the scenes, driven by the same values that define this way of life. Great athletes — both four-legged and two-legged — along with stock contractors, former riders, arena personnel, event staff and countless others, consistently step up to help when it matters most.
That spirit is exactly what has brought so many people together in support of Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation.
Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation exists to ensure that people who are mobility challenged are not left behind when it comes to accessing the outdoors and experiencing the freedom that comes with it.
For individuals who have faced life-altering circumstances — whether from birth, injury, illness or unexpected events — traditional insurance and assistance programs often fall short, leaving them without access to adaptive outdoor equipment. Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation was created to help fill that gap by raising funds and awareness to provide adaptive all-terrain mobility equipment, allowing individuals and families to reconnect with nature, outdoor traditions and a way of life that means so much to so many.
At its core, the foundation is about dignity, inclusion and opportunity — ensuring that the outdoors remain open to everyone, regardless of physical limitations.
Learn more HERE.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media