For months, teams have reshaped their rosters, riders have prepared for another championship run and fans have counted down the days until the bucking chutes swing open once again.
Now, the wait is over.
The road to the 2026 PBR Teams Championship officially begins this weekend as the inaugural Bulls & Beats comes to Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over three action-packed days, fans will experience the inaugural Collegiate All-Star Rodeo, Opening Weekend of the Teams league and performances by three of country music’s biggest stars.
For every team, every rider and every fan, this weekend represents much more than Opening Weekend. It is the first chapter of a championship journey. Every qualified ride, every game victory and every point earned begins building toward one goal – the 2026 Championship.
A new tradition begins
Bulls & Beats brings together the very best of Western sports and live entertainment into one destination weekend.
From rising collegiate rodeo stars to the world’s best professional bull riders, the weekend offers fans an opportunity to witness every level of Western sports on one stage. Add three headline country music concerts, and Fort Collins becomes the place to be for fans looking to experience one of the most unique weekends of the year.
Weekend schedule at a glance
Friday – July 10
Collegiate All-Star Rodeo — 6:45 p.m.
Live in concert: Brad Paisley
Saturday – July 11
Opening Day of the 2026 Team Series
Live in concert: Bailey Zimmerman
Sunday – July 12
Day Two of the Team Series
Live in concert: Miranda Lambert
Friday belongs to rodeo’s rising stars
The weekend officially begins Friday evening with the inaugural Collegiate All-Star Rodeo, showcasing many of the nation’s top collegiate rodeo athletes as they compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
For these athletes, it is an opportunity to perform in front of passionate rodeo fans while showcasing the next generation of Western sports talent. When the competition concludes, country music superstar Paisley takes the stage to close out an unforgettable opening night.
Saturday: The championship chase begins
Saturday marks the official start of a brand-new Teams season.
Months of offseason roster moves, draft selections, rider development and preparation finally give way to meaningful competition as every team begins its pursuit of a championship.
Opening weekend will not determine who ultimately raises the trophy at the end of the season.
However, it can establish momentum, build confidence and provide the early foundation that championship-caliber teams often rely on throughout the year. A fast start can energize an organization, while a slow start can create an early uphill climb. In a league where every game matters, no team wants to spend the opening weeks trying to recover from a slow start.
When the final outs conclude Saturday evening, fans will be treated to a live performance by Zimmerman, putting an exclamation point on an unforgettable opening night.
Sunday: Momentum or a fresh start
Sunday presents another opportunity for teams to either build upon an impressive opening performance or regroup before leaving Fort Collins.
Championships are not won during opening weekend, but confidence, chemistry and momentum can begin to take shape. Teams that execute under pressure and capitalize on opportunities early often place themselves in a stronger position as the season unfolds.
Following the conclusion of Sunday’s competition, Lambert closes the inaugural Bulls & Beats celebration with a headline concert, bringing an exciting finish to one of the biggest weekends on the Western sports calendar.
Follow the action all weekend
Whether you’re joining us inside Canvas Stadium or following the action from home, you can stay up to date with every game, rider matchup and official day sheet throughout Opening Weekend.
The official day sheets allow fans to follow each head-to-head game as it unfolds, making it easy to keep track of the riders, matchups and competition from the first out to the final bull.
Official day sheets and matchups can be found HERE.
For the latest updates, be sure to check the official day sheet throughout the weekend, as lineups and competition information may change prior to the start of each game.
Plan your weekend
Planning to experience Opening Weekend in person?
Tickets, event information and the complete weekend schedule are available HERE.
Can’t make the trip to Fort Collins?
Fans can watch the Team Series throughout the weekend or find television information and local broadcast listings by clicking HERE.
Every championship journey begins somewhere
Every championship story starts with one ride.
One game.
One weekend.
By the time the final bull is ridden Sunday afternoon, no champion will have been crowned. But the opening chapter of the 2026 Team Series season will already be written.
Some teams will leave Fort Collins carrying confidence and momentum.
Others will leave knowing there is still work to be done.
Because while opening weekend can build momentum, championships are ultimately determined not by how a season begins—but by how a season finishes.
The road to the 2026 Team Series Championship begins this weekend.
It begins in Fort Collins.
And it all starts when the first gate cracks open.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media