Ned LeDoux opens on Dec. 4, Chancey Williams on Dec. 5 and Blue Man Group on Dec. 8. The 2026 Wrangler NFR runs Dec. 3–12 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The table separates the opening act from the anthem singer so you can find the right date. The lineup reflects the organizer’s schedule checked November 11. Official opening ceremonies calendar
Opening acts and national anthem singers by round
| Date and round | Opening act or presentation | National anthem |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 3 · Round 1 | Vegas Night celebrating America 250 | Hadlie Jo |
| Dec. 4 · Round 2 | Ned LeDoux | Bryce Leatherwood |
| Dec. 5 · Round 3 | Chancey Williams | Caden Gillard |
| Dec. 6 · Round 4 | Anne Martinez | A.R. Simmons |
| Dec. 7 · Round 5 | Shea Fisher-Durfey | Peyton Grace |
| Dec. 8 · Round 6 | Blue Man Group | Justin Till |
| Dec. 9 · Round 7 | Ron Remke | Walker Montgomery |
| Dec. 10 · Round 8 | Supaman | Morgan Klaiber (Canadian anthem) and Beck Bridger Dahmke (U.S. anthem) |
| Dec. 11 · Round 9 | Presley Barker | Gunnar Latham |
| Dec. 12 · Round 10 | Gold Night presentation | Kalsey Kulyk |
What to watch for on Military Night, Canadian Night and the final round
- Military Night, Dec. 9. The organizer’s November announcement listed the theme for Round 7. The nightly calendar supplies the names for that round, including Ron Remke and Walker Montgomery.
- Canadian Night, Dec. 10. Round 8 has two anthem singers. Morgan Klaiber sings the Canadian anthem, and Beck Bridger Dahmke sings the U.S. anthem.
- Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. Round 3 is Golden Night featuring the Golden Circle of Champions, with Chancey Williams opening. The Gold Night opening presentation is part of Round 10, which the calendar lists as Wrangler National Patriot Night.
Las Vegas Events’ opening performance announcement · Nightly opening ceremonies calendar
When to arrive or tune in
The rodeo is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Pacific / 8:45 p.m. Eastern each night. The opening acts take place before competition, so use the round schedule and theme nights to pick your date and allow time before the start. Official rodeo start times
In Las Vegas. Las Vegas Events lists the Cowboy Corral and Cowboy+ Bar entrances opening at 4 p.m. and the main entrance at 4:15 p.m. Pacific. Give yourself time for screening and the walk to your seat. Check the arena entry and parking guide before leaving. Organizer’s entry information
Watching from home. Cowboy Channel carries the rodeo on TV. Cowboy+ Annual covers all 10 rounds live and on replay. Coverage of a specific opening act or anthem depends on the broadcast listing. Use the nightly TV schedule or the live viewing guide to find the broadcast. Organizer’s broadcast information
Arena openings and separate Las Vegas concerts
The times and dates above apply to the opening at the Thomas & Mack Center. Some artists also have separate Las Vegas appearances. The organizer lists Ned LeDoux at Silverton on Dec. 3 and 4 and Presley Barker at South Point on Dec. 10–12. If you are heading to a casino show, check the venue and admission details for that listing. NFR concerts and after-parties guide
Once competition starts, look up the riders and ropers in the contestant roster and back-number tables.