FORT WORTH, Texas – During the 2023 PBR World Finals from May 12-21, Fort Worth, Texas, will welcome the inaugural Women’s Rodeo World Championship Week, marking the richest women’s-only week of competition in Western sports. The week-long schedule of events is slated to pay out $1.145 million in prize money, affording more than 800 women’s competitors the chance to compete for life-changing payouts.

Marquee Events

The Women’s Rodeo World Championship Week will feature three marquee events:

• 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC)
• NBHA (National Barrel Horse) one-day event
• Cowgirl Gathering

All events will be held at Cowtown Coliseum, with select events held at the APHA (American Paint Horse Association) Headquarters, RFD-TV Studios and Mule Alley. 

Elevating the Sport

“The merging of forces with the APHA is another example of a new age in women’s rodeo to establish a historic week for female competitors,” said WRWC Commissioner Linsay Sumpter. “Together, we will elevate the sport as we share the vision for future growth and opportunities for women in rodeo.”

“The Cowgirl Gathering has become a pinnacle event for the women of the Western world in the heart of cowgirl country,” Marked For Greatness Properties CEO Steven Hayes said. “We paid out more than $300,000 to cowgirls across three disciplines in 2022 and have created an expansive community of Western female leaders through our Essence Exchange platform. Moving to May with other groups who are actively elevating cowgirls and the Western lifestyle is a significant enhancement for this event and the groups who support it.”

“The National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) is honored to welcome and collaborate with the American Paint Horse Association and Wild West Promotions with the desire to create an ultimate high-payout barrel race within the prestigious PBR World Finals event lineup,” said NBHA Director of Barrel Racing Bailey Nahrgang. “It made perfect sense, with the Cowgirl Gathering shifting their dates to the PBR Finals week, for NBHA to join forces and combine two well-established events and make one prominent event for the record books.”

The Last Chance Qualifier

The 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship will span May 17–20 and will introduce the new Last Chance Qualifier, allowing for athletes not qualified on the WRWC leaderboard the chance to ride their way into the marquee event. The 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship will pay out $750,000, in addition to crowning World Champions in three women’s rodeo disciplines: Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, and Barrel Racing. An All-Around World Champion will also be crowned.

2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship

The Last Chance Qualifier will launch the 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship on May 17 beginning at 8:00 a.m. inside Cowtown Coliseum, featuring a Pro and Challenger Open Barrel Race, Pro and Challenger Barrel Race Buy Back Round, Pro and Challenger Breakaway Roping, and Pro and Challenger Team Roping. The one-day tournament is anticipated to award $40,000. 

The main event for the fourth edition of the WRWC will be held May 18-20, when the Top 20 athletes from the Pro Leaderboard and Challenger Leaderboard per discipline take to the arena alongside those contenders who advanced via the Last Chance Qualifier and those athletes who have won a generic qualification through a Qualifier Series event. 

All qualifying and Semi-Final rounds will be held May 18–19. Following the Semi-Final Rounds, the leaderboard will merge with 12 athletes in each discipline to advance to the May 20 Triple Crown of Rodeo performance.

Payouts

Each event champion will collect $60,000, the World Champions in each discipline will be awarded a $5,000 bonus, and the All-Around World Champion will collect a $20,000 bonus. As part of the Triple Crown of Rodeo, those event champions at the Women’s Rodeo World Championship will be eligible to win the $1 Million cash bonus awarded to any one athlete or collection of athletes who win first place in any three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos.

When are Tickets On Sale?

Tickets for the Women’s Rodeo World Championship will go on sale in March. Visit https://wrwc.rodeo/for more information. 

Other Activities and Events

Other competitions and Western lifestyle activities will be held from May 12–16 throughout the Fort Worth Stockyards, highlighting cowgirls’ skills in breakaway roping, team roping and barrel racing, while also showcasing exhilarating and engaging female speakers, artists and fashion icons. 

The landmark Women’s Rodeo World Championship Week will feature the Circle Y Saddles Barrel Race, presented by NBHA, WWP, & APHA. 

The event—a one-day, free-to-attend, open barrel racing jackpot—will offer a 5D format payout, with Circle Y Saddles to the winners of each division, and many other awards. All ages and experience levels are welcome to participate.

The 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship Week joins the action-packed week lineup ofprogramming to be held in conjunction with the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast.

Other activities and events include: the PBR Be Cowboy Expo, Tractor Supply Co. PBR World Finals Pre-Show, PBR World Finals Concert Series, Flint Rasmussen’s Outside The Barrel, PBR World Finals Fan Zone, Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, Mexico In Our Blood and PBR 30^th Anniversary Parades. 

The 2023 PBR World Finals will buck into Fort Worth on May 12-21 at Dickies Arena. The opening rounds of competition will be held May 12-14, with the action coming to a climactic end May 18-21 when the 2023 PBR World Champion will be crowned, earning the coveted gold buckle and accompanying $1 million bonus. 

Full Schedule

Friday, May 12:

• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:00am: Tractor Supply Co. PBR World Finals Pre-Show – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 1:00pm: Flint Rasmussen’s Outside The Barrel – RFD-TV Studios 
• 1:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 3:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 4:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 5:30pm: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 6:00pm: The Cowgirl Gathering Art Opening Reception – APHA Headquarters 
• 7:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 1 – Dickies Arena*

Saturday, May 13:

• 8am: The Cowgirl Gathering Essence Exchange Speaker Series – RFD-TV Studios* 
• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 10am-6pm: The Cowgirl Gathering Art Show – APHA Headquarters
• 11:00am: Tractor Supply Co. PBR World Finals Pre-Show – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:45am: PBR 30^th Anniversary Parade – Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 1:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 1:30pm: Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Texas Connection Series – Fort Worth Stockyards*
• 2:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 4:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 5:30pm: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 6:00pm: The Cowgirl Gathering Fashion Show – Mule Alley*
• 7:30pm: Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Texas Connection Series – Fort Worth Stockyards*
• 7:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 2 – Dickies Arena*

Sunday, May 14:

• 8am: The Cowgirl Gathering Essence Exchange Speaker Series – RFD-TV Studios* 
• 8am: Circle Y Saddles Cowgirl Gathering Barrel Race, presented by NBHA, WWP, & APHA – Cowtown Coliseum
• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 10am-6pm: The Cowgirl Gathering Art Show – APHA Headquarters
• 11:30am: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 1:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 3 – Dickies Arena*

Monday, May 15:

• 8am: The Cowgirl Gathering All-Women Team Roping – Cowtown Coliseum 
• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 10am-6pm: The Cowgirl Gathering Art Show – APHA Headquarters

Tuesday, May 16:

• 8am: The Cowgirl Gathering Breakaway Roping – Cowtown Coliseum 
• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 10am-6pm: The Cowgirl Gathering Art Show – APHA Headquarters

Wednesday, May 17:

• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 10am: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Last Chance Qualifier – Cowtown Coliseum

Thursday, May 18:

• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:00am: Tractor Supply Co. PBR World Finals Pre-Show – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 12:00pm: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Qualifying Rounds – Cowtown Coliseum
• 12:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 1:00pm: Flint Rasmussen’s Outside The Barrel – RFD-TV Studios 
• 1:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 3:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 4:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 5:30pm: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 7:30pm: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Top 10 Qualifier Round – Cowtown Coliseum*
• 7:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 4 – Dickies Arena*

Friday, May 19:

• 10:00am: Women’s Rodeo World Championship – Cowtown Coliseum
• 9am: ABBI American Heritage – Will Rogers Memorial Center W.R. Watt Arena
• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:00am: Tractor Supply Co. PBR World Finals Pre-Show – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 12:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 1:00pm: Flint Rasmussen’s Outside The Barrel – RFD-TV Studios 
• 1:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 3:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 4:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 5:30pm: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 7:30pm: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Semi-Finals – Cowtown Coliseum*
• 7:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 5 – Dickies Arena*

Saturday, May 20:

• 9am: ABBI American Heritage – Will Rogers Memorial Center W.R. Watt Arena
• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:00am: Tractor Supply Co. PBR World Finals Pre-Show – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:45am: PBR 30^th Anniversary Parade – Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 1:00pm: Flint Rasmussen’s Outside The Barrel – RFD-TV Studios 
• 1:00pm: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Finals – Cowtown Coliseum*
• 1:00pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 2:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 4:30pm: PBR World Finals Concert Series – Tractor Supply Co. Stage at Fort Worth Stockyards 
• 5:30pm: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 7:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 6 – Dickies Arena*

Sunday, May 21:

• 10am-6pm: PBR Be Cowboy Expo – Fort Worth Stockyards
• 11:30am: PBR World Finals Fan Zone – Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena* 
• 1:45pm: 2023 PBR World Finals Round 7 and Championship Round – Dickies Arena*
• 2:00pm: Mexico In Our Blood – Cowtown Coliseum*

* Denotes a ticketed event.

PBR World Finals

The 2023 PBR World Finals opening weekend will take place at Dickies Arena Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 at 7:45 p.m. CT, and Sunday, May 14 at 1:45 p.m. CT. The action will continue on Thursday, May 18, Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20 at 7:45 p.m. CT, concluding on Sunday, May 21 at 1:45 p.m. CT. 

Single-day tickets for the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast event go on sale now, and start at $46, plus fees. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Dickies Arena Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727. The Dickies Arena Box Office is open Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT and on event days. 

As an add-on experience, fans can also purchase the official 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast Bull Housing Tour ($100). The tour is available on May 12-13 and May 19-20. The experience, which includes a commemorative credential and lanyard, will get fans up close and personal with the World Finals qualified bucking bulls and the top stock contractors of the PBR. 

The 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast Bull Housing Tour can be purchased by calling customer service at 800-732-1727 or by visiting https://pbr.com/premium-seats-exp.

For more information about the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast and to see the complete event schedule, visit https://pbr.com/event-schedule/event/4849/2023-pbr-world-finals.   

About PBR (Professional Bull Riders): 

PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 500 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, and Canada. In 2022, PBR launched the PBR Team Series—eight teams of the world’s best bull riders competing for a new championship—as well as the PBR Challenger Series with more than 60 annual events nationwide. The organization’s digital assets include PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

About Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC):

The WRWC is the largest annual purse for a women’s rodeo event and will payout more than $750,000 in 2023 while crowning World Champions in the Women’s Rodeo disciplines; Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, and Barrel Racing. An all-around champion will also be crowned. WRWC is a culmination of a year-long race of women’s rodeo events worldwide. Athletes qualify for the WRWC by earning points and leaderboard positions using the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). The championship event will occur at the historic Cowtown Coliseum May 18-20 in Fort Worth, TX.

About The Cowgirl Gathering:

The Cowgirl Gathering is a celebration in the heart of Fort Worth designed to showcase spectacular, inspirational women from all walks of life who embody the spirit of the American Cowgirl. Whether you are a competitor or just want to experience the spark of that cowgirl essence, The Cowgirl Gathering is your event. Visit cowgirlgathering.com for a full list of speakers, event entry, ticket purchase and more information. Contact Steven Hayes at (817) 222-6432 or shayes@apha.com with questions. Follow us on Facebook @cowgirl.gathering2020.