2026 TUCSON RODEO PARADE ENTRY APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Applications for entries in the 2026 Tucson Rodeo Parade are now open online atwww.tucsonrodeoparade.org. Applications will close at 5 p.m. January 16, 2026. The Tucson Rodeo Parade is one of the longest non-motorized parades in the world and a 101-year Tucson tradition bringing the vibrant history and colors of the Southwest to life each February. The theme for this year’s parade will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

An average of 150,000 spectators line the streets in southern Tucson in anticipation of the parade. The 101st Annual Parada de los Vaqueros, the Tucson Rodeo Parade, will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Included in the procession will be local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys. In all, the parade features over 135 entries – consisting of over 550 horses, approximately 2,200 people, 90 wagons and buggies and 10 marching bands.

Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower.
Entries compete in 21 prize classes ranging from Western Riding Groups and Historical to Most Comical and Multiple-team Hitch. There are three special awards: The Curt Sullivan Sweepstakes award (overall best entry) the Chairman’s Award and the Judge’s Award; and two special band awards named after past Parade Committee members, the Paul Grimes award (Outstanding music performance) and the Bucky Steele award (Outstanding marching performance).