Brisbane Rodeo Takes Over The Showgrounds This Weekend

Australia’s biggest rodeo showdown is heading to Brisbane on May 16, with national titles, elite bull riding and a live set from The Wet Whistles all locked in for the Stampede Series National Finals.

The Wet Whistles

The Brisbane Showgrounds are about to get a shot of adrenaline and country chaos, with the Brisbane Rodeo officially confirmed as the host of the 2026 Stampede Series National Finals.

After months of events across Australia, the national rodeo circuit will wrap up in Brisbane on May 16, bringing together the country’s best riders and racers for what organisers are calling the biggest night on the Australian rodeo calendar.

More than 70,000 fans have attended Stampede Series events this season, with 13,000 expected to pack the Brisbane Showgrounds for the grand final showdown. National champions will be crowned across the night as Australia’s top bull riders and barrel racers go head-to-head in front of a capacity crowd.

The event’s biggest headline moment is already shaping up to be the kind of thing social feeds are going to explode over: international crowd favourite Jonte Handebo - better known to fans as The Korean Cowboy - will attempt a special exhibition ride against Tennessee Moonshine, a bull widely regarded as one of the most feared in Australia.

What was once a niche event category has evolved into a full-scale experience, blending elite competition with live music, fashion and festival culture.

And Brisbane is leaning all the way into that energy.

Beyond the arena action, fans can expect line dancing, western fashion showcases through the popular Rodeo Runway, mechanical bull rides and family-friendly attractions running throughout the day and night. The event will also close with a live performance from Brisbane country favourites The Wet Whistles, turning the National Finals into a late-night country party once the dust settles.