The Great White North. Known for its warm hospitality and chilly mountain air, Canada is also home to some of the sport’s premier rodeo athletes. As the air continues to chill and the PRCA regular season draws to a close, all eyes shift north of the border to the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) and the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR), held during the first full week of October.
For more than 50 years, the CFR has stood as the pinnacle of professional rodeo in Canada. Established in 1974, the CFR was created as the championship event of the CPRA, bringing together top rodeo athletes from the United States and Canada to compete for one of rodeo’s most coveted titles: a CPRA year-end championship.
Today, the CFR is recognized as Canada’s national rodeo championship and one of the premier western sporting events in North America, bringing together top athletes, livestock and competitive payouts.
From its inception through 2017, the CFR called Edmonton home, becoming a cornerstone of Canadian western culture and a must-attend event for rodeo fans from coast to coast. Following a six-year run in Red Deer from 2018 through 2023, the championship returned to Edmonton, where a new generation of fans is experiencing the excitement, tradition and community spirit that have defined the event for decades.
Over the years, the CFR has evolved while remaining true to its roots. What began as a championship rodeo has grown into a celebration of western heritage, agriculture, entertainment and community, attracting visitors from across Canada and beyond.
This year, the event will take place Oct. 7–10, 2026, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.
Many top athletes from the PRCA also set their sights on the coveted Canadian title, including several native Canadian cowboys. 2026 NFR qualifiers and Canadian standouts such as Zeke Thurston and Ben Andersen will look to continue their hot streaks north of the border and add another title to their already impressive resumes. Thurston, in particular, will look to continue making history as he pursues his seventh consecutive Canadian title.
American athletes such as bareback rider Jacob Lees and tie-down roper Ty Harris will also headline their respective competitive fields, adding another layer of international competition to this year’s championship.
With the action kicking off this evening in Edmonton, Alberta, fans can follow the CFR through Cowboy Channel Plus’ digital, social and broadcast platforms.