Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
| Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Reliant Stadium filled with rodeo attendees at the 2006 HLSR | |
| Genre | Rodeo, livestock show and fair |
| Dates | 2–21 March 2027 |
| Venue | Reliant Stadium |
| Locations | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Founded | 1931 (as the Houston Fat Stock Show) |
| Attendance | 2.7 million (2025) |
| Website | rodeohouston.com |
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It was originally created to promote livestock production and agriculture in Texas, providing a space for farmers and ranchers to showcase their work. Over time, the event has grown from a small regional exhibition into one of the largest cultural and economic events in the United States. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003, with the exception of 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was previously held at the Astrodome.
In 2007, the rodeo was deemed "the year of the volunteer." In 2017, attendance reached a record high of 2,611,176 people and 33,000 volunteers. In 2025, a new attendance record was set with 2,735,695 people. The event is 20 days long. It is kicked off by the Downtown Rodeo Roundup held near Houston City Hall, the Downtown Rodeo parade, and the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run – a 10k and 5k walk & run and the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. Today, the rodeo represents a combination of agriculture, entertainment, and education, attracting millions of visitors annually and playing a major role in preserving Texas Western heritage. The show features championship rodeo action, livestock competitions, concerts, a carnival, pig racing, barbecue and the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, shopping, sales and livestock auctions. Traditional trail rides, which start in different areas of Texas and end in Houston, precede the Rodeo events. The City of Houston celebrates this event with Go Texan Day, where residents are encouraged to dress in western wear the Friday before the rodeo begins.