THE WCJR UNVEILS 2026 EVENT FORMAT AND SCHEDULE

Guthrie, Okla. – The Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR), presented by Montana Silversmiths, has announced the event format and schedule for the 2026 event, along with a new collaboration with CN Productions. The event will return to the iconic Lazy E Arena on new, earlier dates, July 6–11, and will feature enhanced payouts, updated qualification routes, and more opportunities to win for athletes. The 2025 event paid out over $410,000.

Recently, the WCJR and the International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) in Shawnee, Oklahoma, coordinated their event dates through 2028 to create a two-week youth rodeo showcase in Oklahoma. This alignment maximizes competition opportunities for young athletes and is expected to award $750,000 combined between the two events. Future WCJR & IFYR Event Dates: 

The 2026 competition will once again be divided into two age divisions. The Youth Division (15 & under) will compete for $5,000 added per discipline and may also “enter up” into the Junior Division (19 & under), which features $10,000 added per discipline. New for 2026, a special roll-over option will be available in barrels and poles, allowing Youth contestants to carry their times into the Junior division.

There are two routes to qualify for the event:

• Nominate through the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ). The top 15 contestants per timed event discipline and the top three contestants per roughstock discipline will earn a direct spot in the semi-finals with no additional entry fee—standings determined from the VRQ 2026 WCJR Leaderboard as of June 22, 2026. To nominate, visit vrqapp.com.
• Enter the WCJR Last Chance Qualifier. From the LCQ qualifier, the top six timed event athletes in round one and round two, along with the top 15 in the aggregate, will move forward and earn a position in the semi-finals rounds. Entries will open April 1 on Nextgen Rodeo.

New to 2026, WCJR timed event nominations through the VRQ will not have any age restrictions, and any athlete 19 and under can nominate.

In the roughstock events, the top three contestants from the VRQ will advance directly to the semi-finals with no entry fees. The remaining athletes must enter the event starting on April 1. All roughstock semi-finals will be limited to a total of 15 athletes.

Contestants that do not qualify through the LCQ will have one more shot to qualify through the buyback round. The top three in that round will also move on to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals round will consist of the top 15 athletes from the WCJR Leaderboard, 27 from the LCQ, and three from the buyback round, with a total of 45 timed event athletes competing in the semi-finals round. The top 15 times in the timed events and the top eight scores in the roughstock will advance to the final round.  WCJR World Champion will be determined on the aggregate time and or high score from the semi-finals round and the finals round. 

For a detailed schedule, please see here. The event schedule is as follows:

“We are excited to partner with Chris Neal and the CN Productions team to produce the 2026 WCJR, Chris has a proven track record with events like Future Stars, Rising Stars, Oklahoma’s Richest, and the Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway. Together, we’re focused on delivering a high-level production experience for contestants and offering more opportunities to win money at the WCJR.”

– Dan Wall, General Manager of the Lazy E Arena

For more event details, advancement charts, and athlete information, visit wcjrodeo.com.

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About Lazy E Arena

Located in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Lazy E Arena is one of the most iconic and versatile event venues in Western sports. Since opening its doors in 1984, the Lazy E has played host to some of the most prestigious rodeos and equine competitions in the world, including the Cinch Timed Event Championship and the legendary National Finals Steer Roping. Known for its state-of-the-art facilities, expansive grounds, and commitment to excellence, the Lazy E Arena welcomes hundreds of thousands of fans, athletes, and event partners each year. With a legacy rooted in tradition and a vision for innovation, Lazy E continues to set the standard as the world’s premier Western entertainment destination.

About CN Productions:

CN Productions is a leading Western event and production company specializing in rodeo and equine events. Passionate about promoting the sport and its athletes, CN Productions strives to create memorable experiences for contestants and spectators within the western industry. 

About The VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier):

In professional golf, organizing bodies and tours maintain their own standings, but they also recognize the “Official World Golf Ranking” (OWGR)—an independent system introduced to evaluate all applicable professional golf tournaments globally, regardless of sanctioning body. The first major tournament to adopt OWGR for invitations, outside traditional standings, was The British Open in 1986.

Similarly, the VRQ serves as a groundbreaking platform for rodeo, capable of considering results from any rodeo or single-discipline event with publicly available results. In 2025, this makes over 15,000 events eligible for qualification. The platform has already attracted more than 27,000 registered users, showcasing its growing influence and inclusivity in the rodeo world.

About Rodeo Logistics:

Rodeo Logistics is a software development company designed for the western lifestyle. Our platforms our built by a collection of former athletes, rodeo secretaries, arena managers and cutting-edge technology experts to create seamless solutions for managing rodeos and western events. Our mission is to simplify and streamline western event management with intuitive technology crafted specifically for the western way of life. Our software products offer the best features on the market, combining the spirit of the west with 21st-century technology, tailored to meet the unique needs of your western event.