Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo Marks Its 15th Year in Bryan This Weekend
Three nights of UPRA Finals rodeo, junior livestock shows, a carnival and a concert each day run Oct. 23-25 at the Brazos County Expo Complex.
The Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo opens its public weekend Friday at the Brazos County Expo Complex in Bryan, with three nights of professional rodeo, junior livestock shows, a carnival and a concert each day. Organizers say 2026 is the fair’s 15th year.
The fair runs Oct. 23 through Oct. 25 at 5827 Leonard Road. Hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, according to the fair’s FAQ page. Parking on site is free, and there are ATMs on the grounds.
Tickets
The tickets page lists adult general admission, ages 11 and up, at $10. Children 10 and under get in free. General admission covers the fairgrounds, vendors, AgLand, the livestock shows, the fairway entertainment and that day’s concert. It does not include the rodeo or carnival rides. Rodeo admission is $30 for adults and $20 for children, and it includes general admission. The online checkout shows $11, $31 and $21 for those tickets.
Rodeo and music
The rodeo is the United Professional Rodeo Association Finals. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, inside the Expo arena. Events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, breakaway, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Mutton bustin’ is open to children ages 3 to 7 who weigh 55 pounds or less, with a $50 entry fee.
Each rodeo ticket comes with that day’s concert. The ticket page lists Randall King on Friday, the Randy Rogers Band on Saturday and Garrett Talamantes on Sunday.
The downtown Bryan historic district, photographed in 2009. Photo: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Livestock and youth
The fair’s livestock show page lists junior shows for breeding heifers, lambs, goats, swine and steers, with showmanship for every species. Under the 2026 exhibitor handbook, the goat, heifer and lamb shows start Saturday morning, and swine and steer showmanship starts Sunday at 9 and 9:30 a.m. Each show has two judging rings.
Organizers say the fair has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships since 2012. Its stated mission is “Showcasing Agriculture, Education, & Youth to enhance our Texas Culture.”
The contests leading up to the weekend are already under way. The handbook schedules the Twisted Sisters Barrel Race for Tuesday at 10 a.m. Western art, photography and quilt entries are judged Wednesday. The public speaking contest begins Thursday at 9 a.m., and baked and canned goods judging follows at 5 p.m.
For the kids
Pride of Texas Shows runs the carnival. One-day unlimited-ride armbands cost $30 from Oct. 1 through the end of the fair and do not include gate admission. The carnival is open 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to midnight Sunday. The attractions include a petting zoo with deer, antelope, wallabies, llamas, sheep and camels, along with pony rides. Texas Farm Bureau is bringing a new interactive exhibit, Doorways to Ag, that shows how agriculture turns up in everyday things.
Gardeners heading out to the fair might also look at Dock Line’s What to Plant in Your Brazos Valley Fall Garden Right Now.
Related on Dock Line: From Prize Pigs to Perfect Brisket: The Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo
