Black Rodeo USA is ready to bring its high-energy “Hottest Show On Dirt” experience to Denver during the National Western Stock Show (January 10-25, 2026) as the newly-selected production partner of the annual MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo.
The featured event will be 6pm Monday, January 19, 2026, at Denver Coliseum, 4600 N. Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216. In association with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission, the rodeo – in its 20th year – is a much-anticipated tradition to celebrate to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while showcasing premier African-American cowboys and cowgirls from across the country.
National Western Stock Show, celebrating its 120th anniversary, announced the new partnership in October 2025.
“Partnering with National Western Stock Show is a tremendous honor for Black Rodeo USA,” said Lanette Campbell, founder and CEO of Black Rodeo USA, which marks its fifth anniversary of touring. “Producing the MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo in Denver allows us to celebrate world-class rodeo, honor legacy, and connect directly with communities in a city that truly values Western tradition and inclusion.”
As the nation approaches major milestones with America’s 250th birthday this year and the upcoming centennial birthdays of Mrs. Coretta Scott King (2027) and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2029), BRUSA – together with NWSS – is poised to elevate the rich history of the roles African Americans played in shaping rodeo culture.
BRUSA and the Colorado MLK Holiday Commission will honor hometown heroes who exhibit the Dr. King’s “Beloved Community” values of love, dignity, service, courage and compassion, as well as recognize community dignitaries as they enter the arena on stagecoaches.
Fans will experience rodeo events like bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and the youth-favorite mutton bustin’. New this year also will be a Pony Express showcase. Plus, they will meet Miss Black Rodeo USA Mariah Beckom, of Mississippi, and BRUSA’s official mascot Byron The Bull.
The January event kicks off BRUSA’s 2026 season, which will include rodeos in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, Nevada and Texas. BRUSA will return to Golden, Colorado in the fall.
The MLK Jr African-American Heritage Rodeo will start promptly at 6pm. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster and select local outlets. All tickets allow access for Grounds Admission the day of the event. Parking is free in NWSS lots.
Discount promo codes are available for lower-level seating. Visit BlackRodeoUSA.com to register for a code and for more information. Call 602-688-9906 ext. 0 (for a Denver representative) or ext. 3 (for ticket information).
About Black Rodeo USA:
The Black Rodeo USA story started in 2008, when Lanette Campbell joined the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Association as the Arizona coordinator. By 2011, she founded the Arizona Black Rodeo Association and was able to host a Black rodeo as an official event of the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project in 2012. As the flagship rodeo, Arizona Black Rodeo is approaching its 15th year and was named Best Rodeo by Top10 USA Today in 2025 and 2024. The mission of Black Rodeo USA, which embarked on touring in 2020, focuses on six key core values: Youth, Community, Agriculture, Education, Health and Entertainment. Its rodeo events are gathering places where family values and Western heritage are honored, and individuals of all ages are entertained, educated and enriched.
About National Western Stock Show:
Founded in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is one of the world’s premier agricultural and Western heritage events, hosting top-tier livestock shows, rodeo competitions, and cultural programming in Denver, Colorado.
