The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo: A Texas-Sized Tradition 

Of course, the biggest rodeo in the entire world is in Texas, and of course, the host city is the biggest one in the Lone Star State—Houston, to be exact. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo isn’t just an iconic celebration of Western heritage, it’s a charitable organization that has committed more than $630 million to Texas youth through scholarships, grants, and other educational initiatives. The 2025 attendance broke a record with more than 2.7 million attendees. 

When it was established in 1932 (squarely during the Great Depression), it was called the Houston Fat Stock Show & Livestock Exposition, and its original purpose was to increase awareness of the Texas Gulf Coast livestock industry among local, state, and national audiences. Now, the extravaganza draws nearly 2.5 million visitors annually. 

The inaugural event was held at Sam Houston Hall (where the Hobby Center now stands) in 1932. By 1961, the organization had officially become the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This 20-day event includes a rodeo, livestock show, exhibitions, a carnival, and, of course, a concert series, with a popular musical act featured every single day. The first artist to perform at Rodeo Houston was Gene Autry in 1942. Since then, more than 400 artists have taken the stage, including some of music’s biggest names, like Reba McEntire, George Strait, Elvis Presley, Selena, and many, many more. The 2025 show featured a mix of musical styles with a roster that included, among others, Brooks and Dunn, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, Journey, and Post Malone, performing to more than 70,000 fans in the colossal NRG Stadium. 

How does an event that is almost a century old continue to evolve and be relevant? Houston Rodeo is constantly embracing innovation; this year, attendees experienced hands-on activities in the NRG Center, such as a virtual welding activation, a virtual chuckwagon experience, and an attraction called AGVENTURE—an interactive and educational section of our event that gave participants a firsthand experience with agriculture and horticulture. “These new activations embrace change as technology evolves, bringing some of the most beloved events at our Rodeo — and our educational commitment — right to their fingertips,” said a rodeo spokesperson. 

While the core events occur in three main buildings (NRG Stadium, NRG Center, and NRG Arena), the entire rodeo experience spans the whole NRG Park area, which is located just south of downtown Houston. It may come as a surprise that the entire NRG Park area, which spans 350 acres and is considered one of the largest event complexes in the country, is located inside the city. This economic engine supports thousands of jobs across the region. “Direct jobs numbered 3,538, with total jobs supported in Greater Houston reaching 5,694,” a rodeo spokesperson shared. 

What began as a modest livestock exposition 93 years ago has evolved into a vibrant cultural institution that celebrates Texas’s agricultural heritage and will continue to write its remarkable story for generations to come.