Now that the horses are again within the barn, the cows are again on the pasture, and the carnival is heading down the freeway, we are able to begin making our picks for RodeoHouston performers in 2026.
The 2025 seasonwas marked by wonderful Houston climate from begin to end, the grand debuts of Zach Prime and Put up Malone, a brief and fiery set by Journey, and, oddly sufficient, no file live performance crowds to beat out final 12 months’s Jonas Brothers attendance of greater than 75,000. Nobody cracked 72,000 in 2025, regardless that a handful got here very shut.
On Saturday, complete attendance on the grounds was 199,220, a brand new single-day attendance file relationship again to 2003. That included the Brooks & Dunn live performance, too. General, HLSR set a brand new attendance file in 2025, with greater than 2.7 million individuals by the gates (this month’s glorious climate actually helped).
The lineup can be launched in January 2026, however for now, listed below are our picks for subsequent season with out regard to finances or artist availability. (Editor’s notice: Despite the fact that Craig went 0 for 10 final 12 months, we predict it is enjoyable to ponder who is perhaps performing subsequent 12 months.)
Dolly Parton
It’s absurd that Parton hasn’t performed Houston correct since December 2016 and hasn’t graced the rodeo stage since March 5, 1978. Different huge acts on the schedule that 12 months? Johnny Money with June Carter and Conway Twitty with Loretta Lynn. Whereas Parton nonetheless continues to make new music with the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, she’s mentioned she’s completed touring apart from particular exhibits. Properly, RodeoHouston is fairly dang particular, we predict.
Lainey Wilson
Wilson wowed me in 2024 and turned in the very best efficiency on the schedule. By late 2025 and early 2026, she must also have some new materials on faucet.
Creed
In 2024, Creed’s alt-rock contemporaries Nickelback attracted a crowd of simply over 75,000. It is a no-brainer for the aged millennials and the Technology Alpha children who can’t keep in mind how badly we hated Creed all through a lot of the 2000s. Come again, Scott Stapp; all is forgiven.
Los Tigres Del Norte
“Go Tejano Day” legends, they pulled in file audiences in 2019 and 2024.
Bun B
The unofficial mayor of Houston’s Black Heritage Day present has change into a RodeoHouston establishment. Bun is shortly changing into a lock for the Star Path of Fame. What would he pull out for his fifth straight efficiency? There’s all the time Kendrick…
Megan Moroney
I had Moroney on my record for 2025, however she didn’t make the lower. She’s had one of many greatest years of anybody in nation music, and this may be one other notch in her blue belt.Kenny Chesney can vouch for her, too.
Chris Stapleton
Stapleton’s RodeoHouston appearances are simply a number of the most impeccable performances of any season. The one pity is that they’re solely barely over an hour lengthy. I might watch him for six hours.
Zach Bryan
Bryan offered out NRG Stadium simply final summer time, and he’s now a stadium act. With ZB on the town, the dive bars in Montrose and Midtown can be on excessive alert. We might see him posted up at Two Headed Canine, simple.
Sierra Ferrell
I’d love to listen to “Fox Hunt” coming from that rodeo stage. If , . She’s guested on a number of the greatest albums of the previous few years, and he or she’s past able to stake her declare at RodeoHouston.
Zach Prime
Prime made fairly the impression in 2025 and had one of many 12 months’s greatest crowds. There’s nowhere for Prime to go however…farther to the highest.
Morgan Wallen
Wallen has by no means performed RodeoHouston. He is perhaps too huge for the rodeo at this level, however this may be a straightforward sellout.
ZZ Prime
Billy and Frank haven’t performed RodeoHouston since 2017. Sadly, Dusty Hill gained’t be with the boys this time round, however his spirit will undoubtedly be dancing within the aisles.
Cody Johnson
Hometown boy Johnson has a sturdy sound made for RodeoHouston. This might be his fifth time on the revolving stage.
Shania Twain
Can RodeoHouston pry Twain away from the Las Vegas strip? She final performed RodeoHouston in 1999. That appears prehistoric.
The Purple Clay Strays
One of many greatest success tales of the previous 12 months would appeal to a crowd as huge as Turnpike Troubadours did in 2023 after they pulled in 74,657 true believers.
Journey
We’ll in all probability have to make up for the 2025 electrical hearth beneath the stage someday.
Shaboozey
It was a shock that RodeoHouston didn’t land Shaboozey in 2025. “A Bar Music (Tipsy)” has been essentially the most ubiquitous music all through the NRG advanced this 12 months. I swear I heard it on repeat on the carnival one Friday afternoon.
Teddy Swims
Among the best new voices in pop, a Friday evening present from the Atlanta native would kill throughout spring break.He’d additionally nail a George Strait cowl.
Nate Smith
With almost 9 million listeners on Spotify — that’s good, proper? — he could possibly be a great weekday draw.
George Strait
King George’s affect was fixed in 2025, with a number of artists, like Charley Crockett and Put up Malone, placing their very own spins on his classics. He’s not performed NRG Stadium since 2022, so we’re due.
