San Diego Rodeo returns to Petco Park 2027

Will there be a rodeo at Petco Park in 2027? Yes. Great news if you love rodeos and if you are not the horse. The rodeo will be returning to Petco Park!

The rodeo returns to Petco Park January 15-17, 2027, featuring some of the sport's top athletes competing for $750,000 in prize money. The three-day event marks the fourth annual San Diego Rodeo, presented by Outriders Present and Finest Collective in partnership with the Padres.

BeerFest runs Friday and Saturday, with $5 beer specials from local and national breweries in Gallagher Square. Friday night wraps with a drone show over Petco Park. Saturday night brings a post-rodeo party in Gallagher Square, with a DJ and line dancing. Sunday opens with a family-friendly KidsFest — games, balloon artists, inflatables — ahead of the day's competition, then closes with a big post-event concert.

A vendor village stocked with Western apparel, crafts, and artwork runs throughout the weekend, alongside concessions available before each night's show.

Competition runs across three days: 12 contestants square off in each timed event during the first two rounds, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday's Championship semifinals narrowing each event to eight athletes competing for one of four finals spots.

Organizers frame the event as a nod to San Diego's rodeo roots, tracing back through Charrería — the Mexican equestrian tradition recognized by UNESCO — and the region's Indigenous and Hispanic riding traditions. This year's competitors represent several Sovereign Nations, including the Kumeyaay, Blackfeet, Northern Cree, Métis, Sioux, Chippewa, and Crow.

Tickets: Padres Member presale begins Wednesday, September 17, 2026. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday, September 18 at 10 a.m. See ticket details.

After-Party Concerts: Live music follows each night of competition in Gallagher Square. Separate tickets required. View concert lineup and tickets once announced.

Dates: Friday, January 15 through Sunday, January 17, 2027

View the full rodeo schedule for event times and details.

View Rodeo Schedule »

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Food & Drink

Select concessions will be available for purchase each day of the event. No outside food or beverages are allowed. No water bottles.

Parking

Check prices and options for nearby rodeo parking:

Always a good idea to read about our favorite lots in the Petco Park Parking Guide.

Hotels Near San Diego Rodeo

Stay the night at one of these recommended hotels nearby.

Rodeo Layout and Seating Chart

The infield baseball diamond becomes the arena. Sections 101-116 will have the closest view of the action. Behind the infield on the 3rd base side are on-field suites. Behind 1st base is the VIP area. The Warm Up area is in left field in front of the bullpen and sections 126-134 (even).

Rodeo Bag Policy

Read up on the bag rules on purses and backpacks.

Animal Welfare Concerns and Legal Action

The San Diego Rodeo has faced ongoing opposition from animal rights groups since its inception. The Animal Protection and Rescue League and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness sued the Padres seeking to stop the event, centered on allegations of animal abuse including the death of a horse named "Waco Kid" during the 2024 rodeo. According to court testimony, Waco Kid was ridden into a barrier during a relay race, was transported out in a sled, and was released the next day still unable to stand or walk. In a Statement of Decision released January 27, 2026, San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil declined to issue an injunction stopping future rodeos — leaving the event legal to continue — but found that specific practices during the 2024 and 2025 events constituted "needless suffering" and "unnecessary cruelty." The ruling requires the rodeo to keep comprehensive on-site veterinary equipment, including radiograph capability, and bars pregnant mares from competing going forward. A pregnant horse also died during a previous year's rodeo; a San Diego Humane Society investigation found the cause was a ruptured uterine artery that "happened spontaneously" but could not definitively determine whether rodeo participation directly caused the death. Sponsorship fallout has continued: the San Diego Tourism Marketing District withdrew its funding for the 2026 event after contributing approximately $150,000 in previous years, and Monster Energy, Diageo, and Casamigos all withdrew as sponsors. Animal rights protesters are expected to continue gathering outside event gates. Read more about ongoing rodeo opposition efforts.

Rodeos in San Diego

This is Petco Park's fourth rodeo, and San Diego has a long history of hosting rodeos. Poway recently hosted its 50th annual rodeo and Ramona held its 44th annual event in August, a world-class PRCA rodeo. In East County, the Lakeside Rodeo features barrel racing, steer wrestling, roping competitions and more.

About Finest Collective

Finest Collective is the Padres' in-house hospitality and events division, formerly known as Petco Park Events. The team books and manages events across five San Diego venues — Petco Park, Gallagher Square, Eve at RaDD, Diamond Room, and private events at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park — from Padres gameday events and headline concerts to Comic-Con activations, Holiday Wonderland, and the San Diego Rodeo.

About Outriders Presents

Outriders Presents produces rodeo and independent country music events across Montana and California, with one such Southern California show including Wild Horses Festival with Zach Bryan, Trampled By Turtles and more at Petco Park.