The ProRodeo season never really stops—and the 2026 race for the Gold Buckle is already underway. Thanks to the PRCA’s wraparound schedule, the new season officially began on October 1, 2025, even though the 2025 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas is still two months away. That means the chase for the 2026 World Title has already started.

Fall rodeos may not always feature the big names headed to the NFR, but they play a massive role in shaping the standings. For rookies and rising stars, these circuit finals and smaller events are a chance to make money early, secure qualifications, and punch tickets to bigger rodeos in 2026. Events like the Veater Extreme Bronc Match, the Cinch Roping Fiesta, and especially the Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs, which paid over $30,000 to Dawson Haye and Cade Bruno in October of 2024, can be season-changing.

With NFR races often decided by margins smaller than $30,000, every dollar earned in October can matter in December. For fans, it’s a reminder that the road to the gold buckle doesn’t begin in January, it starts right now.