Time is running out to buy tickets for the 90th Ponoka Stampede in Ponoka, Alberta, especially for anyone planning to give the gift of rodeo this Father’s Day. Organizers with the Ponoka Stampede warned on June 8, 2026 that Father’s Day tickets are almost sold out, and no tickets will be sold at the gate this year—everything must be purchased online in advance.
“Almost sold out!!! If you were thinking about getting Dad a ticket for Father’s Day, we highly recommend buying one RIGHT NOW! … You will NOT be able to buy one at the Stampede,” the organization posted on social media.
The stampede runs June 25 to July 1, 2026, just after Father’s Day on June 21, making the opening weekend a prime time for dads and families. Grounds admission is free, with free parking and camping, but all rodeo, chuckwagon race, and concert seats must be secured ahead of time. Tickets are non-refundable.
This year’s lineup features seven days of pro rodeo, six nights of World Professional Chuckwagon Association races, and concerts by Dwight Yoakam on opening night, Sawyer Brown on June 29, Waylon Wyatt on June 26, Cooper Alan on June 28, and the Hunter Brothers on June 30. The stampede is also marking the “Year of the Cowgirl” with $45,000 in added prize money for Ladies Breakaway Roping—one of the richest breakaway payouts in Canada.
Competitor entries closed June 3 for pro rodeo card holders, so the athlete lineup is set. The event typically draws around 100,000 visitors to Ponoka, a town of about 7,500 people, and generates an estimated $20 million in economic impact each year. With record-breaking tarp auction results of $904,500 already setting the tone for the 90th edition, demand for seats is strong.
Residents still hoping to attend are urged to visit the stampede’s website now, as remaining tickets are expected to disappear quickly.
