No National Western Stock Show in 2021

The 115th National Western Stock Show, scheduled for January 2021, will not be taking place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Stock Show was scheduled for January 9 to 24, 2021.

On the morning of September 14, the Western Stock Show Association (WSSA) Board of Directors along with the show’s management announced the decision to postpone the event until 2021.

“Over the past several months, we reviewed and exhausted every option possible to host our event including a modified show with reduced capacity,” said Paul Andrews, President and CEO of the National Western Stock Show in a news release. “Ultimately, the health and safety of our guests, exhibitors, volunteers, and staff is of top priority and the NWSS and the City of Denver could not find a path forward to have Stock Show and comply with the rules that govern gatherings of our size and rules of social distancing.”

The rodeo/livestock show/fair draws thousands of visitors every year. It has been an annual event since 1906. According to Denverite, this is just the second time in the Stock Show’s history that the show had to be postponed: in 1915, an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease was the culprit.

In a statement, Governor Jared Polis said he respected the decision to wait until 2022 for the next Stock Show.

“The National Western Stock Show is a proud tradition in our state and one of the ways we can all come together to celebrate agriculture in Colorado and across the west. Just as I enjoyed going as a kid, we now enjoy bringing our kids in proud support of ranching in Colorado,” Polis said. “I’m disappointed that the show couldn’t occur this time due to the pandemic, but I respect the National Western Stock Show’s decision and know it was a difficult one to make. I look forward to being able to attend an even bigger and better Stock Show the following year.”

For more information on the decision, visit the frequently asked questions page on the NWSS website.