The opening moments of the 2026 National Finals Rodeo will feature a different live voice across the ten-night championship. Las Vegas Events and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have announced eight performers, while two additional positions will be filled by winners of the NFR National Anthem Contest.
The announced round-by-round lineup
- Thursday, December 3: Hadlie Jo
- Friday, December 4: Bryce Leatherwood
- Saturday, December 5: Caden Gillard
- Sunday, December 6: A.R. Simmons
- Monday, December 7: Peyton Grace
- Tuesday, December 8: National Anthem Contest winner, to be announced
- Wednesday, December 9: Walker Montgomery
- Thursday, December 10: Morgan Klaiber will sing the Canadian anthem; a contest winner will perform the U.S. anthem
- Friday, December 11: Gunnar Lantham
- Saturday, December 12: Kalsey Kulyk
Two contest winners will complete the schedule
The public-entry phase of the 2026 NFR National Anthem Contest has closed. A fan vote narrowed the field before committee review, and the two winners are scheduled to be announced October 9. They will receive the December 8 and December 10 U.S. anthem assignments at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Until that announcement is made, those two names should be treated as open positions. We will not guess or publish unofficial winner claims.
More performances around Las Vegas
Three artists in the anthem lineup also have additional rodeo-week appearances listed in the announcement. Caden Gillard is scheduled at Westgate Las Vegas on December 3 and 11, while Peyton Grace is scheduled at Rio Las Vegas on December 4 and Gunnar Lantham is scheduled there on December 8. Fans should confirm start times and access details with the venues.
Why arrive before the first ride?
The anthem is part of the full opening sequence, not a pre-show extra that fans should expect to catch after the advertised start. With 2026 performances beginning at 5:45 p.m. Pacific, arriving early provides time for security, finding the seating section and experiencing the production before the first competitive run or ride.
The December 10 round carries an additional international note with Morgan Klaiber scheduled for the Canadian anthem. Canadian competitors and fans have long been an important part of the NFR field, particularly in roughstock events.
Ten singers, ten opening moments
A rotating anthem lineup gives each round a distinctive opening while maintaining a consistent ceremony across the championship. The selected artists range from emerging performers to established country voices, placing music and western culture side by side before the nightly competition begins.
Review the complete 2026 round calendar and our NFR week event guide before choosing your arrival time.
Source: Official 2026 anthem-performer announcement. The two contest-winner slots remain pending until the announced October 9 result. Vegas NFR is an independent fan-information website.
