MANCHESTER, N.H. – Highlighting the event’s growing significance, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) premier series Unleash The Beast will kick off the 2026 season in Manchester at SNHU Arena, December 12-13.
This marks the sixth consecutive year Manchester will host a stop on PBR’s elite individual tour. For two nights, more than 30 of the world’s best bull riders and rankest bulls will go head-to-head in the early stages of the tour to crown the 2026 World Champion.
In December 2024, Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) won the raucous Manchester event with a perfect 3-for-3 showing, sealing the victory with a commanding 90-point ride atop Feeds Red River. Just behind him was runner-up Kaiden Loud just five points away from the top.
The bull riding action for the PBR Manchester begins with Round 1 at 7:45 p.m. ET on Friday, December 12, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 6:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 13. All competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Rounds 1-2.
Following Round 2 Saturday evening, the riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled with the Top 12 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.
Tickets are available at
PBR.com, the SNHU Arena Box Office, or
ticketmaster.com. PBR Rewards members can call 800-732-1727.
PBR Elite Seats are available for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets, available in two tiers, offer premium seats, personal on-sire concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, and more. For more on elite seats, visit
https://pbr.com/elite-seats-unleash-the-beast, or call (800) 732, 1727.
Stay tuned to
PBR.com for the full 2026 Unleash The Beast schedule announcement along with the latest news and results. Be sure to follow the sport on all social media platforms at @PBR.
EVENT FAST FACTS
- 750 tons of dirt (1.5 million pounds) are brought in to transform SNHU Arena into a bull-riding mecca.
- The dirt is a special clay-sand blend establishing a firm enough surface for the bulls to buck hard but soft enough so that every rider is not injured when thrown like a rag doll.
- It takes 7 semi-trucks to haul in the equipment for the event.
- A crew of about 30 works around the clock to prepare the venue.
- Over 50 of the rankest bucking bulls on the planet will be on site.
- PBR bulls are remarkable animal athletes born to buck. Each is a member of a special breed: The American Bucking Bull.
- By virtue of competing in PBR, they get the best food and care, avoiding a very brief career in the meat packing industry.
- The average PBR bull weighs 1,800 pounds.
- The average bull rider? Just 140 lbs.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media
