Fastest-Growing Property in Western Sports Expands National Footprint and Athlete Earnings.
Fort Worth, Texas (March 18, 2026) – Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF) today announces a landmark
2026 season that will deliver more than $1 million in total prize money across 50+ live events
nationwide, marking a defining moment in the evolution of freestyle bullfighting.
The 2026 campaign represents the largest scale, highest payout season in the sport’s history,
reinforcing UBF’s position as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative properties in
Western sports.
Spanning major arenas, historic venues, and high-profile festival environments across the
country, UBF’s 2026 schedule will bring tournament-style freestyle bullfighting competitions
across the country in addition to its signature “Bull Games” team-based competition format to
fans coast-to-coast—blending elite athleticism, unscripted competition, and high-energy
entertainment.
At the center of the expansion is UBF’s continued commitment to athlete opportunity and
earning potential.
“The 2026 UBF season represents the continued dedication of our staff, athletes,
partners and fans to deliver a well-deserved platform for the most exciting athletes in all
of sports.” said UBF CEO Luke Kaufman “By seamlessly integrating team-oriented bull
games and competitive freestyle bullfighting into some of the largest brands in all of
sports, UBF continues to grow and bring value with captivating content and quality
entertainment for avid, casual and new fans alike.”
“For the athletes specifically, the opportunities in front of them this season are
abundant. There are over 50 events from one end of the country to the other during
every season of the year with the chance to earn significant money. And this is only the
beginning.” Kaufman says, “ This has been the culmination of nearly 20 years of work
since the first UBF event in 2008. There has never been a greater time to want to be a
bullfighter than right now.”
New to the schedule in 2026, will be the “Bulls and Burnouts” Tour being held in conjunction with
over 20 International Hot Rod Association(IHRA) competitions at some of the most prestigious
drag strips and offshore racing venues in the country. Serving as ancillary entertainment for
IHRA race fans, the UBF performances will feature Bull Games, freestyle bullfighting and an
invite-only bull riding competition. The IHRA Bulls & Burnouts Tour kicks off this weekend in
Benson, NC at Darana Motorsports Park on Friday, March 20th at 8pm.
UBF will continue its flagship presence at Cowtown Coliseum with the ongoing UBF Bull Games
Series, a recurring bi-monthly Sunday residency show that delivers consistent, high-energy
competition in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards.
In addition, the season will once again build toward marquee moments during major Western
sporting events along with its own stand-alone performances, including activations surrounding
the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth and the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas with a World Finals that
will crown a definitive UBF World Champion.
The $1 million season payout represents a turning point for freestyle bullfighting—elevating the
sport into a new tier of professional competition.
With increased prize money, expanded media exposure, and a growing national footprint, UBF
is creating a scalable platform for athletes, partners, and fans alike.
Fans can expect to watch the majority of UBF events on PBR’s Ridepass for the season while
the IHRA Bulls & Burnouts Tour will appear on Speed Sport 1.
Additional details, including ticketing, event details and broadcast schedules can be
found here: ultimatebullfighters.com/schedule/
For more information, visit UltmateBullfighters.com and follow @UltimateBullfighters
on social media.
About Ultimate Bullfighters
Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF) is the premier freestyle bullfighting organization producing more than
50 live events annually across the United States. Known for its traditional freestyle bullfighting
competitions and innovative Bull Games competition format, UBF blends elite athleticism with
high-energy entertainment to create one of the most exciting live experiences in Western sports.
Media Contact
[email protected]
817-240-8954
2026 UBF Schedule
| January 4 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| January 18 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| February 1 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| February 15 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| March 1 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| March 6&7 – Alma, GA – Blueberry Bull Bash |
| March 15 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| March 20 – Benson, NC – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| March 27-29 – Albuquerque, NM – The Pit |
| March 29 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| April 10 – Dinwiddie, VA – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| April 11 – New Orleans, LA – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| April 12 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| April 26 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| May 8 – Paris, TX – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| May 8-9 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| May 22 – Mohnton, PA – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| June 5 – West Salem, OH – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| June 7 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| June 12 – Lake of the Ozarks, MO – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| June 19 – Hebron, OH – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| June 21 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| July 3 – Durango, CO – True Western Roundup |
| July 5 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| July 10 – Milan, MI – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| July 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Days of 47′ |
| July 19 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| July 23 – Wayne, NE – Wayne Co. Fair |
| July 25 – St. Clair, MI – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| July 25 – Brush, CO – Brush Fair |
| July 28 – Broken Bow, NE – Custer Co. Fair |
| August 1 – Dierks, AR – Pine Tree Festival |
| August 2 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| August 7 – Sheboygan, WI – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| August 14 – West Salem, OH – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| August 16 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| August 22 – Salem, IN – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| August 23 – Denton, TX – North Texas State Fair |
| August 30 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| September 11 – Memphis, TN – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| September 12 – Bennett, CO – Bennett Days |
| September 13 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| September 24 – Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma State Fair |
| September 27 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| October 9 – Topeka, KS – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| October 11 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| October 16 – Memphis, TN – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| October 23 – Commerce, GA – IHRA Bulls & Burnout Tour |
| October 25 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| November 8 – Fort Worth, TX – Cowtown Coliseum |
| December 3-12 – Las Vegas, NV – Last Man Standing |
| December 4,5,11 &12 – Fort Worth, TX – UBF World Finals |
*Dates Subject to Change