Community & Business
8 July, 2026
2026 Mareeba Rodeo Feature
Read all about the upcoming action for this week's Mareeba Rodeo.
Rodeo gets ready to rumble
By Konnor Furber
THERE’s nothing that brings a community together quite like an event steeped in as much tradition as the Big Mareeba Rodeo.
The Mareeba Rodeo has provided a lifetime of memories for the town and the countless locals who have enjoyed it over the past 75 years, and it will do it again when it’s held this weekend.
From the Downtown Parade to the highly anticipated arena action featuring some of the country’s best cowboys and cowgirls, including what is known as “the toughest sport on dirt” – the bull ride, and the amazing aerial action that a bronc ride can produce, there’s a reason the rodeo is still as alive as ever.
But despite the dirt, the dust, the bulls, the blood and the cheers, the annual event at Kerribee Park continues to provide something for everyone.
The always-popular Sideshow Alley remains a major drawcard for attendees, with dozens of rides, games, and food stalls offering more than enough for kids, teens, adults, and whole families. And Melville’s Animal Farm always offers rodeo-goers an opportunity to pet a bunch of cute animals.
Beside the fun and games of the carnival, the Agricultural Show will have an exhibition of creative works in the pavilion at the Bull Bar. With more than $6,000 in prize money, attendees can expect some of the region’s best displays.
A first for this year is the Cowpokes competition which is now part of the rodeo itself, with judging taking place between 10am and 12noon on Saturday and winners riding in the Grand Entry that night.
The Ute Muster Show and Shine will be another popular attraction. The competition runs from 4.30pm Friday, with winners then taking part in the Downtown Parade that night.
This year will see a new program rolled out, with events now held over Friday and Saturday, instead of Saturday and Sunday.
However, there will be a barrel racing event held on Sunday for any patrons who decide to stick around a bit longer.
Rodeo association president Peter Brown was confident the changes were in the rodeo’s best interests.
“Tradition is fantastic, and we try and stay with tradition whenever we can, but sometimes you just can’t because of commercial threats or risks, and that was the Sunday for us.”
Mr Bown went on to explain that even the sideshows had said they weren’t making much revenue on the Sunday and were packing up by 1pm, so too the food vendors.
“We’ve got 4,000 people sitting on the hill on Friday night who don’t go to town (for the parade), so why wouldn’t we offer them some events and a cabaret?” he said.
“We asked a lot of the cowboys before making the changes and they’re fine with it. Most of them don’t go into town anyway because it’s so busy, and then they get to travel home Sunday as well. So it’s a win for everyone I think.”
The Friday afternoon action is set to kick off from 3pm and will culminate in a cabaret at the Bronc Bar from 9pm, headed by Western Australia’s Highway 95 band, before the country DJ takes over until late.
The crowning of the Queen ceremony, which takes place at the Downtown Parade on Mareeba’s main street, will also be streamed live on the big screen for patrons spending Friday night at the grounds.
It’ll then be a bright and early start Saturday morning as the second round of the rodeo gets underway, with the first event scheduled for 7am. The remainder of the day will see non-stop arena action featuring all the rodeo events.
Saturday night begins with the Ute Muster parade and the duck races, which will be streamed on the big screen. This will be followed by the unique, and very popular, Mazda Challenge, before the official ceremony and grand entry of the State of Origin competitors.
The origin is a crowd favourite at Mareeba and will be sure to have spectators on the edge of their seats as Queensland and New South Wales contenders go head-to-head to see who gets bragging rights for the next 12 months.
They will compete across events such as barrel race, steer wrestling, steer undecorating, junior bull ride, saddle bronc, bareback, and of course, the bull ride.
The night rounds off with the band Careless at the Bronc Bar, boot scootin’ until the early hours, and the Great Northern Hill Bar will stay open until midnight, also introducing tap beer for the first time.
Mr Brown said this weekend was shaping up to be a success and encouraged everyone in the community to come along.
“Come out, support your town, and have a good time. We’re excited to deliver this year’s rodeo,” he said.
For more information or to secure a ticket, visit https://mareebarodeo.com.au/
By Konnor Furber
ATTENDEES to this weekend’s Mareeba Rodeo will get to witness some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in action, including the defending champ of the Australian All Round Junior Cowboy and Junior Bull Ride titles.
The Mareeba Rodeo continues to attract some of the country’s top rodeo athletes and this year will be no different, with Bailey Searle looking to keep his top spot on the 2026 ABCRA (Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association) junior rankings as he eyes down another All Round and Bull Ride title.
Mareeba has been a stop on Searle’s calendar for a number of years now, and he’s “100%” looking forward to competing again this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to Mareeba because it’s one of the biggest and best rodeos in the ABCRA I believe. So it’d definitely be a good one to win again,” the 17-year-old said.
“It’s always good fun up there, there’s nothing better than two days of rodeo, and I definitely want to win the bull riding.
“I’ve been coming to Mareeba for the last four or five years and came up to most of the Queensland rodeos when I was chasing my titles the last couple of years.”
The young cowboy works hard at his craft and said that rodeo-goers could definitely expect his best performance.
“Doing good is obviously the plan, I always try my hardest and put 110% in,” Searle said.
“I try to keep my body fit and healthy and I just get on as many practice bulls as I can, so hopefully that can carry me through again this year.”
The all-rounder from Willow Tree, New South Wales competes in the junior and novice bull rides, as well as the junior breakaway and team roping events.
He said his favourite event was “definitely the bull riding”, which he was introduced to at just eight years old.
“I think I was inspired by my dad because he used to ride bulls, as well as my older brother – he still rides bulls but he was getting on steers at the time – and so I just followed in dad’s footsteps I guess,” he said.
“I love every bit of riding bulls. I wouldn’t like to do anything else – I just love it.”
At just 17 years old, Searle has already racked up quite a few big achievements.
“Definitely one of my biggest achievements so far was winning the All Round title and Bull Riding title the last few years,” he said.
“But another big one would be competing in the PBR in Fort Worth, Texas, where I came away with 2nd. And another one would be scoring 88 points in the open bullride at Brisbane not long ago.”
The future is looking bright for the young cowboy, as he will this year attend an American rodeo college called Sul Ross in Alpine, Texas.
“I’m attending college in the United States in August. I signed for two years, so my plan is to win a world title, or maybe even a couple,” he said cheekily.
“While I’m there, I’ll study agriculture and get on a heap of bulls and do a heap of college rodeos, which I’m really looking forward to. They helped me a lot, it’s a better way to get over there for a visa and just get in the mix of it all.
“And then from there on, when I’m done college, I’ll try go do my own thing and get on the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) road.”
With that said, the Mareeba Rodeo will be one of the last in Australia for Searle this year. However, he reckons he’ll back at the start of next year for the ABCRA National Finals.
It’s barrel racing action
INSTEAD of packing up on Sunday morning, Mareeba Rodeo visitors can stay around for more centre ring excitement with a full day of barrel racing action.
Barrel racers from across the Far Northern region and beyond will put their speed, skill and precision to the test at the FNQ Australian Barrel Horse Association (ABHA) Barrel Racing event at Kerribee Park.
Barrel racing is a timed event where horse and rider compete against the clock for the fastest ride around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern.
“Whether you’re chasing points, chasing personal bests or simply love the thrill of barrel racing, this is an event you won’t want to miss,” organiser Alison Piggott said.
“Open, junior and youth competitors are welcome to compete in a great competition with a family-friendly atmosphere.”
The ABHA was formed to provide members with an affordable place to compete and to serve as an information centre for ABHA-approved events.
For further information, contact Alison Piggott on 0402 838 849 or email fnqtime@gmail.com
Cowpokes to be chosen
YOUNGSTERS will be dressed in their best cowgirl and cowboy gear in a bid to win the 2026 Cowpoke Competition.
The competition used to be held before the rodeo, but this year, it will be decided at the rodeo grounds on Saturday.
Open to kids from 6-12 years, the competition will see the best dressed cowboy and cowgirl selected to be the 2026 Cowpokes, and get the chance to ride in the Grand Entry Parade on Saturday night.
Judging will happen at Kerribee Park on Saturday from 10am-12 noon.
Mustering up all utes!
ANOTHER highlight of the Mareeba Rodeo will be the Ute Muster Show and Shine Competition which features seven categories.
The categories are:
Street Ute
Classic Ute (30 years or older)
B & S Ute
Chick’s Ute (rego papers required)
4X4 Ute
Town & Country, and
Feral Ute.
Show and Shine will run on Friday from 4.30pm and winners will be displayed in the Downtown Parade on Friday night and at the rodeo grounds over the weekend. Nomination fee for each category is $10.
Downtown parade set to deliver
THE Downtown Parade is one of the highlights of the Mareeba Rodeo festival, with cars, trucks, tractors, horses, Queen entrants, and local sports and community clubs circling the main street to put on a grand show.
It’s one of the most well-attended events in the program and it’s also where locals will get to see the nine Rodeo Queen entrants of 2026 glitzed and glammed on their specially decorated floats, hoping to be crowned as the Queen later that night.
The parade does two laps of Byrnes Steet, allowing everyone to get a good look at each Queen entrant and all the other parade entrants, as well as the winners of the Ute Muster categories who will no doubt be showing off their car’s style and noise.
Prizes are on offer for the best entrants across eight categories which include Best Western theme, Best Sporting theme, Best Display float and Best Queen float.
After the parade, the official ceremony and crowning of the Mareeba Rodeo Queen and Rodeo Princess will take place on the main stage near the Cenotaph.
There will also be a mini-Sideshow Alley with rides, games, showbag stalls, and food vendors, giving attendees a sneak peek into the real deal that will be seen at the rodeo.
The parade is set to kick off in the main street of Mareeba this Friday from 7.45pm.
Rodeo boosts local economy
THE Mareeba Rodeo is one of the single biggest annual events for the shire, drawing in thousands of visitors and giving the town a major economic boost.
Each year, local businesses report an uptake in sales during rodeo week, including retail, food, and tourism providers.
Local accommodation providers also usually reach near capacity, not to mention the thousands of campers who spend the week or weekend out at the rodeo grounds.
Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said the Mareeba Rodeo has been an important annual event for the Mareeba Shire since its inception in 1949.
“The Mareeba Rodeo is an enduring tradition and has grown to become the biggest rodeo in Far North Queensland,” she said.
“The event provides opportunities for participants to showcase their skills handling livestock and horses, through riding, barrel racing, and rope and tie competitions.”
The mayor also highlighted the community’s involvement in the rodeo, with businesses dressing up their foyers and staff in western-themed attire.
“It is wonderful to see local businesses get into the spirit of the event, with staff dressing up in a western theme and decorating their shops,” Mayor Toppin said.
“The Downtown Parade is also an annual highlight not to be missed with incredible floats and displays. It really is a great way to showcase our country town.”
Mareeba Shire Council supports the rodeo through the Community Partnerships Program, providing an estimated $13,500 of in-kind support.
This includes traffic control for the parade and supplying chairs and bins. Portaloos will also be hired and placed near the CWA building along Byrnes Street during the Downtown Parade.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
THE Mareeba rodeo festival is upon us again. Over the last 12 months the Mareeba Rodeo committee and a band of volunteers have worked extremely hard to ensure that the 2026 Mareeba Rodeo will be one to remember.
As a part of the 2026 Mareeba Rodeo, we have now included a Friday night program to cater for the thousands of campers that arrive Friday but do not attend the downtown parade. This will see events from late afternoon into the night with the band Highway 95 and our Country DJ playing at the bronc bar cabaret when the action in the arena ends.
On Saturday we have a full rodeo program including the Saturday night State of Origin rodeo and the Mazda Challenge, and don’t miss the mighty GNBS duck races that will start our Saturday night program.
We also welcome back our event partner for the Mareeba Rodeo – City & Country, a huge shout out to Shane and Jasmin Srhoj for their continued support, and I would also like to thank Mareeba Mazda for their ongoing support of the Mareeba Rodeo as they will again be the Major sponsor of the Friday night downtown parade where we will see our 2026 Mareeba Rodeo Queen and Princess crowned.
We are very fortunate to have so many fantastic sponsors supporting this year’s event and all these sponsors can be found on our website at www.mareebarodeo.com.au. I encourage you to support these local businesses.
We have secured some of Australia’s best stock and they will be travelling to Mareeba from all parts of the country. We are also very fortunate to have record nominations with cowboys and cowgirls travelling from all corners of Australia to compete at this fantastic event.
We have a live big screen so you won’t miss a minute of the action. Our Great Northern Hill Bar will also be open the public to either sit in the grandstands or on a blanket/rug whilst enjoying a cold beer or soft drink watching the action.
Rounding off our huge day of action, we have our Rodeo Cabaret that will kick off when the main arena finishes with the band Careless, for those wanting to dance the night away with live music until 1am.
Once again, this year the arena events will be complimented by so many activities such as all the trade displays, the Agricultural Tent, Melville’s Animal Farm, the Ute Muster and Sideshow Alley.
Mareeba Rodeo is one of the best rodeos in Australia with outstanding facilities, I encourage you all to come out and be a part of this iconic event – “The Mareeba Rodeo”. I look forward to seeing you all at Kerribee Park this weekend.
- Peter Brown, President Mareeba District Rodeo Association Inc.
2026 Mareeba Rodeo Program
Program is subject to change, as events are subject to nominations.
FRIDAY ARENA ACTION FROM 3PM-9PM
1st Section Rope and Tie, Round 1
1st Section Steer Undecorating, Round 1
1st Section Junior Steer Ride (8-U11)
1st Section Junior Steer Ride (11-U14)
1st Section Novice Bull Ride
1st Section Steer Wrestling, Round 1
1st Section Breakaway Roping, Round 1
2nd Section Junior Steer Ride (8-U11)
2nd Section Junior Steer Ride (11-U14)
1st Section Open Bull Ride, Round 1
Ladies Barrel Race, Round 1
1st Section Mini Bull Ride (8-U11)
1st Section Mini Bull Ride (11-U14)
1st Section Junior Bull Ride (14-U18)
2nd Section Steer Wrestling, Round 1
2nd Section Breakaway Roping, Round 1
2nd Section Rope and Tie, Round 1
2nd Section Steer Undecorating, Round 1
2nd Section Mini Bull Ride (8-U11)
2nd Section Mini Bull Ride (11-U14)
Open Saddle Bronc, Round 1
Bareback, Round 1
2nd Section Junior Bull Ride (14-U18)
2nd Section Open Bull Ride, Round 1
FRIDAY NIGHT – BYRNES STREET
DOWNTOWN PARADE – COMMENCING 7.45PM
CROWNING OF THE 2026 RODEO QUEEN AND PRINCESS (LIVE on the big screen at the Rodeo grounds)
SATURDAY AT THE ARENA FROM 7AM-9PM
1st Section Team Roping
1st Section Steer Undecorating, Round 2
2nd Section Team Roping
1st Section Steer Wrestling, Round 2
1st Section Rope and Tie, Round 2
Novice Saddle Bronc
Saddle Bronc (14-U18)
2nd Section Novice Bull Ride
1st Section Open Bull Ride, Round 2
1st Section Junior Breakaway Roping (8-U18)
2nd Section Steer Undecorating, Round 2
3rd Section Team Roping
1st Section Breakaway Roping, Round 2
3rd Section Mini Bull Ride (8-U11)
3rd Section Mini Bull Ride (11-U14)
LUNCH BREAK – 30 MINUTES (IF TIME PERMITS)
Junior Barrel Race (U8)
Junior Barrel Race (8-U11)
Junior Barrel Race (11-U14)
Juvenile Barrel Race (14-U18)
Ladies Barrel Race, Round 2
3rd Section Novice Bull Ride
3rd Section Junior Bull Ride (14-U18)
2nd Section Rope and Tie, Round 2
2nd Section Breakaway Roping, Round 2
2nd Section Junior Breakaway Roping (8-U18)
2nd Section Steer Wrestling, Round 2
2nd Section Breakaway Roping, Round 2
4th Section Mini Bull Ride (8-U11)
4th Section Mini Bull Ride (11-U14)
4th Section Mini Bull Ride (14-U18)
2nd Section Open Bull Ride, Round 2
Bareback, Round 2
Open Saddle Bronc, Round 2
Women’s Ranch Bronc Ride
SATURDAY NIGHT FOLLOWING FINAL EVENT
Ute Muster Parade
Duck Races (live on the big screen)
Mazda Challenge
All Round Cowboy and Cowgirl Presentations
Official Ceremony and Grand Entry of competitors – 7PM
State of Origin action
