The Toughest Sport on Dirt returns to Kelowna

Professional Bull Riding is coming back to Kelowna as the PBR Canada Cup Series comes to Prospera Place on July 16. With over 50 bulls eager to pair up with the many competing riders, the event brings more than 500 tons of dirt to each event and promises to be a wild time.

The Kelowna event is bringing some of the top-ranked riders in the country, including returning competitors Nick Tetz from Calgary, Alberta, and Dakota Buttar from Eatonia, Saskatchewan. Both are currently 2 time PBR Canada champions looking to earn their third title.

Nick Tetz currently holds the #1 rank on the 2026 PBR Canada National Standings, with Dakota Buttar currently holding 3rd. Also competing in the PBR Canada Cup are international competitors from Australia, Brazil, and the United States. Currently in 2nd place in the Canada Cup standings is Gilmar Santana, from Ouro Preto, Brazil.

Curious about how the sport itself works? It carries a mixture of how points are earned. A rider must ride for 8 seconds with one hand in the bull rope and one in the air to earn a score. After the 8 seconds have been reached,  judges will score both the rider and the bull based on total performance for a total of 100 points, a max of 50 for the rider and a max of 50 for the bull. The bull gets scored on the difficulty of the ride, including movement and directional change, while the rider will be scored on how they handle themselves and their control over the ride.

A rider’s overall score will come down to a total of how many rides attempted, how many times they scored, and how many points they scored from the successful ride.

The event is happening July 16 at Prospera Place, tickets are available here.