Organizers of RodeoHouston have announced that Cody Johnson will close out the 2026 season with a full-length concert. The country music artist from Sebastopol, Texas, first performed at RodeoHouston in 2017 and has returned in subsequent years. Johnson is scheduled to perform on March 22, 2026, which has been designated as the event's newly added closing day, according to a statement obtained by KHOU 11.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo president and CEO, Chris Boleman, shared in an interview with KHOU 11 that next year's event is already showing signs to possibly emulate the success of the 2025 RodeoHouston, which set a staggering record with over 2.7 million attendees. This figure reflects a significant achievement, one that the organization hopes to, at the very least, parallel in the upcoming 2026 festivities. Boleman also highlighted that the presence of out-of-state and international visitors is affirmatively growing.
The 2025 event saw the setting of ten auction records, highlighting the efforts of numerous individuals who prepared their animals for the show. The event continues to reflect a longstanding Texas tradition, combining elements of heritage and modern entertainment. Tickets for Cody Johnson’s final performance of the 2026 season will go on sale Thursday, August 21, a date of interest for both returning attendees and the 20 percent who attended for the first time and plan to return.
Cody Johnson, who has made surprise appearances at RodeoHouston, including during Jelly Roll's set last year, is set to follow in the footsteps of George Strait, the only other artist to perform a full concert at the event. Strait last held this distinction in 2022, and Johnson is preparing for his sixth performance on the iconic rotating stage, reflecting his continued presence in a city with a strong country music tradition. “Y'all thought I was Slim Thug, didn't you?” Johnson humorously remarked while joining Jelly Roll onstage, according to the Houston Chronicle, further cementing his connection with the RodeoHouston audience.
