PBR’s New Year Begins in Boston as the 2026 Title Race Continues Forward

The year may have cahnged, but in professional bull riding, the race for a world title is already in motion.

The 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast season comes into Boston’s TD Garden on Jan. 2–3, marking one of the first major stops of the new year as the sport’s top riders and rankest bulls continue their push toward the PBR World Championship.

Boston arrives at a big point in the standings. This event could be a huge turning point for some of the riders, good or bad. There has already been some early-season momentum established. Every qualified ride carries weight because the guys are looking to separate themselves in a tightly packed leaderboard.

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Understanding the PBR Tours

PBR competition is structured across multiple tours, with Unleash The Beast (UTB) serving as the sport’s premier series, where the world’s best riders compete for the gold buckle. Beneath it, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour functions as both a proving ground and a pipeline, allowing riders to earn points, confidence and opportunities to advance into UTB events.

Boston features that crossover in real time, as Velocity Tour standouts step onto one of the biggest stages in bull riding now fresh in 2026.

Champions Return

Three-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme returns to UTB action in Boston, bringing proven championship pedigree back into the mix as the season’s hierarchy continues to take shape.

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At the top of the standings, the battle remains tight. Marco Rizzo enters the weekend just six points behind World No. 1 Dalton Kasel, keeping pressure squarely on the leaders as the tour heads deeper into January.

The field will be without Callum Miller, sidelined following a jaw injury sustained in Chicago, opening the door for other riders to capitalize and climb into the top tier.

One of the most compelling storylines entering Boston is Hudson Bolton, who returns to Unleash The Beast competition after competing at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Fresh off a 2025 PBR Rookie of the Year Title, and a 2025 PRCA Rookie Year, Bolton begins his UTB season with confidence, experience and a clean slate as the new year begins.

Momentum also arrives from the Velocity Tour, where Kade Madsen earned his way back into the UTB field after winning his first Velocity Tour event following a two-year hiatus spent on a church mission. His return adds another layer of depth to an already very stacked roster.

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A New Year, Same Stakes

With limited tickets remaining and TD Garden expected to be at full throat, Boston sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting 2026. Championship veterans and the rising talents all will arrive with the same goal. They want to stack points early on and stay in the hunt.

As the New Year begins, the race continues, and Boston is the next proving and playing ground.