The Bend Classic 2026 Introduces Stock Rodeo

South Australian country music festival The Bend Classic is trading horsepower for eight seconds of chaos, with organisers announcing a full rough stock rodeo will open the event.

Taking place over the October long weekend at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October, the nation’s hardest-riding cowboys and cowgirls will ride the fiercest bulls and broncs as they battle it out for $19,000 in prize money.

"Bull riding is packing out arenas right across the nation and country music has never been bigger – The Bend Classic is where the two collide," says Shell V-Power Motorsport Park CEO Alistair MacDonald.

"We are committed to building our events, while other festivals are shutting down. This is 'stay and play' at its best – unforgettable experiences from the minute you pitch up."

There will be a plethora of different categories, from the open bull ride to junior competitions, all taking place under the watchful eye of 83-year-old Ron Woodall from Woodall Rodeo Promotions. Woodall has spent seven decades in the sport and stages more than 30 rodeos across SA, VIC and NSW every year.

"Rodeo has been in my blood for more than 70 years and it never gets old," says Woodall. "We will bring our best bucking stock to The Bend, and the cowboys and cowgirls will come from everywhere for a crack at the prize money. When the bulls are bucking and the crowd are up on their feet cheering, there is nothing like it – and doing it under lights at a racetrack will be something to see."

Tickets and more info about the weekend can be found at classic.thebend.com.au.

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On the musical front, The Bend Classic is headlined by Australian country music greats Lee Kernaghan and James Johnston, with Andrew Swift, Robbie Mortimer, Tori Darke and Denvah also performing.

"When I said The Bend Classic had the makings of the Tamworth of the South, this is what I was talking about," says Kernaghan. "You look down this line-up and it's the whole story of Australian country music on one stage — the artists who built it, the ones topping the charts today and the next generation coming through."

Johnston adds, "This is my first festival in South Australia and they've handed me a line-up like this — it's going to be one hell of a day. SA crowds are some of the rowdiest going around, so bring your boots and bring your voice."

The weekend will also feature whip-cracking demonstrations, a ute muster, axe throwing, car displays, circuit racing and classic cars thundering down the Dragway in Saturday’s Nostalgia Drags, the Summit Racing Equipment Dragway at The Bend Track Championship and a Sunday night drive-in family movie.

BBQ Alley will once again be a foodie paradise, with the country's best BBQ masters and food trucks slinging tasty treats all weekend, with Australia's best pitmasters going head-to-head for $20,000 in prize money in a BBQ competition for the ages.

The Bend Classic 2026 is held at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October. Tickets are on sale now via thebend.com.au.