PBR Riders to Know in 2026: Names, Teams and Career Highlights

Read the rider list in the right competition context

A search for current PBR riders can lead to an athlete directory, an individual standings table, a Teams roster or a particular event's draw. Each answers a different question. The directory helps identify people; standings compare a defined competition; a roster identifies a team relationship; the draw tells you who is scheduled to attempt which bull.

The distinction is visible in 2026. PBR announced 45 qualifiers for the opening World Finals rounds in May. That was a field for a particular event, with its own advancement rules. It should not be copied into an October article as the current Teams starting lineup. Likewise, John Crimber's 2026 individual World Championship is an earned season title, not a claim that he leads every standings table you open.

A team affiliation is not a guaranteed starting spot

Teams can have protected, reserve and injured-reserve riders, with different roles and eligibility. A coach's event lineup is a further decision. The official 2026 roster explanation makes clear that being on an active event roster need not mean being in the starting lineup.

That matters when you choose an event to see a favorite rider. The team name gives you a useful destination, but the dated draw and lineup provide the next level of confirmation. Health, roster moves and selection can affect an appearance, so this guide describes verified associations without promising that every named athlete will ride tonight.

Use the today's events page to identify the competition you want to follow. The Teams guide explains the game context. Then read a rider's achievements with their correct labels: individual champion, Teams MVP, event winner and qualified-ride record are related accomplishments, but they are not interchangeable.

Three world champions at the center of the conversation

These three names connect the current sport to three different championship stories. Crimber supplies the 2026 title, Leme the established modern benchmark, and Dias an explosive breakthrough followed by a less straightforward career path. Their team connections also give fans specific organizations to follow in the separate Teams competition.

John Crimber: the 2026 World Champion

Team connection: Florida Freedom. Crimber won the 2026 individual PBR World Championship at Dickies Arena on May 17. His closing ride was 92.90 points aboard Tigger. The outcome is especially worth remembering because he began the Finals without a qualified score in his first five attempts, then supplied the late rides needed to finish the championship campaign.

For a new fan, that is a more useful introduction than simply calling him a prodigy. It shows the difference between owning a strong season position and still having to produce under pressure. His official profile identifies Florida and his two Teams MVP honors. Those team awards belong beside his individual title, with each kept in its correct competition.

Jose Vitor Leme: three titles and Austin experience

Team connection: Austin Gamblers. Leme won individual world titles in 2020, 2021 and 2025. His 98.75-point ride on Woopaa in 2021 remains a defining example of elite rider control matched with elite bull performance. It is a historical achievement, rather than a prediction of the score he will produce on his next draw.

His profile also records Teams MVP awards in 2022 and 2023 and Austin's 2024 championship. When you watch him, consider the game situation as well as the name recognition. A score contributing to a team win and a ride contributing to an individual season are different opportunities to see the same athlete's experience at work.

Cassio Dias: a champion with a different career arc

Team connection: Kansas City Outlaws. Dias won the 2024 PBR World Championship and that season's Rookie of the Year honor. His official biography also records the 98.25-point ride on Man Hater in the Teams competition. Those two facts explain why he remains a recognizable name even when another rider owns the latest individual title.

The biography describes an injury-interrupted period and his 2025 return; that is background, not a diagnosis of his present condition. A fan should look at the latest draw and results to assess the next appearance. Dias makes this guide because an established championship and extraordinary team ride give his attempts context, while his subsequent performances still need to be judged on their own evidence.

Two American contenders worth following closely

Kasel and Kimzey offer different introductions to elite American bull riding. One has built his PBR reputation around large scores and successful individual events; the other arrived with a remarkable rodeo championship history. Both are listed with Austin on the check date, giving fans another reason to distinguish a rider's older biography from his current team association.

Dalton Kasel: the scoring threat

Team connection: Austin Gamblers. Kasel was PBR Rookie of the Year in 2019 and contributed to Austin's 2024 Teams Championship. A concrete 2026 example of his scoring threat came at Milwaukee: he went 3-for-3 and capped the weekend with 92.55 points on Lights Out. That was an earned event-winning performance, not just a nickname or reputation.

The Milwaukee report shows why completing the entire event matters. A giant championship-round score has more competitive value when it sits on top of earlier qualified rides. When Kasel appears in a draw, watch both the bull's potential and whether he has built the scores needed to make the decisive round count.

Sage Steele Kimzey: rodeo success in the PBR arena

Team connection: Austin Gamblers. Kimzey's seven world championships are PRCA bull riding titles. They should not be called seven PBR world titles. His PBR achievements include the 2024 World Finals Championship event victory, another honor whose competition label matters.

His official profile describes the earlier Carolina chapter of his career, while its current team field and the Austin roster identify the Gamblers. Keeping those dates straight prevents a common fan mistake: using a past team's success as proof of the rider's current jersey.

Kimzey is worth following as a competitor with substantial experience under championship pressure. The next attempt still depends on the particular bull and the game or event situation. His earlier titles provide context; the present ride supplies the evidence for how he is performing now.

International riders who broaden the field

PBR's American arenas bring together riders from several national circuits. Nationality helps identify a background, but it does not explain a rider's result on its own. These three names are worth learning because their individual and team records add meaningful detail beyond the latest championship headline.

Brady Fielder: Australia's championship contender

Team connection: Texas Rattlers. Fielder comes from Clermont, Queensland, Australia. He finished second in the 2026 Unleash The Beast championship standings and fourth in the World Finals event. Those different placings provide a useful example of why the season race and event aggregate should be read separately.

His official profile also records his role in Texas' 2023 Teams Championship. For a fan, the attraction is a rider with evidence of success in both formats. When you see him in a team game, judge how his score fits the contest rather than assuming an individual runner-up finish automatically translates into the same place in a Teams MVP race.

Fielder is a particularly useful name for someone following Australian riders internationally. The championship challenge is already documented; the next step is to follow the actual draw and see how he handles each new bull, rather than predicting a future title from nationality or reputation.

Paulo Eduardo Rossetto: a rider to recognize beyond the headline

Team connection: Missouri Thunder. Rossetto's hometown is Colorado in Brazil, not the American state. His profile describes a technically adaptable rider and records a team-leading 60.7% riding percentage for Missouri in 2024. Keep the year attached: it is evidence of that campaign, not today's percentage.

He also contributed to Missouri's run to the 2025 Teams Championship Game. That makes him a useful example of a rider whose relevance is broader than whether he owns the latest individual world buckle. In a team contest, repeatedly providing a qualified score can put pressure on the opposing lineup before the final rider ever climbs into the chute.

Watch the quality of the attempt alongside the buzzer: whether he stays centered, matches direction changes and preserves control when the bull's rhythm changes. Those are visible features you can assess on the broadcast. They are more useful than assigning every rider a vague personality label.

Julio Cesar Marques: young talent in the team game

Team connection: Missouri Thunder. Marques is a Brazilian rider from Tatuí whose official biography records a rise from 18th in his 2024 rookie UTB season to 13th in 2026. The current profile and Missouri roster identify the Thunder, despite earlier chapters with other teams.

He is recognizable for energetic celebrations, but his place in this guide rests on competitive progression. Separate what happens after the whistle from what earned the score before it. His career movement also shows why a fan should check a current association instead of assuming the jersey from a favorite older highlight is still the one he wears.

A comeback and a developing career

Lockwood and Guiton illustrate why current riders deserve more than a list of career titles. One has already won the highest individual honor twice and supplied a notable comeback event in 2026. The other has made his name through team success and competitive progress. Both are connected to Carolina on the current roster.

Jess Lockwood: experience beyond his early titles

Team connection: Carolina Cowboys. Lockwood won the individual World Championship in 2017 and 2019. At Tampa on January 24, 2026, he went 3-for-3 and won his first elite-tour event since 2020, finishing with 90.35 points aboard Lights Out. The dated Tampa report gives that comeback a specific competitive shape.

The important point is the completed three-ride weekend. It offers evidence of performance after a long gap between individual event victories, without requiring a promise about the rest of his career. His earlier championships make the result more meaningful, but fans should still assess each subsequent appearance through the current bull matchup and outcome.

Clay Guiton: a younger name to keep in view

Team connection: Carolina Cowboys. Guiton's official biography records a perfect 5-for-5 performance and Championship MVP award during Carolina's 2025 Teams title run. That is already a substantial achievement for a rider still developing his broader individual résumé. It should be identified as a Teams Championship honor rather than an individual world title.

He also supplied a useful contrast at the same 2026 Tampa event Lockwood won. Guiton scored 90.90 on Sober Child to win the championship round, yet finished second overall because Lockwood had the better event aggregate. A fan learning to read results can see two different successes in one competition: the best final-round score and the best complete event.

The Carolina roster places both riders in the same team context. Their individual careers still provide different viewing angles. Follow Guiton's qualification consistency and complete weekends alongside his standout scores, then use the results to distinguish a promising performance from an earned event victory.

How to follow these riders at the next event

Begin with the competition you actually want to watch. Open today's PBR events, note the tour and location, then check the event's dated draw or starting lineup. If your favorite name is missing, an old highlight or team biography does not override that event information.

PBR distinguishes an individual daysheet from a Teams starting lineup. The individual document supplies rider-bull matchups and competition information; the team lineup supplies the equivalent game context. The daysheet guide helps a fan connect the familiar rider name to the particular bull and round. Keep the date attached when comparing documents from different weekends.

During an out, first determine whether the rider earns a qualified score. The basic requirement is eight seconds while meeting the riding rules; touching the bull or himself with the free hand can lead to disqualification. Then consider the quality of the qualified ride. The total can reach 100 points, with the bull and rider each contributing up to 50. A 90-point score therefore describes the matchup, not a rider-only grade.

Look beyond one number when a result is unusual. A granted re-ride can create another opportunity after a foul or an inadequate bull performance. A declined re-ride can leave the original score in place. In Teams, the value of a score also depends on the opponent's total and the remaining outs. The same qualified ride can have different competitive consequences depending on when it happens.

• Use the correct tour and season when reading standings.
• Compare a round win with the full event result.
• Read a team connection alongside the dated lineup.
• Separate a historical achievement from present form.
• Check the bull matchup before judging a rider's next opportunity.

The TV and streaming schedule helps you locate coverage, while the results page provides the outcome to compare with what you saw. These ten riders give you recognizable starting points: a current champion, established champions, strong contenders and developing competitors. Following their actual attempts makes those names meaningful without turning a guide into a promise about who will start, score or win.