For the first time in its 127-year history, the American Royal is hosting its fall events on a campus it owns. The 127th Livestock Show runs October 9–25 at the organization’s new home near 118th Street and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, ending more than a century in the West Bottoms.
A big move for a Kansas City tradition
The American Royal started in 1899 as a cattle show at the Kansas City Stockyards, and its name even inspired the Kansas City Royals baseball team’s. The new campus is meant to be a year-round destination for agriculture, education, and events, rather than a venue used only during the fall season.
What’s been built
Organizers have described five livestock barns and an exhibition hall totaling roughly 390,000 square feet. The barn space can hold cattle ties for 3,700 head and small-animal pens for 2,500 head at the same time. Not everything is finished: for this first season, livestock are showing in rings set up inside the barn space, with room for spectators.
The fall lineup
The new campus has already hosted a horse show in September and the World Series of Barbecue from September 30 to October 4. The Livestock Show follows, with junior exhibitors and a Junior Premium Livestock Auction on October 17.
What to know before you go
- The address is 1899 American Royal Way, Kansas City, KS 66109, just northwest of Kansas Speedway.
- The barn is fully climate controlled, which should help in late October.
- Schedules for individual shows vary, so check the American Royal’s calendar before heading out.
The bigger picture
Moving a tradition this old across the state line is a major change, and fall 2026 is the first real test of how the new campus works for exhibitors and visitors. Organizers say the full transition will take several more years.
