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National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of July, honouring the working cowboys and cowgirls, ranching communities, horsemanship, craftsmanship, music, stories, and traditions associated with the West. In 2026, the observance falls on Saturday, July 25.
Cowboy culture was shaped by many intersecting histories. Spanish and Mexican vaquero traditions, Indigenous knowledge, Black ranch workers, settlers, immigrants, cattle drivers, craftspeople, musicians, and generations of ranching families all contributed to the world now associated with the cowboy.
Explore cowboy history, Western songs, traditional crafts, celebrated riders, ranching life, books, museums, horses, country music, and the continuing culture of working cowboys and cowgirls.
Day of the Cowboy
On the Web
National Day of the Cowboy – Celebrate cowboy culture on July 25!
Cowboy Crafts – “Cowboy crafts” refers to a group of traditional crafts associated with cowboys and ranchers.
Evolution of Cowboy Culture – From the Middle East to West Africa, from North Africa to Spain, from Spain to Central America, the evolution of the American cowboy has been enriched with techniques and traditions from all over the world.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture.
Western and Cowboy Songs – From the Library of Congress.
Wikipedia – The cowboy according to the Internet encyclopedia.
The cowboy did not emerge from one place or one community. The traditions of riding, cattle work, ranching, equipment, music, and dress developed through cultural exchange involving Spanish and Mexican vaqueros, Indigenous peoples, Black cowboys, settlers, and ranch workers from many backgrounds.
Cowboy life in the 1800s.
Cowboys, Cowgirls and Western Figures
Modern day cowboy culture – spend time with this family of six generations ranching in West Texas.
Books About Cowboys for Children
Introduce younger readers to ranch life, horses, trail adventures, cowboy vocabulary, Western history, and the many communities that shaped cowboy culture.
Books About Cowboys, Ranching and the West
Explore memoir, history, photography, ranch cooking, Western culture, working-cowboy accounts, and stories from the range.
How to Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy
Ideas include:
- Visit a cowboy or ranching museum.
- Learn about Black cowboy history.
- Read about a cowgirl or rodeo pioneer.
- Listen to historic cowboy ballads.
- Explore the origins of vaquero traditions.
- Watch a ranching documentary.
- Learn how saddles or cowboy boots are made.
- Visit a working ranch where appropriate.
- Support a Western heritage organization.
- Explore cowboy country through GeoGuessr.
- Create a family-safe Western music playlist.
- Learn about horse welfare and responsible ranching.
Life as a wild west cowboy.
Celebrate!
National Grilling Month – Summer is the right time to get out the grill and cook up some memories!
National Country Music Day – Celebrate Country Music Day on July 4 and through the year!
I Love Horses Day – Show your love for the equine world July 15!
National Wyoming Month – National Wyoming Day is celebrated every year on July 10 to celebrate the day it became the 44th state that joined the union.
National Texas Day – Celebrate National Texas Day on February 1.
Cowboy Soul – 🌵 Saddle Up, Cowboy Soul – A Day of the Cowboy Tribute Playlist July 23 is The Day of the Cowboy, and we’re tipping our hats to the legends, the rebels, and the riders who live by grit, heart, and a touch of dust. This 38-track playlist spans old-school ballads, modern cowgirl anthems, outlaw country, and prairie-swept poetry.
When is National Day of the Cowboy?
It is observed on the fourth Saturday of July. In 2026, the date is Saturday, July 25.
What does National Day of the Cowboy celebrate?
The observance recognizes cowboy and cowgirl heritage, working ranch traditions, Western history, horsemanship, craftsmanship, music, and the communities that continue these traditions.
Where did cowboy culture originate?
Cowboy culture developed through multiple influences, particularly Spanish and Mexican vaquero traditions, Indigenous knowledge, Black cowboy history, ranching communities, and cultural exchange across the Americas.
What is the difference between a cowboy and an outlaw?
A cowboy traditionally works with cattle, horses, and ranch operations. An outlaw is a person who committed crimes or lived outside the law. Some Western figures became associated with both ranching and outlaw stories, but the terms are not synonyms.
Are there still working cowboys today?
Yes. Cowboys and cowgirls continue to work on ranches, manage livestock, train horses, compete in rodeo, preserve traditional skills, and contribute to modern agriculture.
What are cowboy songs?
Cowboy songs are ballads and work-related songs associated with ranching and frontier life. Historical collections helped preserve songs connected to real cowboys and Western experiences.
What are traditional cowboy crafts?
They include saddle making, leatherwork, rope making, braiding, silversmithing, boot making, hat making, tack repair, and other practical ranch skills.
How well do you know Cowboy Country?
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