TAWA welcomes automotive journalists and manufacturer representatives from across the nation to the 2026 Texas Truck Rodeo, a two-day evaluation of the industry’s leading trucks and sport utility vehicles. The event begins with activities in Dallas at the State Fair of Texas, followed by a full day of on-road and off-road driving at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas.

Attending journalists will compare vehicles back-to-back, connect with manufacturer representatives, provide candid feedback, and vote for the prestigious Truck of Texas and SUV of Texas awards. Eagles Canyon Raceway and its expanded off-road courses also provide excellent opportunities for photography and video production.

8:45 AM - Media Breakfast - Ram Display

9:15 AM - Ram Press Conference - Ram Display

9:45 AM - Jeep Press Conference - Jeep Display

10:30 AM - Chrysler Press Conference - Chrysler Indoor Display

10:45 AM - Dodge Press Conference - Dodge Indoor Display

11 AM - The State Fair of Texas & Fletcher's Corn Dog Luncheon - Big Tex

12 PM - Next-Generation 2027 GMC Sierra Walkaround - GMC Display

12:45 PM - Next-Generation 2027 Chevrolet Silverado Walkaround - Chevrolet Display

6:30 PM — Cocktail hour

7:00 PM — Dinner, provided by General Motors & Auto Roundup Award Presentation

7:00 AM - Breakfast and mandatory drivers meeting

8:00 AM - Morning drive session, both on-road and on the three off-road courses provided by Jeep

12 PM - Lunch break provided by Toyota, no driving

1:00 PM - Afternoon drive session, on and off-road

5:00 PM - Driving concludes

On Friday, we will drive the three (3) off-road courses at ECR, giving us a chance to compare some of the finest trucks and SUVs on the market back-to-back. Some OEM reps will be on hand to answer questions along the way, adding even more value for attending journalists. OEMs who cannot attend the Rodeo in person may offer virtual walkarounds or more information online. 

TAWA will provide vehicle details to help journalists complete their ballots, which is a key part of the event. Not only can we help determine the new Truck and SUV of Texas, but we can also provide candid feedback to the OEMs. All ballots will be due the first Friday after the event.  

Driving will pause for one hour at noon so attendees can eat, rest, and recharge. Vehicles will again be available for driving and content development from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

We encourage social media coverage during the event! Please tag your brands and use #TXAutoWriters and #TXTruckRodeo26 on all posts in order for TAWA to easily track our results. 

Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center
3100 Town Center Trail
Denton, TX 76201

27 miles from Eagles Canyon Raceway
44 miles from The State Fair of Texas

$167/night, TAWA Rate

Rate good through 9/10/2026 booking.