The Unleash the Beast Series (UTB) is the Premier Series of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Monster Beverage Corporation is the current series sponsor for the premiership since 2018. From its founding in 1994 through 2002, it was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch (Bud Light Cup Series), and Ford Motor Company (Built Ford Tough Series) from 2003 through 2017.^[1][2][3]

The UTB series was televised on CBS Sports Network from January 2018 through May 2024. It was also televised on TUDN and streamed on Vix Premium, both in Spanish, in 2024. From November 2024 through May 2025, it was available for free on the PBR's YouTube channel, RidePass on Pluto TV, and the PBR's mobile app. As of 2026, it is streamed exclusively on Paramount+.^[4]

The top 40 riders and top bulls compete at each event. It culminates at the PBR Unleash the Beast World Finals at the end of the regular season. The UTB series includes 24 events across the United States each year. Pyrotechnics, pulsating music, and special effects open each event.^[1] UTB events range from one to three days, with all 40 riders competing in the long rounds, then the top 12 returning to the Championship Round to determine the event winner. ^[5]

• From 2015 through 2021, four regular-season Premier Series events were Majors.^[5] The first major event of the year was the Buck Off at the Garden in Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.^[6]

• Next came the Iron Cowboy, which took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, from 2010 through 2018, before moving to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, in 2019.^[7]

• The third Major of the year was the Last Cowboy Standing, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2011 through 2018, with the exception of the one-off year in 2012 when the event was held at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.^[8] It was held in different venues the years it was in Las Vegas; in 2011, 2013 and 2014, it was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.^[9][10][11] From 2015 through 2017, it was held at the Las Vegas Village, with the latter two years in conjunction with the Helldorado Days rodeo.^[12][13][14] As a result of the 2017 Route 91 Harvest shooting, the Las Vegas Village was permanently closed. This caused the Last Cowboy Standing and Helldorado Days to change venues in 2018. That year, they were held at the Thomas & Mack Center, the home of the PBR World Finals from 1999 through 2015.^[15][16] In July 2019, the Last Cowboy Standing found a new home at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming.^[17] In 2020, Cheyenne Frontier Days was cancelled for the first time in its 124-year history. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It ultimately effected the Last Cowboy Standing as well.^[18] Cheyenne Frontier Days returned in 2021, as did the Last Cowboy Standing.^[19]

• The last major event of the season was the Music City Knockout, which took place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.^[20] In 2020, this event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions,^[21] but returned in 2021.^[22]

Major events offered competition in different formats, bonus bulls, and more prize money.^[5] The PBR did not visit New York City or Los Angeles in 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions in said locations, and the Iron Cowboy event took place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, that year in the summer instead of its usual run in the winter.^[23] The Iron Cowboy was discontinued in the United States after 2021. The UTB series returned to Madison Square Garden in New York City^[24] and Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles in 2022.^[25] Since that year, neither Cheyenne or Nashville are events on the UTB schedule. Nashville is now a stop on the PBR Team Series. In 2022 and 2023, Cheyenne was also a Team Series event, but in 2024, the Last Cowboy Standing returned to Cheyenne; only now as a stop on the PBR's lower-level Challenger Series.^[26] Since 2025, the Last Cowboy Standing has been held at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado.^[27]

After a two-year hiatus, Majors returned to the Premier Series in 2024. These events include the Buck Off at the Garden at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York; PBR Sacramento at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California; and the Ty Murray Invitational at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[28] In 2026, a new major will be added: PBR Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.^[29]

The 15/15 Bucking Battle was offered at some UTB events. This bonus round matched the top 15 bull riders against the top 15 bulls in attendance. The matching was random. There was a separate purse for this round. Points were earned at the rate of 1 and 1/2 times the round points. Points did not factor into the event winner, but did count toward the UTB standings. The winner was the bull rider with the highest ride score. 15/15 Bucking Battles were broadcast on CBS.^[5] They debuted in 2012 and lasted through 2024. They were replaced by the Monster Energy Team Challenge in 2025.

Qualifying for the PBR World Finals used to be based on points earned at all of the PBR's tours, which included the UTB elite tour, mid-level (Velocity Tour), and entry level (Touring Touring Division) tour, and the International tours. International tours include Australia, Brazil, and Canada. ^[30] However, since 2023, only points won on the UTB series count towards the PBR World Finals and world championship race.^[31] Mexico also had a PBR tour, but the COVID-19 pandemic and financial struggles were major factors that led to its eventual shutdown in 2023. The top 40 riders in the UTB standings according to points earned, the Velocity Tour champion, the top three point earners in the Velocity Tour after the conclusion of its finals event, and the highest ranked finishing international rider not already ranked inside the top 35 of the UTB standings all compete at the World Finals.

Since 2022, the PBR World Finals are held in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The event's prize money is worth $3.13 million since 2024. This includes the $1 million bonus to the World Champion, who also receives a trophy cup and championship gold belt buckle. The latter of which the value increased from $10,000 to $20,000 in 2018.^[3][30]