Austin, Texas – October 19, 2026 -- Fans heading to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix can now drink in the shade of a 17-foot-tall cowboy hat, complete with a fully operational bar underneath. Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and Austin-based Westernwear brand Tecovas unveiled the "World's Largest Cowboy Hat" at the track, and Guinness World Records officials certified it on-site on October 19, 2026.
The hat measures 43 feet wide and 47 feet long
The structure is a to-scale recreation of Tecovas' own Cattleman Cowboy Hat. It stands 17 feet tall, not counting the piers. Fiberglass and foam wrap around a steel frame, and the fiberglass is textured to match the real Cattleman hat. The paint is color matched to the hat's natural shade.
Two brand marks are styled like iron brands. One is COTA's signature track outline, the same mark stamped on all COTA cowboy hats. The other is the Tecovas logo. The hat also carries a hat band and a steel horseshoe charm.
Every ticketholder can use the bar underneath
The bar sits beneath the hat's brim. All ticketholders can enter the area from the time gates open until they close, Thursday through Sunday of race weekend.
COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein described the hat as "a beautiful piece of art with a practical purpose," a spot for fans to gather and get some shade.
Haturday returns on October 24
COTA and Tecovas will host the second annual "Haturday" on October 24 during Grand Prix weekend. The event offers fans exclusive activations. The Formula 1 race takes place the week after the certification.
The two companies have worked together for four years. Tecovas has partnered with COTA at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix since 2023. Tecovas CEO David Lafitte said the project celebrates the brand's Austin roots and offers fans a hospitality experience that blends Western heritage with elite motorsport.
The hat is not a one-weekend attraction. COTA says it will stay on as a permanent fixture of the track, which also hosts MotoGP, NASCAR, the FIA World Endurance Championship and concerts.