Excited states in 126 Ce have been observed with the GAMMASPHERE ␥-ray detector array, used in conjunction with the MICROBALL charged-particle detector. The reaction 64 Zn( 64 Zn, xpn␣) ͑beam energy 260 MeV͒ was used to populate a wide range of nuclei in the neutron-deficient region with AϷ120. 126 Ce was populated via the 2p evaporation channel. The three previously observed bands have been extended to higher spins and some other structures have been identified. The yrast band shows evidence of a delayed neutron alignment occurring at a rotational frequency Ϸ0.5 MeV/ប as observed in the neighboring odd-A nucleus 127 Pr. One of the two excited bands shows evidence for a similar crossing at a slightly lower frequency and also exhibits a sudden gain in alignment at ϭ0.57 MeV/ប. The third band may involve the coupling of a ␥-vibrational state. All three rotational bands are discussed in terms of standard and extended cranked shell model calculations.