State Fair of Texas 2026
September 25 – October 18, 2026 at Fair Park in Dallas. The most Texan place on earth returns for three weeks of free live music, livestock shows, fried food, carnival rides, and everything that makes Texas, Texas.
2026 Fair — Quick Facts
24 days of Fair
Dallas, TX
Free with admission
Family friendly
Hours
Monday: 10 AM – 9 PM | Tue–Sun: See bigtex.com/schedule for daily hours. The Park & Ride lots open two hours before the Fair opens on each operating day.
Key Events at the 2026 Fair
Opening Weekend
The Fair opens at noon on September 25. Opening weekend typically sees the largest crowds of the season — if you're planning to go early, get there when the gates open.
Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction
The centerpiece of the Fair's youth agricultural program — Texas 4-H and FFA exhibitors sell their prize animals to benefit their futures. It's one of the most genuinely moving things you can witness at any fair anywhere.
Live Music Every Day
Four dedicated music stages feature both national acts on the Chevrolet Main Stage and regional Texas talent at the Bud Light, Bank of Texas, and Levi's Denim Club stages — all included with fair admission.
State Fair Contests
Cooking contests, livestock competitions, equine shows, ag mechanics, and creative arts contests run throughout the Fair. Check the official schedule at bigtex.com/schedule for specific contest days.
College Football at Cotton Bowl Stadium
The Cotton Bowl Classic is played during the State Fair most years — the game alternates between major programs and always draws a sellout crowd that doubles Fair attendance on game day.
Fair Closing Weekend
The last weekend of the Fair. Often the best time to visit if you want shorter lines — the Fair crowd thins out significantly on the final Thursday and Friday before the closing weekend.
What's at the Fair — 2026 Attractions
Everything listed here is included with your State Fair admission unless otherwise noted. The Midway, food, and shopping are paid separately on the grounds.
Chevrolet Main Stage
The Fair's flagship music venue, hosting national touring acts on a massive stage sponsored by Chevrolet. Located in Cotton Bowl Plaza with the best sightlines on the grounds — if a big name is coming through Dallas in October, this is where they end up.
Bud Light Stage
Centrally located in Cotton Bowl Plaza, the Bud Light Stage is convenient to all your fair food favorites and features a wide variety of Texas acts year after year. The most accessible free stage on the grounds.
Bank of Texas Stage
Another major free live music stage on the Fair grounds, drawing regional and Texas-based acts across country, folk, and Americana genres. Part of the Fair's multi-stage music offering included with admission.
Levi's Denim Club
New in recent years, Levi's Denim Club in the Magnolia Beer Garden offers an intimate live music experience with craft beverages and the ability to customize Levi's merchandise on-site. A modern addition that brings festival energy to the Fair.
Dino Time with Professor T. Rex
Join Professor T. Rex and his dino-wrangler as they bring their favorite dinosaurs through his time machine to meet fairgoers. This show is intended for children under ten and runs multiple times daily — walk away with a story they'll tell until next year's Fair.
Creative Arts Cooking Demonstrations
Resident Chef Pete Nolasco performs live cooking demos daily, with samples included. Watch him craft mouthwatering dishes, get insider tips, and taste the results — all free with admission. This is the most underrated attraction on the Fair grounds.
Texas Auto Show
The Texas Auto Show occupies a dedicated hall at the Fair with hundreds of vehicles from every major manufacturer. Whether you're in the market for a new truck or just want to sit in something you'll never be able to afford, it's a great air-conditioned stop in October.
Livestock Shows
The State Fair's agricultural heart. Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction draw exhibitors from across Texas. The livestock barns are consistently some of the most walkable, educational, and free exhibits at the Fair — and the quietest.
The Midway
The carnival midway is where Big Tex's entertainment empire meets its oldest tradition. Midway wristbands are sold separately from fair admission — they cover rides on the Texas Star Ferris wheel, the century-old Yo-Yo swings, and everything in between.
Fair Park Food Courts
Fried Oreos. Fletcher's Corny Dogs. Turkey legs bigger than your forearm. The State Fair of Texas invented Texas fair food culture, and every year brings new entrants alongside the classics. The 2026 fair includes creative new fried items alongside longtime vendor favorites.
Big Tex Champion Club / State Fair Saddle Up
Fundraising events that support the Fair's scholarship programs and youth agricultural initiatives. State Fair Saddle Up is a western-themed donor event, while the Big Tex Champion Club connects sponsors directly to the livestock scholarship fund.
Texas Auto Show Exhibitors
For automotive industry participants, the Texas Auto Show offers exhibitor space and sponsorship opportunities at the Fair. New and used car dealers, parts manufacturers, and aftermarket brands use the Auto Show as a Texas market launch platform.
Tickets & Admission
Where to Buy
Tickets are available exclusively through bigtex.com/buy-tickets and the official State Fair box office at Fair Park. Avoid third-party resellers — the Fair does not endorse or price-match secondary market tickets.
Tickets typically go on pre-sale in early summer at a discount to door pricing. Sign up for the Fair's email list on bigtex.com to get pre-sale access.
2025 Admission Rates
2026 rates typically announced in August. Check bigtex.com for updated pricing.
- →Adults (13–64) — Standard admission, pre-sale vs. door pricing varies
- →Children (3–12) — Discounted rate — under 3 free
- →Seniors (65+) — Discounted senior admission available
- →Midway wristbands — Sold separately — covers rides and games on the midway
- →Parking — Various lots around Fair Park; Park & Ride available
Getting to Fair Park
Address
Fair Park
1300 S. Lamar St
Dallas, TX 75210
Fair Park is located just south of downtown Dallas, bordered by Fitzhugh Avenue to the east, Pennsylvania Drive to the west, and Maulding Avenue to the south. The main entrance is off Lamar Street.
Transportation
- →DART Light Rail — The Green Line stops at Fair Park directly at the Fair Park station — the most traffic-free way to get to the Fair. DART runs from downtown Dallas and many DFW suburbs.
- →Park & Ride — Designated DART Park & Ride lots operate on Fair weekends, with shuttles directly to the Fair grounds. Check DART's website for current lot locations.
- →Rideshare — Uber and Lyft drop off at designated zones on the east side of Fair Park on Fair weekends — follow signage to the rideshare pickup area.
- →Biking — Bike parking is available on the north end of the Fair grounds. There are alsojitney shuttles that run between distant parking lots and the front gate.
About the State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas is the oldest fair west of the Mississippi River and one of the largest state fairs in the country. First held in 1887, it has been hosted at Fair Park in Dallas continuously since 1904. The 2026 fair marks the 139th edition.
The Fair is anchored by the Cotton Bowl stadium — home to the annual Cotton Bowl Classic college football game — and scaled across 277 acres of Fair Park. At peak attendance, the Fair hosts 70,000+ visitors in a single day.
The fair's mascot is Big Tex, the 55-foot giant cowboy silhouette that has stood at the main entrance since 1949. He's been burned down twice, rebuilt twice, and remains the most recognizable single structure associated with any fair in North America.
What separates the State Fair of Texas from other fairs is the scale and depth of what's included with basic admission. The live music programming across four dedicated stages — all free with admission — is worth the price of admission alone. This is a real music festival packaged inside a state fair.
The livestock and agricultural programming is equally deep. Texas 4-H and FFA kids from across the state bring their best animals to compete in barns that are some of the most quietly compelling spaces at the Fair. The Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction draws thousands because it's genuinely moving — a kid's years of work sold off to benefit their future.
The Texas Auto Show, creative arts competitions, daily cooking demos, and the internationally recognized Midway round out what is genuinely one of the most complete fair experiences in North America. It's also one of the most DFW things you can do in the fall, which is reason enough to go.
Official State Fair of Texas
Full schedule, ticket purchasing, maps, and contest information — directly from the source.
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