State Fair of Texas 2026: Big Tex, food and rides

The State Fair of Texas is back at Fair Park, and it's in the middle of its 24-day run, which opened on Friday, September 25 and keeps going until Sunday, October 18. This year's theme, "Stars, Stripes and Howdies!", nods to the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the fair continues to hold its title as the largest state fair in the country, a tradition that's been running in Dallas since 1886.

Getting in is the first thing to plan around. Gates open daily at 10:00 am, and the fair closes at 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with last entry at 9:00 pm every day. General admission is $15 on weekdays and $25 on weekends for adults, $10 every day for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids under 2. There are a few ways to bring the cost down: "Feed the Need" Wednesdays drop admission to $7 if you bring five cans of non-perishable food, and "Senior Thursdays" give people 60 and older half-price general admission. If you're planning more than one visit, a digital season pass is $52 and a physical commemorative card is $62. A rough budget of $60 to $100 per person is what's recommended for a full day.

Once you're inside, the landmarks are the easy part. Big Tex, the 55-foot cowboy statue, has been the official greeter since 1952, and the current version was rebuilt after a fire on October 19, 2012, before making its first public appearance on September 26, 2013. The Texas Star is the largest Ferris wheel in the state at 212 feet, and Top O'Texas takes you up a 500-foot observation tower. There's also the historic 1914 Dentzel Carousel, the Midway — which saw an average price drop of 17% this year — the Kidway, Little Lone Stars Land, the Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation fireworks show, the Birthing Barn, the Oak Farms Dairy Petting Zoo, the Texas Auto Show, the Fair Park Rodeo, and the Creative Arts Building, where you'll find the butter sculpture. More than 100 attractions are free daily, and there are about 70 Midway rides.

Food is a big part of the draw, and Fletcher's Original Corny Dog, invented at the fair in 1942 by the Fletcher family, took home "Best Taste – Sweet" in the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards with its Chocolate Corny Dog. The other winners were the Burger Chop Tater Tacos for Best Savory, Tropical Coco Fresca for Best Sipper, and Berry Me in Matcha for Most Creative. Beyond the award winners, there are funnel cakes, cotton candy, turkey legs, and deep-fried items, including a deep-fried Coke, and more than 200 foods and drinks run $10 or less. State Farm's Every Day Values program offers coupons for things like bottled water, cotton candy, a refillable children's cup, and a commemorative refillable cup.

Music is free with general admission at the Chevrolet Main Stage, Bud Light Stage, and Yuengling Flight Stage. The 2026 headliners include Bowling for Soup, Lee Brice, Kansas, Queensrÿche, RaeLynn, Gym Class Heroes, 3OH! 3, The Toadies, and Paul Wall, with jazz musician Ken Ebo performing throughout the 24 days. Over at the Cotton Bowl, the Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners lands on October 10, and the inaugural State Fair Clásico pits Dallas Trinity FC against an opponent to be determined on October 17.

For a smoother visit, the DART Green Line stops at Fair Park Station and MLK Jr. Station, and official parking at Gate 2 on South Haskell Avenue starts at $25. Temperatures in late September and October can hit 90 in the afternoon before cooling at night, so comfortable shoes, cotton clothing, and sun protection are smart. Monday through Wednesday mornings around 10:00 am are the quietest times to go, while the Red River Rivalry weekend is the most crowded.