The 2026 Minnesota State Fair runs August 27 through Labor Day, September 7, at the fairgrounds in the St. Paul area. This guide covers current admission prices, date-specific savings, parking choices, new foods, and accessibility services, with particular attention to the details that can change the cost or shape of your day.
The fair offers several different kinds of outing: a food-focused walk, a day of agricultural and creative exhibits, a family trip to Kidway, or an evening built around a Grandstand concert. Choose one main priority and a few nearby stops. Trying to cover every famous food and attraction in a single visit can leave little time to enjoy any of them.
Jump to: Dates | Tickets and discounts | Parking and transportation | Food highlights | Accessibility | Visit planning | FAQs
Minnesota State Fair dates and opening hours
The official fair website confirms August 27-September 7, 2026. The general address is 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul, MN 55108, but that address brings you to the vicinity rather than guaranteeing the best vehicle entrance.
According to the hours page, the grounds are open 7 a.m.-11 p.m., shortening to 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Labor Day. Admission ends earlier: 9 p.m. on regular days and 6 p.m. on Labor Day. Gate ticket sales end at 8:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively, so do not confuse the final admission time with the ticket-booth closing time.
Buildings and rides follow their own schedules. Kidway opens at 9 a.m. and Mighty Midway at 10 a.m.; a 7 a.m. arrival is not an early ride session. On Labor Day, plan priority indoor stops before the shorter closing schedule takes effect.
Admission prices and useful discounts
The 2026 admission page lists regular prices of $20 for adults ages 13-64, $18 for seniors 65 and older, and $18 for children ages 5-12. Children four and younger enter free. Advance tickets cost $17 through August 26 and are valid for one person age five or older on one fair day.
The official discount guide lists these date-specific alternatives:
- August 27: adults $18; seniors and children $15.
- August 31 and September 3: seniors $15.
- September 2 and September 7: children ages 5-12 $15.
Compare by age and date before automatically choosing an advance ticket. For example, a senior attending opening day can pay $15 under that day’s offer, less than the $17 advance price. Two adults paying regular admission plus one $25 fairgrounds parking charge would spend $65 before food, rides, or a concert. That is a planning calculation, not a package sold by the fair.
Free-stage entertainment and a paid Grandstand show are different purchases. Check the Grandstand program before booking and include fair admission in the budget; a concert ticket does not include gate admission.
Parking and free park-and-ride
Official fairgrounds vehicle parking costs $25, payable by cash or card on arrival. Spaces are first come, first served, with no reservations; traffic staff may direct vehicles to a different available lot. Leaving and returning requires another parking payment.
The fair’s free park-and-ride program lists 32 locations, but lot operating days and opening times vary. In particular, University of Minnesota lots are unavailable September 3 because of a football game. Read the table for your chosen lot instead of assuming every location operates every day.
The program normally begins at 8 a.m.; the last buses leave the fair at 11:30 p.m., or 8:30 p.m. on Labor Day. The Oscar Johnson Arena location is reserved for guests with disability parking identification and their companions, with wheelchair-accessible buses. Confirm its directions and device arrangements in the official table.
Choose a return plan before entering the grounds. Save the lot name and the fairgrounds boarding point, then leave a margin before the last bus. The fair’s free service is a specific program; do not assume every service advertised as a State Fair express bus has identical fares or stops.
New food highlights for 2026
The fair’s 2026 new-food directory includes a wide range of savory dishes and desserts. Rather than treating the entire list as a challenge, choose a few options that fit your route and appetite.
- Pickle Pie at LuLu’s Public House: a savory pickle-and-cream-cheese pie with a ranch-based topping. The official listing places it at West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater, and labels it vegetarian.
- Korean BBQ Bao Buns at Rooted & Wild by Snack House: plant-based filling and pineapple slaw in steamed buns. Its listing identifies the south side of the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum and labels the dish vegan.
- Cracklin’ Corn Ribs at The Blue Barn: the new-food directory describes fried corn quarters with seasoned butter and toppings, served with pork rinds. This is not a vegetarian corn dish.
For a lower-cost food stop, the discount guide points to a Food Finder filter for items priced at $5 or less. It also permits visitors to bring their own food and nonalcoholic drinks. Combining a packed snack with one planned fair purchase can make a tasting-focused visit easier to budget.
Ask vendors about ingredients and preparation if you have dietary requirements. Published vegan or vegetarian labels do not answer every question about shared equipment. The choices above are researched highlights, not claimed personal reviews.
Accessibility and sensory-friendly options
The 2026 accessibility guide covers mobility rentals, accommodations, and care facilities. Contact accessibility@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4448 for individual questions, especially those involving a particular performance or reserved seating.
The Fraser Sensory Building is on the west side of Cosgrove Street, south of the Home Improvement Building. A sensory-friendly morning is scheduled for August 31: Kidway 9-11 a.m. and Mighty Midway 10 a.m.-noon, with reduced lights and sound. Other areas of the fair may remain noisy.
The guide identifies a Momentum Refresh changing restroom with an adjustable table and hoist on the east side of Cosgrove Street, north of Lee Avenue. Users must bring their own compatible sling. Confirm operating hours and equipment details before relying on a particular facility.
Map access needs alongside the attractions, not after them. Knowing your rental collection point, break location, and return transportation in advance can reduce unnecessary walking or backtracking.
Build a manageable fair-day itinerary
Use the official maps to group stops. For example, a West End food choice can anchor one part of the day, while a Coliseum food stop belongs with a different cluster of activities. Treat this as a way to organize your own priorities, not a promise of walking times or queue lengths.
Start with the time-sensitive event, then fit flexible exhibits and meals around it. Check the day’s program for livestock competitions, creative exhibits, and free entertainment before buying extra attractions. Leave one open block for a rest or a discovery you did not plan.
For a broader Midwest itinerary, compare our Iowa State Fair guide and Illinois State Fair guide. Iowa’s next announced dates are in 2027, so it is not another stop during Minnesota’s 2026 fair run.
Minnesota State Fair FAQs
Is an advance ticket always the cheapest option?
No. Compare the visitor’s age and chosen day with the discount schedule. Some $15 senior or child offers are cheaper than the $17 advance ticket.
Can I reserve a fairgrounds parking space?
No. The official parking page says spaces are available on arrival, not by reservation. Choose a backup option before driving.
Does Labor Day have the same hours as other days?
No. Admission, ticket sales, grounds, buildings, rides, and return buses have earlier limits. Check each part of the day’s schedule rather than relying on a single closing time.
Updated August 26, 2026 by State Fair Scout. Official-source facts and editorial planning advice are distinguished throughout. This independent guide is not a firsthand food review; the dated sources below remain the authority for changes.