The 2026 State Fair of Texas runs Friday, September 25 through Sunday, October 18 at Fair Park in Dallas. This State Fair of Texas guide covers the new lower admission and parking prices, current discounts, DART service, award-winning food, accessibility and the practical details that shape a full day with Big Tex.
State Fair Scout verified this page with official 2026 information on August 28, 2026. The fair has already announced its daily rates, discount programs, Big Tex Choice Award winners and Every Day Values program. Individual events, foods and operational details can change, so confirm the official pages linked below before traveling.
2026 dates, address and daily hours
The 24-day fair is held at historic Fair Park, 3809 Grand Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75210. Gates open at 10 a.m. every day. The grounds close at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with last entry at 9 p.m. Parking gates and ticket booths open at 9:30 a.m.
The State Fair Midway opens at 11 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. Museum hours vary, and shows, livestock competitions and ticketed events follow separate schedules. Arriving at opening gives visitors time for indoor exhibits and animals before the afternoon heat and dinner crowds.
Beginning at 5 p.m. daily, guests age 17 and younger must enter with a parent, guardian or chaperone age 21 or older. One adult may accompany no more than six minors. The policy applies at entry, so a teenage group should not wait until the gate to arrange supervision.
2026 admission and parking prices
Gate admission is priced by day. Monday through Thursday, adults pay $15, seniors age 60 and older pay $13, and children ages 3-12 pay $10. Friday through Sunday, adults pay $25, seniors pay $20, and children remain $10. Children age two and younger enter free.
After 5 p.m., adult and senior admission is $10 Monday through Thursday and $20 Friday through Sunday. Child admission remains $10. Daily tickets go on sale online September 1; the fair says online prices include processing fees and therefore are higher than the posted gate amounts. A season pass is listed at $60, while package variations range from $52 to $62 and carry different benefits.
Official State Fair parking is $25 per space. The recommended entrance is Gate 2 at 925 South Haskell Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75223. Parking is well lit and near pedestrian gates, but busy weekends can still produce traffic. A season-pass package or limited advance bundle may include a parking benefit, so read the product description rather than buying duplicate parking.
Discounts that can materially lower the day
- Opening Day, September 25: donate two jars of peanut butter for the North Texas Food Bank and receive $10 gate admission.
- Every Wednesday: bring five canned food items for $7 admission through Feed the Need.
- Tuesday and Thursday: Big Tex Insiders may purchase $12 online admission with the emailed Dr Pepper Value Days code.
- Every Thursday: seniors age 60 and older pay $7 at the gate.
- Military and first responders: eligible guests receive $5 off daily admission with valid identification.
- McDonald’s: participating North Texas locations distribute coupons that take $5 off an adult ticket.
Discounts cannot be combined. The fair also distributes free admission through participating schools and offers advance group pricing for more than 25 people. Adults who can visit after work should compare the after-5 rate with the day’s special, while families should check whether a food-drive day or school voucher is more valuable.
DART, regional rail, rideshare and driving
DART Rail’s Green Line serves two useful stations. Fair Park Station is on Parry Avenue at the fairgrounds entrance, while MLK, Jr. Station is convenient to Gate 6 south of R.B. Cullum Boulevard. The fair recommends buying the transit fare in the GoPass app before the trip. Rail avoids the $25 parking charge and the slowest post-fireworks traffic.
Visitors from Tarrant or Dallas counties can take Trinity Railway Express and transfer to the DART Green Line in Dallas. Denton County travelers can use the A-train and transfer at Trinity Mills, but the A-train does not operate Sunday. Check the transit operator’s event-day schedule because late-night and weekend service can differ from ordinary commuting hours.
The recommended Uber, Lyft and rideshare staging address is 4206 Gurley Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75223. Taxis use the intersection of Pacific and Gurley outside Gate 1. Drivers should navigate to the intended vehicle gate, not just to Fair Park’s main Grand Avenue address.
2026 food winners and fair currency
The Big Tex Choice Awards are the clearest starting point for 2026 food planning. Burger Chop Tater Tacos won Best Taste-Savory: chopped burger, onions, jalapenos and cheese are served in tater-tot taco shells with slaw and buffalo sauces. Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog won Best Taste-Sweet, turning chocolate fudge into a battered and fried corny-dog-style dessert with vanilla icing and raspberry compote.
Tropical Coco Fresca won Best Taste-Sipper with pineapple-watermelon agua fresca, a chamoy-Tajin rim and coconut snow. Berry Me in Matcha earned Most Creative for white-chocolate-dipped cheesecake with matcha-cookie crunch, strawberry jam and a fresh berry. Other finalists cover tacos, pizza, wings, cheesecake, frozen espresso and adult beverages.
Food, midway rides and games use State Fair coupons, each valued at $1. Coupons from previous fairs remain valid, and they may be purchased in advance or at booths on the grounds. Shopping and merchandise vendors do not accept food and midway coupons.
The new Every Day Values program identifies more than 200 food and drink choices priced at $10 or less. Examples announced by the fair include $1 bottled water at selected stands, six-coupon cotton candy and an eight-coupon Fletcher’s corny dog. Every Thursday, participating vendors also reduce selected signature foods under Thrifty Thursday.
Midway savings and included attractions
The fair reports that average midway ride and game prices were reduced about 17 percent for 2026. On Thrilling Tuesdays, most rides cost four coupons and selected kiddie rides cost three; the Thrillway and Texas Star are excluded. Look for the posted coupon cost before boarding because not every attraction participates.
Admission includes more than 100 daily activities. The official value announcement highlights live music on four stages, museums, livestock and the Birthing Barn, the Oak Farms Dairy Petting Zoo, agricultural education, the Texas Auto Show, Creative Arts, the nightly Starlight Parade, Illumination Sensation, Big Tex and children’s activities. Planning around included programs can make the day feel full before adding rides or a ticketed event.
The African American Museum and Hall of State are free with fair admission. Other Fair Park museums and attractions may charge separately or keep different hours. New for 2026, the ZiegenBock Stage at the renovated Old Mill Inn adds live music near Big Tex Circle.
Accessibility and sensory-friendly planning
The fair offers wagon, stroller, wheelchair and mobility-scooter rentals through HomeTown Mobility. Advance reservations are available online or by phone, and reserving is prudent on weekends. Prices and inventory should be confirmed with the rental company because the current official FAQ describes the service without publishing a 2026 rate table.
ASL interpretation is available Friday through Sunday at selected shows. The official FAQ lists representative interpreted performances in puppetry, agriculture, stunt shows and cooking demonstrations, but the online daily schedule is the final source for specific dates and times.
Every Wednesday is a Sensory-Friendly Morning. The midway opens at 11 a.m. with reduced lights and sounds until 1:30 p.m., and additional quiet locations are designated around the grounds. Wednesdays also pair this lower-stimulation period with $7 Feed the Need admission for each visitor who donates five canned food items.
Only qualifying service animals are permitted; emotional-support animals and pets do not meet the policy. Guests go through security screening, and bags and coolers are inspected. The current FAQ recommends a clear bag and limits soft-sided coolers to 9 by 10 by 12 inches, with exceptions for medically necessary hard-sided coolers.
A realistic one-day strategy
Choose the visit date by total cost, not admission alone. A weekday or Wednesday food-drive visit can cut admission substantially, and DART can remove the parking fee. Set a coupon budget for food, rides and games, then keep a few dollars of capacity for a new item that looks better in person than it did online.
Start with an indoor museum, agricultural exhibit or livestock area, eat before the main meal rush, and save the parade and Illumination Sensation for the evening. Use the official schedule to avoid crossing Fair Park repeatedly. Heat, storms and crowds can change the best route, so a flexible sequence works better than an hour-by-hour plan.
For more regional planning, compare the Oklahoma State Fair, Arkansas State Fair, New Mexico State Fair and Arizona State Fair. Each uses a different admission, midway and parking model.
State Fair of Texas FAQs
What are the 2026 State Fair of Texas dates?
The fair runs September 25 through October 18, 2026, for 24 consecutive days.
Where is the fair?
Fair Park is at 3809 Grand Avenue in Dallas. Drivers using official parking are directed to Gate 2 at 925 South Haskell Avenue.
How much are 2026 tickets?
Adult gate admission is $15 Monday-Thursday and $25 Friday-Sunday. Children ages 3-12 pay $10 every day, and children age two and younger are free. Senior and evening rates are lower.
How much is official parking?
Official fair parking costs $25 per space. DART Green Line service is the principal public-transit alternative.
What were the 2026 Big Tex Choice Award winners?
The winners are Burger Chop Tater Tacos, Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog, Tropical Coco Fresca and Berry Me in Matcha.
Are there sensory-friendly hours?
Yes. Every Wednesday includes a Sensory-Friendly Morning, with reduced midway lights and sounds from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Updated August 28, 2026 by State Fair Scout. This independent guide combines verified official facts with editorial planning advice and does not claim a firsthand visit. Dated official sources and correction information appear below.