The clock is ticking on the 2026 State Fair of Texas. The fair opened Sept. 25 and closes Sunday, Oct. 18, which means that as of today, Wednesday, Oct. 7, there are 12 days left, counting today, to get your corny dog, ride the Texas Star and say howdy to Big Tex.
Fair Park sits just east of downtown Dallas, about 40 minutes from Fort Worth and three hours or so from Austin or Houston on a good day. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of the final stretch.
Dates and hours for the final days
According to the State Fair of Texas, the fair runs through Oct. 18, 2026. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. That means Oct. 9, 10, 16 and 17 are your late nights.
One date to circle: Saturday, Oct. 10, is the Red River Rivalry game between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl inside Fair Park, with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff. Expect big crowds and heavy traffic that day. If you’re not going to the game, a weekday visit will be a lot more relaxed.
Tickets and ways to save
The fair lowered several prices for 2026. Here’s how daily admission breaks down, according to the fair’s ticket page:
- Adults, Monday–Thursday: $15, or $10 after 5 p.m.
- Adults, Friday–Sunday: $25, or $20 after 5 p.m.
- Kids 3–12: $10 every day. Children 2 and under get in free.
- Seniors 60 and up: $13 Monday–Wednesday, $7 on Thursdays and $20 Friday–Sunday.
- Online orders: Add a $2 ticket fee.
There are also a few standing deals worth knowing. On Wednesdays, “Feed the Need” admission is $7 when you bring canned food for the North Texas Food Bank; check the fair’s site for how many cans are required. Seniors pay $7 at the gate on Thursdays. Active and retired military, veterans and first responders get $5 off with valid ID, and participating North Texas McDonald’s locations offer $5-off adult admission coupons. Discounts generally can’t be combined.
Official fair parking is $25 per day this year, down $5 from 2025. DART rail is a good alternative if you’d rather skip the parking lots; local reporting put the round-trip fare at $6.
Say howdy to Big Tex
No trip is complete without a photo in front of Big Tex, the 55-foot cowboy who has greeted fairgoers for generations. He’s sporting a brand-new look for 2026: a Western shirt from Cavender’s, a new 95-gallon Resistol hat, and size 96 Lucchese boots designed by Dallas native Aaliyah McNeal, who won a design contest for the honor. Morning is the best time for a photo before the crowds pile up.
The 2026 Big Tex Choice Award winners
The fair’s famous fried-food contest crowned its 2026 winners on Aug. 18. Out of 15 finalists, these four took home the prizes:
- Best Taste, Savory: Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace. Chopped burger with onions and jalapeños tucked into cheddar and tater-tot shells.
- Best Taste, Sweet: Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher. Milk chocolate fudge dipped in corny dog batter and fried, from the family behind the original Fletcher’s Corny Dog.
- Best Taste, Sipper: Tropical Coco Fresca by Fruteria Cano. A pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with a chamoy and Tajín rim and a scoop of coconut snow.
- Most Creative: Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi. New York-style cheesecake on a stick, coated in white chocolate and matcha cookie crumbs.
Reported prices ranged from about $7 for the chocolate corny dog to $16 for the tater tacos, and fair food is paid for with coupons. If you just want the classic, the fair’s “Everyday Values” list includes an eight-coupon Fletcher’s corny dog.
Free music on the Chevrolet Main Stage
Concerts on the Chevrolet Main Stage are included with fair admission, and the stage moved into the air-conditioned Fair Park Coliseum this year. A few shows still ahead in the final stretch include:
- Oct. 11: Deep Blue Something, Tripping Daisy and Toadies
- Oct. 14: RaeLynn
- Oct. 15: The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
- Oct. 16: Muscadine Bloodline
- Oct. 18: Last Bandoleros/Emilio Navaira Tribute
Check the fair’s website for showtimes and the full lineup, since schedules can shift.
Tips for a smoother fair day
- Buy tickets online ahead of time to skip the line, and pick your date carefully, since daily tickets are tied to a specific day.
- Go on a weekday if you can. Thursdays are especially good for seniors, and evenings after 5 p.m. are cheaper Monday through Thursday.
- Bring comfortable shoes and a refillable water bottle; Fair Park is big, and October afternoons in Dallas can still run warm.
- Set a meeting spot, like Big Tex, in case anyone in your group gets separated.
Good to Know
- Where: Fair Park, Dallas. Fairtime parking address: 925 S. Haskell Ave., Dallas, TX 75223.
- Dates: Through Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026.
- Hours: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday; 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Admission: Adults $15 Mon.–Thu., $25 Fri.–Sun.; kids 3–12 $10; discounts after 5 p.m.
- Parking: $25 per day in official lots.
- Busy day: Saturday, Oct. 10, Texas vs. Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl.
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the official website before you head out.
Whether you go for the food, the music or just to stand in Big Tex’s shadow one more time, there’s still time to make it out to Fair Park this year. Grab your family, wear your boots, and y’all enjoy every last bite.
Featured photo: 17Shamrocks via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
