It’s the most Texan time of the year—the State Fair of Texas is back!
The State Fair of Texas returns to Fair Park Friday, September 25, and lasts until Sunday, October 18 with this year’s theme, “Stars, Stripes, and Howdies,” celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Fairgoers can expect lower admission, four new Big Texas Choice Award winners, and more than 40 new foods.
From this year’s Big Tex Choice Award winners and more than 40 new creations to some of the best bites for your coupons, here’s what to eat at the fair—and where to get the most bang for your buck.
How to Save at the State Fair
Last year, 2,020,064 people attended the State Fair of Texas, the lowest attendance on record in a decade, according to the State Fair of Texas. This year, the fair has lowered admission prices and parking costs in response.
“Families have always been at the heart of the State Fair of Texas, and every year we listen closely to what our fairgoers tell us about their experience,” said Karissa Condoianis, State Fair of Texas Senior Vice President of Public Relations, in a press release. “We take that feedback seriously. This year, we are making meaningful changes to admission and parking while continuing to offer the experiences, traditions, and attractions our guests look forward to every fall. Our goal is to make it easier for families to plan a State Fair day that works for them and get the most from their time at the State Fair.”
Adult daily tickets are $2 less this year, while children’s admission is $10 every day. After 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, admission is $10 admission for everyone, and children 2 years and younger are free. Parking is now $25 ($5 lower than last year.) State Fair Midway prices have also dropped an average of 17% this year.
Additional discounts to look out for include:
Opening Day Peanut Butter Drive: Get $10 admission with a donation of two jars of peanut butter benefitting the North Texas Food Bank.
Feed The Need Wednesdays: Get $7 admission with a donation of five canned goods also benefitting the North Texas Food Bank.
Dr Pepper Value Days: Admission is $12 online every Tuesday and Thursday with a promotional code.
Senior Day: Attendees 60 and older can get $7 admission every Thursday.
First Responder and Military Appreciation: $5 off admission throughout the course of the fair.
Meet the 2026 Big Tex Choice Award Winners
Every year, State Fair concessionaires compete for the coveted Big Tex Choice Awards. This year’s winners include four new over-the-top fair-food favorites.
The 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards for Best Taste–Savory went to Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace. Cheddar cheese tater tots are flattened to make a taco shell and filled with a chopped burger patty mixed with sautéed onions and jalapeños. The tacos are topped with mozzarella and American cheese, buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce, and more tater tots.
The 2026 Best Taste–Sweet went to Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher. The corny dog replicates Fletcher’s iconic corny dogs down to the yellow vanilla icing, a visual play on mustard. Inside, the corny dogs are filled with milk chocolate fudge. Best of all, the sweet corn dog is only 7 tickets.
For 2026 Best Taste–Sipper, Tropical Coco Fresca by Fruteria Cano took home the trophy. The drink is ideal for the Texas heat with layers of pineapple-watermelon agua fresca, chamoy lava, and coconut snow.
The 2026 Most Creative went to Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi, owner of Drizzle Cheesecakes. El Gidi embraces the matcha craze with a thick New York-style cheesecake dipped in white chocolate and rolled in matcha cookies. Drizzled white chocolate, strawberry jam, and a strawberry slice dress the sweet, earthy, and crunchy indulgence.
The 22nd Annual Big Tex Choice Awards was an especially competitive class that featured 15 finalists including Flamin’ Crunch Pizza by Tom Grace, Golden Crunch Melt by Tony and Terry Bednar, Nacho Wings by Cody and Lauren Hays, Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar by Christi Erpillo and Johnna McKee.
More than 40 New Foods to Try
The State Fair is certainly no place to count calories, and this year there is even more reason to don stretchy pants.
Eight new vendors debut this season, including Tanghulu, serving the viral Chinese sweet and crunchy fruit snack; Naan Better, serving fried butter chicken; Pierogizilla, serving fried perogies; and Thee Kitchen Beast, serving tempura-battered vegetables.
Beyond new vendors, there are more than 40 new food items hitting the fairgrounds.
Brent and Juan Reaves of Smokey John’s Inc. will debut the Twinkle Twinkle Brisket Star, a spin on the Texas Twinkie made with a hollowed Twinkie stuffed with brisket, cream cheese, jalapeños, and bacon. It’s battered, rolled in panko breadcrumbs, and deep fried, then finished with a drizzle of raspberry chipotle sauce, bacon crumbs, and a slice of jalapeño.
Palmer Fortune of Palmer’s Hot Chicken unveils triple chocolate flautas. The dish is a chocolatey spin on flautas with corn tortillas filled with brownies, fudge, and melted chocolate chips.
The matcha fixation continues to take over the fair with the matcha parfait at Sandoitchi.
Other new eats include spicy carbonara ramen Korean corn dog, soft serve smoked peach bourbon smash, New Orleans nachos, mini smoked turkey leg, deep-fried Thai tea tres leches cake, and frozen Ranch Water 250.
The Fair’s Impact Beyond Fair Park
The 24-day fair is more than a Texas tradition attracting visitors from across the country. It is also a nonprofit organization working to provide scholarships, agriculture education, youth programs, and community investment.
“A visit to the State Fair is about more than what happens inside the gates. It is about celebrating Texas, creating memories with the people you love, and helping create opportunities for Texans across our state,” Condoianis said. “That is what makes the State Fair so special. When Texans choose to spend a day with us, they are not only experiencing a beloved Texas tradition, but they are helping that tradition create opportunities for Texans year-round.”
The State Fair of Texas, September 25–October 18, bigtex.com
