2026 Minnesota State Fair

It’s that time of year again – The Minnesota State Fair is just around the corner.

Running from August 27th – September 7th, the Fair brings in a whopping $290 million to the State annually. It also allows local businesses, craftspeople, and students to showcase their work to the over 2 million people who visit the Fair during its two-week stretch. The Fair is also hosting a few new competitions this year, including cake, cookie, and cupcake decorating contests, a landscape design contest, and a beef cattle show.

Of course, Fairgoers can still enjoy some of the usual staples, like Sweet Martha’s Cookies, Grandstand shows, and Midway rides.

Even if you have no plans to attend this year’s Fair, if you live in the Twin Cities metro area, you may still benefit from the annual event. Highway 280 is on track to reopen on August 22, just in time for the Fair. The Highway has been fully closed in both directions between Hwy 36/I-35W and I-94 for major reconstruction since April of this year. The $34 million project will likely be fully completed in 2028; however, the road will remain reopened even after the State Fair comes to a close.

If you have plans to go to the Minnesota State Fair this year, you can find more information about the Fair here. And if you plan to avoid the Fair at all costs (no shade), you can feel comforted knowing that the Fair is contributing to the Minnesota economy, businesses, and transportation routes.