Indiana State Fair: Everything You Need to Know
The Indiana State Fair runs August 7–23, 2026 (closed Mondays) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. This year the fair leans into baseball, with a stacked free concert lineup, deep-fried favorites, rides, animal barns, and more than 100 free attractions. It is the event to mark on your Indiana summer calendar.
Here is everything you need to know before you go, from discount days and hours to free shows and parking tips.
Ready to plan your visit? Grab your tickets now and skip the lines.
Buy Indiana State Fair tickets here!
A Hoosier Tradition Since 1852
The Indiana State Fair has been part of Hoosier life since before the Civil War. First held in 1852 at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis to celebrate agriculture and industry, it settled at its current East 38th Street fairgrounds in 1892. Today it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The 2025 fair welcomed 854,977 guests, up from the year before.
The 2026 theme is “Always A Hit,” presented by the Indianapolis Indians, a celebration of Indiana’s baseball tradition carried by the tagline “Batter Up, Indiana!” Expect baseball-themed exhibits, interactive sports activations, and programming that runs from home runs to hometown fun.
Key Dates, Hours & Admission
Dates: August 7–23, 2026 (closed Mondays, August 10 and 17)
Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E 38th St, Indianapolis
Theme: “Always A Hit,” presented by the Indianapolis Indians
Parking: $10 per vehicle on-site. Enter at Gate 1 (38th St), Gate 2 (42nd St), or Gates 5 & 6 (Fall Creek Parkway)
Shuttle: free tractor shuttles run throughout the grounds daily. Note that off-site parking shuttles are no longer offered
Hours:
Gates: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. On Saturday, August 8 gates open early at 6:30 a.m.
Buildings: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (the 4-H Exhibit Hall closes at 8 p.m.)
Closed Mondays, August 10 and 17
Ticket Prices & Discount Days
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the fair on a budget:
Advance tickets: $14 (plus a $1 fee) online through August 6, a 22% savings off gate admission. Buy ahead and save.
Kids 5 and under: always free.
Then there are the themed discount days:
Discount Day | Date(s) | Deal |
|---|---|---|
$2 Tuesdays | Aug 11 & Aug 18 | $2 gate admission, $2 Midway rides, and $2 food options. |
Military & First Responders’ Day | Aug 12 | Free admission for current and former military, first responders, and their families with valid ID. |
Indianapolis Indians’ Family Day | Aug 13 | Half off gate admission with a printed or digital voucher from IndyIndians.com. |
Hoosier Lottery Day | Aug 15 | Adults 18 and up with paid admission get a free $1 scratch-off with a gate flyer, while supplies last. |
Farmers’ Day | Aug 19 | Free admission with the ticket printed in the August 17 IndyStar. |
AAA Day | Aug 20 | Free admission with a valid AAA membership card at the gate. |
Deals are added as the fair nears, so check the official Deals & Discounts page. Buying online also lets you skip the gate lines.
Hoosier Lottery Free Stage Concert Lineup
Every show at the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage is free with paid admission. Seating is first-come, first-served, and concerts start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. There are no shows on Mondays, August 10 and 17, when the fair is closed. Here is the 2026 lineup:
Date | Artist |
|---|---|
Fri, Aug 7 | The Beach Boys |
Sat, Aug 8 | TUSK (Fleetwood Mac tribute) |
Sun, Aug 9 | Josiah Queen |
Tue, Aug 11 | Clayton Anderson |
Wed, Aug 12 | Bret Michaels |
Thu, Aug 13 | Busta Rhymes |
Fri, Aug 14 | Grand Funk Railroad |
Sat, Aug 15 | DJ Golden Hour: A Tribute to Demon Hunters |
Sun, Aug 16 | Trace Adkins |
Tue, Aug 18 | Los Sementales de Nuevo León |
Wed, Aug 19 | Happy Together Tour |
Thu, Aug 20 | Gene Simmons |
Fri, Aug 21 | Sammy Kershaw (6 p.m.) and Craig Morgan (7:30 p.m.) |
Sat, Aug 22 | Don McLean |
Sun, Aug 23 | Tasha Cobbs Leonard |
New for 2026
The fair is rolling out several first-time attractions this year:
Rewind: A VHS Revival, an immersive tribute to the movie posters and video-rental stores of the 1980s through the 2000s.
A mini-Victory Field wiffle ball diamond for fans at Schumacher Stadium.
The Indianapolis Indians’ Big-League Barn Shop.
Nearly 50 brand-new Taste of the Fair food creations.
The return of the Big Top Circus, presented by Bee Window.
Free Things to Do at the Indiana State Fair
Not everything at the fair costs extra. More than 100 experiences are included with admission:
Cast a line at the DNR Fishing Pond.
Catch the early-morning hot air balloon launch.
Watch the daily parade down Main Street.
Walk through the livestock barns and meet the stars of Indiana agriculture.
Cheer on the pups at the DockDogs jumping competition, one of the most crowd-pleasing events at the fair.
You can find the full list of free attractions at indianastatefair.com.
Top 5 Things You Can’t Miss
The Beach Boys and a stacked Hoosier Lottery Free Stage lineup.
$2 Tuesdays, with discounted admission, rides, and food.
“Rewind: A VHS Revival,” the fair’s new immersive nostalgia exhibit.
The DockDogs jumping competition and the sunrise balloon launch.
Deep-fried everything and a fair-famous lemon shake-up.
More Indiana State Fair Guides
Want the full Indiana State Fair experience?
Ready to plan your visit? Grab your tickets now and skip the lines. Buy Indiana State Fair tickets here!
Let’s Make It a Fair to Remember
Whether you’re in it for the lemon shake-ups, live music, or livestock, the Indiana State Fair has something for every kind of Hoosier. Grab your crew, wear comfy shoes, and don’t forget to tag @GetIndiana in your funnel cake photos.
Have a favorite fair tradition or a planning tip? Drop it in the comments or send us a message on Instagram. We’ll see you at the fairgrounds!
