The sights, sounds, smells and excitement of the Oklahoma State Fair will return to Oklahoma City this fall as one of the state’s biggest annual celebrations prepares to welcome fairgoers for 11 days of food, carnival rides, livestock, entertainment, competitions and family activities.
The 2026 Oklahoma State Fair is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 27, at OKC Fair Park.Publicactivitiesopenat 10 a.m. daily, while livestock and equine activities may begin earlier. Fair buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
This year's fair carries a special Oklahoma theme: “The Midway of the Mother Road.” The theme recognizes the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was established in 1926. Oklahoma has more miles of the historic highway than any other state, making the Mother Road a natural centerpiece for this year's celebration. Fair officials said Route 66-themed events and attractions will be incorporated throughout the fair, bringing together the history and nostalgia of the highway with the traditional entertainment associated with the State Fair.
The Oklahoma State Fair dates back to Oct. 5, 1907, when the first State Fair opened at a location about a mile east of downtown Oklahoma City. What began as a young state's celebration of agriculture and commerce has grown into one of the premier state fairs in the country.
According to the Oklahoma State Fair, the event has been part of Oklahoma's landscape for more than a century, continuing its original mission of combining education,entertainment and economic development. Agriculture remains at the heart of the event.
Livestock shows, 4-H and FFA activities, agricultural demonstrations, creativearts competitionsandeducational exhibits continue to give fairgoers a look at the people, skills and industries that help shape Oklahoma. One of the popular agricultural attractions is AGtropolis, an interactive educational experience where children can learn about Oklahoma agriculture and the farmto- market process. Demonstrations include honey extraction, milk production and insect education, with Oklahoma FFA students helping operate the exhibit.
The 2026 fair will bring backmanylongtimefavorites while adding several new entertainment options. Among the new attractions is the Piccolo Zoppé Circus, coming to Centennial Plaza. The circus will feature acrobats, aerial- ists, clowns, horses and dogs, withperformancesscheduled twice on weekdays and three times on weekends.
Another new attraction is the Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show at Gordon Cooper Lawn. The show features trained and adopted dogs performing agility, dock diving and other stunts, combining entertainment with educational elements. The performers and trainers represent several countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and South Korea.
The Oklahoma Frontier Experience will also offer visitors a trip into the state's Wild West past. The interactive areaincludesdemonstrations, shows, trick roping, trick riding and modern stunts.Newfor2026isAustin Singley, an award-winning stuntman, trick-riding cowboy and professional rodeo clown scheduled to appear in the Wild West Showcase.
For those looking for a quieter place to take a break from the crowds, The PATIO, Relaxation Station will provide seating beneath trees and umbrellas along with yard games and an evening fire pit.
The fair's carnival will once again feature rides ranging from the historic carousel to major thrill rides. The Sky Eye Wheel, billed as North America's largest traveling Ferris wheel, will rise 155 feet above the fairgrounds and provide riders with views extending as far as 15 miles.
For many Oklahomans, no trip to the State Fair is complete without sampling the food. Fairgoers can expect the familiar combination of traditional fair favorites and creative new offerings, with food competitions also returning.
The fair's Creative Arts Department will feature Oklahoma entries in categories rangingfromcookingand baking to photography, quilting, woodworking, ceramics, painting and crafts. The 2026 competition program also includes newcontestsalongside longtime favorites.
The fair will also feature live demonstrations, educational exhibits, entertainment stages, horse and livestock shows and special events throughout the grounds. Among the scheduled special events is the Oklahoma Mural Challenge onSept.19.Twenty-one Oklahoma artists will compete in a one-day competition to create 12-by-8-foot murals, with the finished works displayed during the remainder of the fair. Disney On Ice is also scheduled as part of the fair's entertainment lineup, with performances taking place at the OG&E Coliseum.
WhiletheOklahomaState Fair continues to evolve with new attractions and entertainment, organizers remain focused on the traditions that have made the event a yearly gathering place for generations of Oklahomans. The 2026 fair's Route 66 theme provides a fitting connection between Oklahoma's past and present.
Just as the Mother Road connected communities across the state and encouraged travelers to stop and discover what Oklahoma had to offer, the State Fair continues to bring people together for food, entertainment, agriculture, competition and celebration. For 11 daysinSeptember,OKCFair Park will once again become a destination for families from across Oklahoma and beyond, offering a little bit of nostalgia, a lot of entertainment and plenty of reasons to make the trip.