Event Spotlight · Fall 2026
Arizona State Fair 2026: Prickly Pear, Coliseum Concerts and Five Weekends in Phoenix
For five weeks this fall, the lights come on at 19th Avenue and McDowell Road. The Arizona State Fair runs October 1 - November 1, 2026, open Thursday through Sunday each week, with prickly pear everything, Sonoran-style corn dogs, rodeos, monster trucks and a concert series inside a Coliseum that has hosted Elvis. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Since 1884: a fair, a fairground and a famous Coliseum
The fair traces its history to 1884, before Arizona was a state, and the fairgrounds on McDowell Road were established in 1905. The centerpiece is Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which opened more than 50 years ago. The fair says Elvis, Pope John Paul II, President Obama and Cher have all been through its doors.
This year’s theme is "A State of Wonder." The run is five Thursday-to-Sunday stretches, with the fair closed Monday through Wednesday, so plan your visit around those days. The fair says it stays open based on crowd size and activity, and the carnival wraps up each night when the lights on the La Grande XL Wheel, in the southeast corner of the grounds, go dark.
The food: prickly pear, Sonoran dogs and $5 Fridays
The fair runs a Fair Food Face Off, where vendors enter their most creative new items. The category worth hunting down is Arizona Originals, foods built around the state’s own flavors:
- Prickly pear, three ways: Prickly Pear Lemonade from Wild Thing, Prickly Pear Churros from Chubs Street Eats and Treats, and a Prickly Pear Funnel Cake from Dutchman’s Funnel Cake.
- Sonoran-style dogs: a Sonoran Corn Dog from Big Dogs and a Mozzarella Stuffed Chorizo Sonoran Dog from Flaco’s.
- Pozole Egg Rolls from Flaco’s Tacos: three fried egg rolls filled with chile-seasoned meat, hominy and cabbage, served with consommé for dipping.
- Mangonada Lemonada from Corn Junction, with mango, chamoy and Tajín, and The Loco Borracho Elote from The Corn Shack.
- Buñuelos from Dutchman’s Funnel Cake, a crispy fried pastry tossed in cinnamon sugar.
Among the other new items: a Churro Dog (a mozzarella-filled corn dog rolled in cinnamon sugar) from West Coast Weenies, a PB&J Corn Dog from Big Dogs, a torched S’mores Funnel Cake from Stizzy’s Iron Skillet and a Jalapeño Lemonade from Wild Thing. The vendor list also includes a Navajo Taco Stand. On $5 Foodie Fridays (October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30), stands across the fair offer $5 tasting portions, which is the easy way to try several.
Rides, rodeos and monster trucks
The fair’s rides page lists dozens of rides, from kiddie rides to the new Air Raid and Goliath XXL, plus the La Grande XL Wheel and the Sky Ride. Rides take tickets, and with the fair’s FunPass app you can buy them ahead and scan at the ride.
The Grandstand Arena has something most weekends:
- High School Rodeo: Thursday, October 1, at 7 PM.
- Native American Rodeo: Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3, at 2 PM and 7 PM.
- Xtreme Bull Riding: Sunday, October 4, at 7 PM.
- All Star Monster Trucks: October 9 to 11 and October 30 to November 1.
- Figure 8 Races: October 16 to 18 and 23 to 25, at 7 PM.
Check the fair’s grandstand page for show tickets and seating.
Concerts, free stages and the barns
The Coliseum concert series is billed as "An Evening With..." shows, meaning no opening act. Every seat is reserved and includes fair admission. All shows start at 7 PM: Gin Blossoms (October 2), Becky G (October 9), All Time Low (October 10), The Offspring (October 16), Russell Dickerson (October 17) and Public Enemy (October 24).
Outdoor shows at The Backyard are free with admission: the fair’s first Battle of the Bands on Thursdays, tribute bands on Fridays and Saturdays (Amor Prohibido, a Selena tribute, plays October 9), and local bands on Sundays. Strolling acts include Circus Luminescence and the Canine Stars stunt dog show, and the Golden Phoenix Lion Dancers perform October 29 and 31 and November 1. On Halloween, the Tíos & Tías Halloween Boogie fills the Coliseum from 3 to 9 PM for guests 21 and up, with fair admission included in the ticket.
Don’t skip the barns. The fair says youth exhibitors from across Arizona and beyond show sheep, goats, cattle, poultry, rabbits, camels and dairy animals. The shows change week by week, with rabbits and poultry opening weekend, the youth livestock show October 8 to 11, and goat and sheep shows later in the month. The barns close at 9 PM.
Getting there, bags and deals
- Free shuttle: The Park n’ Ride runs from Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Rd. There are no shuttles on Thursdays. On Fridays the first shuttle leaves at 5 PM (last one to the fair 9:40 PM); on Saturdays and Sundays the first leaves at noon (last one to the fair 8:40 PM). The last shuttle back leaves the fairgrounds at 11 PM.
- Driving: The fair’s directions page lists I-10 exit 143C (19th Avenue) from the east and I-17 exit 197 from the north. McDowell Road closes between 15th and 19th avenues after 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Check the directions page for lots and parking prices.
- Rideshare: Drivers enter at 19th Avenue and Encanto and drop off at the southwest corner of the West Lot.
- What to bring: Bags can be no bigger than 12 by 12 inches (medical and diaper bags excepted), and everyone goes through security screening. Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed, but you can bring one factory-sealed water bottle per person or an empty refillable bottle; there are refill stations inside. Leave drones, coolers, selfie sticks and pets at home (service animals are welcome).
- Accessibility: Wheelchairs, wagons and mobility scooters can be rented from Copper Star Home Medical Supplies, and guests with disabilities can enter Coliseum events from the west doors, where there’s a ramp. For accommodations, the fair’s number is 602-252-6771.
- Deals (per the fair’s deals page): On Feel Good Fridays, eight cans of nonperishable food at the gate (noon to 6 PM) get you in free, with donations going to St. Mary’s Food Bank and Operation Santa Claus. College Day is October 8 (discount with a student ID), and Armed Forces Day is October 16. Active and retired military and first responders get a discount with ID. Kids 5 to 14 can earn free ride passes through the Read & Ride reading program. Check the page for current terms.
Around Phoenix: museums, desert and a few great meals
If you have a day to spare, a few ideas:
- The Heard Museum. A museum of American Indian art on Central Avenue, from traditional works to contemporary pieces. Visit Phoenix says it holds the largest kachina doll collection of any museum in the country.
- Desert Botanical Garden. Visit Phoenix calls its collection of desert plants the world’s largest. This fall the garden’s Fall Butterflies exhibit (September 26 to November 15) brings more than 1,000 Southwestern butterflies, including monarchs, into its butterfly pavilion, and October 13 is a pay-what-you-can Community Day.
- South Mountain Park and Preserve. More than 16,000 acres and more than 50 miles of hiking, biking and horse trails, per Visit Phoenix.
- Roosevelt Row. Downtown’s walkable arts district of galleries, murals and restaurants. Visit Phoenix points to the giant pancakes at Matt’s Big Breakfast.
- Where to eat. Pizzeria Bianco’s Chris Bianco was named Best Chef: Southwest by the James Beard Foundation in 2003. Tacos Chiwas and Little Miss BBQ were both 2026 James Beard semifinalists for Best Chef: Southwest, per Visit Phoenix.
Also on the calendar nearby
Three more events on our calendar fall during the fair’s run:
Four Peaks Oktoberfest
Beer gardens, a polka stage, German food, dachshund races and carnival rides at Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park, per Tempe Tourism. It benefits Tempe Sister Cities.
Phoenix Greek Festival
The festival’s 65th year at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, with Greek food, live music, dance performances and self-guided cathedral tours. It’s open 3 to 10 PM Friday, 11 AM to 10 PM Saturday and 11 AM to 6 PM Sunday.
Vertuccio Farms Fall Festival
The farm’s 28th fall festival in Mesa, with a 5-acre corn maze, petting zoo, mega slide and train rides. It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays except in the last week of October.
Before you go
Dates, times and an add-to-calendar link: Arizona State Fair on USA Fest Bot
More state fairs are still running this fall; see state fairs 2026, or browse Arizona events.
Shows, deals and shuttle times can change during the run. Confirm with the organizer at azstatefair.com before you go.
Quick answers
When is the Arizona State Fair in 2026?
October 1 - November 1, 2026, open Thursdays through Sundays only, at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, per our listing.
What are the fair’s hours?
Gates open at noon. Last entry is 9 PM on Thursdays and Sundays and 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, per the fair.
Is there a free shuttle?
Yes. The Park n’ Ride runs from Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Rd., on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are no shuttles on Thursdays.
Are Coliseum concerts included with admission?
It works the other way around: every Coliseum concert seat is reserved and the concert ticket includes fair admission, per the fair.
Can I get in free?
On Fridays from noon to 6 PM, the fair offers free admission for eight cans of nonperishable food at the gate (Feel Good Fridays). Check azstatefair.com for current terms.
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