Whether you’re salivating over all the foods and rides or the live entertainment and competitions, you’ll find it and more at the 2026 North Carolina State Fair.
North Carolinians know the best time of year is nigh: the 2026 North Carolina State Fair returns to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds Oct. 15 through Oct. 25. Now in its 158th iteration, this annual, 11-day event is the largest in the state and features nightly fireworks, 100+ exhilarating carnival rides, games, more than 80 new indulgent, deep-fried foods, live entertainment, livestock shows, agricultural competitions, and much more.
Considering this range of offerings alongside this year’s theme, “A Memory Worth Making. A Story Worth Telling,” it’s very likely that attendees will be left with countless fond remembrances and tales.
I reached out to the folks at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the organization that manages the fair, for details on what’s new for this year’s festivities. All the details haven’t been finalized yet, but here’s what I discovered:
Rides
Adrenaline junkies will be excited about the addition of two thrilling new rides: the Twin Twister and Casino.
Boldly colored and lit with LED lights, the Twin Twister features two platforms of seats atop two arms that rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise. The result? Riders are lifted up and around in the air in a 360-degree rotation while the base also spins.
Want a touch of Sin City with your fair experience? Hit it big with the Vegas-themed Casino. Its platform resembles an enormous Roulette wheel with flashy cars that whirl riders in different directions while the base also spins.
Entertainment
The ornate Americana 250 Band Organ is a mechanical organ playing nostalgic, classic carnival-themed music of yesteryear. A custom creation for the Eastern States Exposition in MA, it will make a limited number of appearances at other fairs this fall.
Talk about a literal big deal: at 230 feet tall and featuring 45 presidential-themed gondolas that seat six riders, the America 250 Ferris Wheel is the world’s largest portable observation wheel. Themed to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary, it boasts 14-mile views and stands 75 feet taller than the Skygazer, which it will take the place of this year. Please note: This is an independent ride—it is not included in the unlimited ride wristband and requires a separate ticket.
Another festive addition? A patriotic light show featuring music and dancing lights will take place nightly at 6 p.m. and repeat at the beginning of each hour until 11 p.m.
Strolling entertainer Marc Dobson, aka the One-Man Band, will be performing four shows daily. His unique ability to play “9.1 instruments” and catalog of hits spanning decades, combined with wit and humor, make him a favorite among fairs and festivals across the country.
Competitions
It wouldn’t be the NC State Fair without competitions, and the 2026 North Carolina State Fair will feature these fun new ones:
- Country ham
- Pucker up for the country ham competition, which returns after 27 years. Ham judging will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Delicious demos on curing and cooking this salty Southern treat will also be offered.
- Plein air art
- Plein air art, which features artists painting outdoors while people wander and watch, will take place on Monday, Oct. 19.
- Egg competition
- Shell color and size are among the criteria judges will use when assessing fresh eggs for the egg competition.
- Performing Arts
- Part of the Folk Festival & Performing Arts, this event includes music, dance, and/or performing arts from NC and beyond, like heritage dance (e.g., clogging, Appalachian flatfooting), Bollywood dancing, and tango. Dramatic arts will include a cappella poetry, monologue, storytelling, and more.
Other important info:
Stay ahead of schedule
Be mindful that opening hours vary. These are the opening hours for the 2026 NC State Fair:
- Thursday, Oct. 15: noon-11 pm
- Friday, Oct. 16 through Saturday, Oct. 17: 9 am-11:30 pm
- Sunday, Oct. 18 through Thursday, Oct. 22: 9 am-11 pm
- Friday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 24: 9 am-11:30 pm
- Sunday, Oct. 25: 9 am–11 pm
To ensure you don’t miss any of the scheduled events or attractions, be sure to check the daily schedule of events.
Purchase discount tickets online through Oct. 15 or in-person at the gate Oct. 1-15. After that, you can get regularly priced tickets online Oct. 16-25 or in-person from Oct. 16-25.
Free Entry Days
Duke Energy Military Appreciation Day
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 21
To honor the service of U.S. Military and National Guard members past and present, military and guard personnel (including veterans) will receive free admission during the Duke Energy Military Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Don’t forget to bring proof of identification.
Food Drive Day
Want to give back to your community and save some scratch? Bring six food items on Thursday, Oct. 22, and get free admission.
Stay hydrated
To discourage wasteful plastic bottles, attendees can bring along their own water bottles and use the fair’s two water refill stations.
