Attendance and Fair Dates
Daily Attendance
The State Fair is Iowa’s largest event, annually attracting visitors from all over the Midwest, as well as the rest of the U.S. and many foreign countries. Following the Fair, daily attendance estimates are set aside and an actual count of tickets including daily sales, advance sales, exhibitors, concessionaires, campers, children, credentials, half price, etc. is made to determine the final total attendance.
| FAIR DAY | 2025 | 2026 | RECORD DAILY ATTENDANCE (YEAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 95,671 | 94,666 | 101,262 (2008) |
| Day 2 | 104,191 | 100,265 | 115,703 (2001) |
| Day 3 | 118,454 | 125,067 | 128,732 (2024) |
| Day 4 | 113,001 | 123,140 | 123,140 (2026)* |
| Day 5 | 97,273 | 111,159 | 111,159 (2026)** |
| Day 6 | 102,080 | 103,802 | 105,384 (2024) |
| Day 7 | 105,787 | 105,708 | 109,323 (2019) |
| Day 8 | 106,925 | 106,268 | 107,449 (2015) |
| Day 9 | 108,966 | 114,256 | 114,256 (2026)*** |
| Day 10 | 118,093 | 130,654 | 130,654 (2026)**** |
| Day 11 | 89,680 | 103,849 | 119,754 (2012) |
| Total | 1,160,121 | 1,218,834 | 1,218,834 (2026)***** |
*Sunday, August 16, 2026: broke the first Sunday attendance record, previously set in 2024, of 115,048 attendees
**Monday, August 17, 2026: broke the Monday attendance record, previously set in 2017, of 105,522 attendees
***Friday, August 21, 2026: broke the second Friday attendance record, previously set in 2019, of 112,891 attendees
****Saturday, August 22, 2026: broke the second Saturday attendance record, previously set in 2022, of 128,298 attendees;
****Saturday, August 22, 2026: broke the all-time record day attendance, previously set in 2024, of 128,732 attendees
*****The total 2026 attendance broke the overall attendance record, previously set in 2024 in 1,182,682 attendees.
Grandstand Attendance
The Iowa State Fair Grandstand is home to some of the biggest names in music. With it's iconic stage, the Grandstand has been a must-see Fair tradition for generations. From chart-topping artists and legendary performers, nothing compares to an August night at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand.
| FAIR DAY | GRANDSTAND SHOW | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | HARDY | 12,435 |
| Day 2 | JOHN WAITE | FREE |
| Day 3 | RED CLAY STRAYS | 15,282 |
| Day 4 | LAINEY WILSON | 17,360* |
| Day 5 | STAIND | 7,120 |
| Day 6 | TLC & SALT-N-PEPA | 15,458 |
| Day 7 | AJR | 7,554 |
| Day 8 | RILEY GREEN | 16,057 |
| Day 9 | ALABAMA | 10,040 |
| Day 10 | BIGXTHAPLUG | 12,627 |
| Day 11 | JOSIAH QUEEN | 16,081 |
*August 16, 2026: Lainey Wilson drew a sold-out crowd of 17,360 on August 16, setting a new Iowa State Fair Grandstand attendance record and surpassing the previous record of 17,320 set by Chris Stapleton in 2021.
Upcoming Fair Dates
Historically, the Fair ended on the Sunday one week before Labor Day and the earliest Fair dates were August 13-23. In 1994, the Iowa State Fair Board, in an effort to avoid earlier school start dates, moved the dates of the Fair up one week. The Fair now ends on the Sunday two weeks prior to Labor Day. Based on calendar shifts, the earliest Fair dates are August 7-17 and the latest are August 13-23.
| YEAR | FAIR DATES |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Aug 12-22 |
| 2028 | Aug 10-20 |
| 2029 | Aug 9-19 |