Fair Schedule
Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair. Mark your calendars for August 13-23, 2026.
Check back in July for the full daily schedule for the most complete and up-to-date lineup to start planning your Fair Spirit experience.
Stay Informed!
Explore our lineup of events, from the Grandstand, Free Entertainment and Elwell Family Park, to competitions and America250 programming.
Special Days
August 13: Red, White and Blue Day (Heroes Day)
August 17: Veterans Day
August 19: Older Iowans' Day and Sensory-Friendly Morning (Sensory-Friendly Morning schedule to be released in June)
August 23: Sunday Funday
Locations and Descriptions
The Iowa State Fair buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Each Fair day, you can find special events, entertainment or competitions in these locations.
| Entertainment Locations | |
| Iowa State Fair Grandstand | The Fair’s largest stage with 11 nights of top performers; buy Grandstand tickets at iowastatefair.org. |
| Anne and Bill Riley Stage | Local and national touring entertainment; Talent Search |
| Elwell Family Park | West outdoor arena with covered bleachers; action dirt events |
| Expo Hill | Free entertainment; MidAmerican Energy Wind Turbine and Education Center |
| Hy-Vee Fun Forest | Variety Star Accessible Playground; stage with kid programming; Blue Ribbon Kids' Club |
| Fun Forest Stage | Family friendly entertainment for all ages |
| MidAmerican Energy Stage | Local and national touring entertainment; KCCI TV8 live news |
| The Lawn | West of Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center; outdoor entertainment; concessions |
| Strolling Acts | Near Rock Island and around the Fairgrounds |
| Susan Knapp Amphitheater | Local and national touring entertainment; WHO TV13 Hello Iowa show |
| Bar and Restaurant Entertainment | |
| Blue Ribbon Bar & Eatery | Located southeast of the Grandstand |
| Bubbly Bar & Bistro | Located west of Grandfather's Barn |
| Bud Tent | Located east of Ye Old Mill |
| Iowa Craft Beer Tent | Located west of Jacobson Exhibition Center |
| Jalapeno Pete's | Located southwest of Thrill Ville |
| JR's SouthPork Ranch | Located west of the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion |
| Stockman's Inn | Located at the southwest corner of the Cattle Barn |
| Livestock Judging, Awards and Shows Locations | |
| Bob and Deb Pulver Outdoor Arena | Livestock competitions; special events |
| Pioneer Livestock Pavilion | Livestock competitions; special events |
| Poultry and Rabbit Building | Poultry and rabbit shows and exhibits |
| Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center and Horse Barn | Horses; Horse Haven; Vet Camp sponsored by Agri-Pro Enterprises |
| Sheep Barn | Sheep; Big Ram; Sheep Stop |
| Swine Barn | Swine; Big Boar; Pig Place |
| Fair Day Events Locations | |
| Avenue of Breeds | 70 breeds of unique Iowa livestock; managed by North Polk FFA |
| Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building | 4-H exhibits, displays and presentations |
| Department of Natural Resources Building | Outdoor courtyard presentations; pop-up programs; aquariums |
| Elwell Family Food Center | Competitive food judging and displays; Blue Ribbon Foundation Merchandise Store (until 5 p.m.) |
| FFA Display Building and Headquarters | Chapter exhibits; agricultural demonstrations and working displays |
| The Garden | Display of crops, plants, vegetables and special events, managed by Bondurant FFA; Iowa State Fair Farmers Market |
| Grand Concourse | Main east-west road on the Iowa State Fairgrounds |
| The Marketplaces | East, west and central shopping marketplaces under the Iowa State Fair Grandstand |
| Heritage Village | Celebrate Iowa’s past on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Find the country school, Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, First Church, Hot Glass Academy, Horseshoe pitching, Mountain Man Camp, the Richard L. Easter Museum Complex and the Vermeer Grandfather's Barn |
| Country School | Old time school, coloring activities |
| Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall | Heritage competitive exhibits and contests; Working exhibits; Gas engine and vintage vehicle displays (between Fair museum and country school) |
| First Church | Replica of Iowa’s first church; Hot Glass Academy held next to the First Church |
| Grandfather's Barn | Iowa Wine Growers Association with Iowa wine tasting and sales |
| John & Emily Putney Family Cattle Barn | Cattle; Super Bull; shopping; vendors; Blue Ribbon Foundation Merchandise Store |
| John Deere Agriculture Building | Floriculture; horticulture displays; world-famous Butter Cow; egg-on-a-stick; gingerbread building display; shopping; Blue Ribbon Foundation Merchandise Store |
| Kids’ Zone | For Fairgoers of all ages; north of Animal Learning Center |
| Maytag Family Theater | Cooking demonstrations; tastings |
| Mobile Marketing | Various Fairgrounds locations; organization and company displays |
| Oman Family Youth Inn | Dormitories, special events competitions and tournaments |
| Patty & Jim Cownie Cultural Center | Fine Arts juried exhibits; photography; creative arts: woodworking; dollhouses; art demonstrations; Art Fair; artWORKS |
| Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center | Birthing center; baby animals; ag-based children’s educational center; Ag Art Contest display; Way We Live award winners display |
| Robert G. Horner and Sheri Avis Horner Service Center | First aid; ATMs, telephones; Blue Ribbon Foundation Merchandise Store; calming room *The Des Moines Register Soapbox schedule will be released in early August. |
| Ruan Plaza | Vendors and concessions; floral display; Farm Bureau free games and prizes |
| Thrill Town | For little Fairgoers and their families; located east of Gate 10 and north of the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center lawn |
| Thrill Ville | Family-friendly atmosphere with jaw-dropping rides; located between the Grandstand and Ye Old Mill |
| Thrill Zone | Intense amusement rides near Gate 11 on the Grand Concourse |
| Walnut Center | Iowa crafters and merchandise |
| William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building | Vendors; competitive fabric and threads exhibits and classes; Iowa Food and Family Project; shopping; Blue Ribbon Foundation Merchandise Store |
| Entertainment | |
| Anne and Bill Riley Stage | Local and national touring entertainment; Talent Search |
| Elwell Family Park | West outdoor arena with covered bleachers; action dirt events |
| Expo Hill | Free entertainment; Veteran's Memorial Walkway |
| Fun Forest | Variety Star Accessible Playground; stage with kid programming; Kids' Club |
| Fun Forest Stage | Family-friendly entertainment for all ages |
| Grandstand | The Fair's largest stage with 11 nights of top performers; Fair time Ticket Office |
| MidAmerican Energy Stage | Local and national touring entertainment; KCCI TV8 live news |
| The Lawn | Outdoor performances with shade and tables |
| Susan Knapp Amphitheater | Local and national touring entertainment; WHO TV13 Hello Iowa show |
| Livestock Judging Awards and Shows Locations | |
| Outdoor Arena | Livestock competitions; special events |
| Livestock Pavilion | Livestock competitions; special events; Century and Heritage Farm awards |
| Poultry and Rabbit Building | Poultry and rabbit shows and exhibits |
| Exhibition Center | Horse shows; Vet Camps; Horseman's Hall of Fame |
| Sheep Barn | Sheep; Big Ram; Sheep Stop |
| Swine Barn | Swine; Big Boar; Pig Place |
| Fair Day Events Locations | |
| Administration Building | Guest Relations Office; pre-Fair ticket office; administration offices |
| Agriculture Building | Floriculture; horticulture displays; world-famous Butter Cow; egg-on-a-stick; shopping |
| Alliant Energy Landing | A publicly available rental space during the Iowa State Fair |
| Animal Learning Center | Baby animals; ag-based children's educational center; Ag Art Contest display Way We Live award winners display |
| Avenue of Breeds | Unique breeds of Iowa livestock, managed by North Polk FFA |
| Campgrounds Entrance | Gates 4 and 5 |
| Country School | Old time school, activities |
| Cultural Center | Fine Arts; photography; creative arts: woodworking; dollhouses; art demonstrations; Art Fair; artWORKS |
| DNR Building | Outdoor courtyard presentations; pop-up programs; aquariums |
| First Aid Center | Staffed by Des Moines Fire and Rescue |
| First Church | Replica of Iowa's first church; Hot Glass Academy; Hymm sing |
| Food Center | Competitive food judging and displays |
| 4-H Exhibits Building | 4-H exhibits, displays and presentations |
| The Garden | Crops, plants, vegetables and special events; Iowa State Fair Farmers Market |
| Grand Concourse | Main east-west road on the Iowa State Fairgrounds |
| Grandfather's Barn | Iowa Wine Growers Association; Iowa wine tasting and sales |
| Horse Barn | Horses; Horse Haven |
| ISF Hub | Information volunteer headquarters; credential pick-up; delivery drop-off and pick-up |
| Iowa State Fair Police | Certified 24 hour police station; missing persons; lost and found |
| Legacy Terrace | Benches; water feature; flag display |
| Little Hands on the Farm | Hands-on exhibit to teach children about agriculture and farming |
| The Marketplaces | Merchandise vendors under the Grandstand |
| Maytag Family Theaters | Presentations; demonstrations; tastings; free and paid classes |
| Museum Complex | Interactive exhibits detailing the Fair since its beginning in 1854 |
| Parking Office | Central hub for parking |
| Pioneer Hall | Heritage exhibits and contests; Demonstrations; Gas engine and vintage vehicle displays |
| Ruan Plaza | Vendors and concessions; Sculpture; Farm Bureau free games and prizes |
| Sale Ring | Located in the Cattle Barn; IFAA Sale of Champions; Fair time contests and other events |
| Service Center | First aid; ATMs, telephones; calming room |
| Shivers Plaza | Shade and seating |
| Sky Glider East | A ride above the eastern part of the Fairgrounds |
| Sky Glider West | A ride above the western part of the Fairgrounds |
| Stalling Barn | Stalling for cattle, llamas and other large animals; pavilion for open air trade shows and exhibitions |
| Thrill Town | Rides for little Fairgoers and their families |
| Thrill Ville | Family-friendly atmosphere with jaw-dropping rides |
| Thrill Zone | Intense amusement rides |
| Varied Industries Building | Vendors; competitive fabric and threads exhibits and classes; shopping |
| Walnut Center | Iowa crafter and merchandise vendors |
| Wind Turbine & Education Center | Educational exhibit to learn about wind energy |
| Ye Old Mill | Oldest ride at the Fair offering a 1,500 foot boat ride |
| Youth Inn | Dormitories, special events, competitions and tournaments |