2026 State Fair of Texas: Full Concert Lineup, Big Tex Choice Award Winners & What to Eat

2026 State Fair of Texas: Full Concert Lineup, Big Tex Choice Award Winners & What to Eat

 

 

The 2026 State Fair of Texas is in full swing at Fair Park in Dallas, running through Sunday, October 18. With two weeks left, there's still time to catch a free headliner on the Chevrolet Main Stage and try the award-winning fair foods everyone is talking about.

This guide covers the complete 2026 concert schedule, every Big Tex Choice Award winner and finalist, and tips for making the most of your remaining trips to the fair.

2026 State Fair of Texas at a Glance

The 2026 Chevrolet Main Stage Concert Lineup

Every Chevrolet Main Stage concert is included with your fair admission ticket. The stage has been a centerpiece of the fair for nearly 30 years, and the 2026 lineup includes country, classic rock, Norteño, R&B, pop-punk, and tribute acts across all 24 days.

Still to Come (Oct. 6 – Oct. 18)

Already Played (Sept. 25 – Oct. 5)

Performance times are subject to change. Check the State Fair of Texas app or BigTex.com on the day of your visit.

Must-See Shows in the Final Two Weeks

Queensrÿche (Wed., Oct. 7): The progressive metal band behind "Silent Lucidity" brings an arena-rock show to the Main Stage, free with admission.

The North Texas '90s Triple Bill (Sun., Oct. 11): This may be the best value of the fair. Deep Blue Something ("Breakfast at Tiffany's"), Tripping Daisy, and the Toadies ("Possum Kingdom") play back to back. It's an all-local lineup of DFW alt-rock bands, and the Toadies headline.

RaeLynn (Wed., Oct. 14): The Texas-born country singer and former The Voice contestant plays a midweek show.

Muscadine Bloodline (Fri., Oct. 16): The Alabama country duo should draw a big Friday-night crowd.

Gym Class Heroes + 3OH!3 (Sat., Oct. 17): A double bill of 2000s pop-punk and hip-hop hits on the final Saturday night.

Closing Day Tribute (Sun., Oct. 18): The fair closes with Last Bandoleros and a tribute to Tejano star Emilio Navaira.

More live music: Beyond the Main Stage, the fair's partnership with East Dallas label State Fair Records programs the Bud Light Stage and Old Mill Stage, with performances every day. Jazz musician Ken Ebo is the 2026 Resident Artist.

2026 Big Tex Choice Award Winners

Every year, the Big Tex Choice Awards pick the best new foods at the fair. For 2026, the 22nd year of the competition, vendors submitted 77 entries. Those were narrowed to 15 finalists, and on August 18, about 30 celebrity judges scored the finalists on taste, value, fairgoer appeal, and creativity. To enter, a vendor must have been a State Fair concessionaire for at least two years.

🍔 Best Taste – Savory: Burger Chop Tater Tacos

By Tom Grace • About $16

The shells are made from tater tots that are smashed and grilled with cheese, then filled with burger-style beef. It's a cheeseburger, tater tots, and a taco in one.

🌽 Best Taste – Sweet: Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog

By Beck Fletcher • About $7

This one is historic. Fletcher's has served Corny Dogs at the fair since 1942, and this is its first Big Tex Choice Award. There's no hot dog inside. It's milk chocolate fudge dipped in Fletcher's famous corny dog batter and deep fried, then topped with yellow vanilla icing that looks like mustard and served with raspberry compote that looks like ketchup. At about $7, it's also the least expensive of the 2026 winners.

🥥 Best Taste – Sipper: Tropical Coco Fresca

By Fruteria Cano • About $12

A big, layered tropical drink and the first Big Tex win for Luis Cano, a third-generation fair vendor. It's a good choice on a warm October afternoon.

🍵 Most Creative: Berry Me in Matcha

By Stephen El Gidi

New York-style cheesecake on a stick, hand-dipped in Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies, and drizzled with more white chocolate and strawberry jam. Judges were impressed by how well the Japanese-inspired flavors work in a fair food.

2026 Big Tex Choice Award Finalists

The rest of the 15 finalists are also being sold at the fair this year.

Savory Finalists

• Dickel's Texas Two Step Tacos, by Dickel's Smokehouse
• Flamin' Crunch Pizza, by Tom Grace: hand-tossed pizza with jalapeño cheddar queso, cheese, queso blanco, buffalo ranch, and Flamin' Hot Cheetos
• Golden Crunch Melt, by Tony & Terry Bednar: a grilled tortilla filled with chicken pastor, fire-roasted peppers, caramelized onions, chipotle mayo, three cheeses, and crispy potato strings, served with chipotle crema
• Nacho Wings, by Cody & Lauren Hays

Sweet Finalists

• Fernie's Frozen Espresso-tini Bar, by Christi Erpillo & Johnna McKee: a frozen treat inspired by the espresso martini
• Holy Flan! Buñueloco, by The Garza Family: a crispy buñuelo bowl filled with arroz con leche and cinnamon Blue Bell ice cream, topped with a deep-fried flan in puff pastry, whipped cream, and caramel
• Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone, by Brad Weiss: a waffle cone dipped in white chocolate, rolled in Texas pecan praline, Biscoff cookies, and freeze-dried strawberries, then filled with cookie butter cheesecake

Sipper Finalists

• Corn Flake Shappé, by Milton & Gracie Whitley
• Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float, by Tami & Josey Nevins Mayes
• Rousso's Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider, by Rousso's Concessions
• Sunset Soft Serve Rita, by Dwania Morris

Plan Your Visit: Food + Concert Itineraries

The Sunday Funday (Oct. 11): Arrive early afternoon, start with Burger Chop Tater Tacos, cool off with a Tropical Coco Fresca, and claim a spot at the Main Stage by 4:30 for Deep Blue Something, Tripping Daisy, and the Toadies. Finish with a Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog.

Date Night (Wed., Oct. 14): Split a Golden Crunch Melt and a Berry Me in Matcha, then catch RaeLynn at 7:45.

The Grand Finale (Sat., Oct. 17): Try the Flamin' Crunch Pizza, get a Holy Flan! Buñueloco for dessert, and stay for Gym Class Heroes and 3OH!3.

State Fair Tips for the Final Two Weeks

• Buy tickets online ahead of time to skip the gate lines.
• Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, especially Monday through Thursday.
• Get to Main Stage headliners early. Free shows with big names fill up fast, particularly on Oct. 11 and Oct. 17.
• Ride DART. The Green Line stops at Fair Park, so you can skip parking.
• Share your food. Big Tex winners are rich and some are pricey. Splitting lets you try more.
• Check the official app for daily schedules, set times, and maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026 State Fair of Texas end?
The fair runs through Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Fair Park in Dallas.

Are State Fair concerts free?
Yes. All Chevrolet Main Stage concerts are included with fair admission.

Who won the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards?
Burger Chop Tater Tacos (Best Taste – Savory), Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog (Best Taste – Sweet), Tropical Coco Fresca (Best Taste – Sipper), and Berry Me in Matcha (Most Creative).

Who headlines the final weekend?
Gym Class Heroes and 3OH!3 play Saturday, Oct. 17, and the fair closes Sunday, Oct. 18, with Last Bandoleros and an Emilio Navaira tribute.

Is the Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog actually a corny dog?
It's made with Fletcher's corny dog batter, but there's no hot dog inside. The center is milk chocolate fudge.

What's the cheapest Big Tex winner?
The Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog, at about $7.

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The State Fair is one of the many reasons people love living in Dallas-Fort Worth. If you're thinking about buying or selling a home anywhere in the Metroplex, OnDemand Realty can help, and our flat-fee model means you keep more of your money for corny dogs.