Minnesota State Fair 2026 Opens Thursday with Infrastructure Updates

The 2026 Minnesota State Fair opens Thursday, Aug. 27, at the 322-acre fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, introducing a completed $24 million coliseum renovation, a new 230-foot Ferris wheel, and updated accessibility measures.

Organizers are maintaining ticket prices at $20 for general admission, $18 for seniors and children aged 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and under. Daily hours remain 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., except for Labor Day, when gates close at 8 p.m.

A multi-year, $24 million renovation of the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum has concluded, bringing wide aisles, updated handrails, new seats, rebuilt wheelchair-accessible zones, expanded restrooms, and a complete roof replacement alongside electrical and mechanical upgrades.

Attractions on the grounds feature a major change as the Great Big Wheel gives way to the America Wheel. The traveling 230-foot Ferris wheel honors the country's 250th anniversary with 45 gondolas dedicated to U.S. presidents and educational displays on national history.

Fairgoers arriving by bicycle will find expanded capacities at free lots near Gates 2, 9, and 16, staffed from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Accessibility additions include live ASL interpretation, human navigational guides for visual assistance, Braille signage, and a second meditation tent near the West End.

Food options expand with nine new vendor booths and the new Summer Lakes Boat House, offering specialty drinks and walleye sliders. Cultural, agricultural, and 4-H educational exhibits will run through the fair's conclusion on Labor Day, Sept. 7.