What the Arizona State Fair Is
The Arizona State Fair is the state's big fall fair on the State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, with rides, concerts, food, exhibits and a full month of livestock and competitive-entry contests. The 2026 fair ran Thursdays through Sundays from October 1 to November 1. For agriculture families the draw is the livestock calendar, which moves from small stock to youth market animals to sheep and goats, week by week, in the Ag Center and Cattle Barn.
The Livestock Calendar
| Dates (2026) | Show |
|---|---|
| Oct 1-4 | Rabbit and Cavy Show; Poultry Show (youth and open divisions) |
| Oct 3, 6 p.m. | Sale of Champions livestock auction, Ag Center |
| Oct 8-11 | Youth Week: Youth Livestock Show for pigs, goats, sheep and cattle, plus Market Turkeys |
| Oct 15-18 | Sheep Show |
| Oct 22-25 | Meat Goat Show |
| Oct 29-Nov 1 | Dairy Goat Show |
The Arizona Ag Display in the Cattle Barn is open Thursday through Sunday, all day. The poultry program also includes a turkey gobbling contest.
Who Can Enter and How
Youth livestock rules apply to ages 8 to 18, and 4-H, FFA and other organized Arizona youth may take part. Rabbit and Cavy and Poultry have both a youth division (ages 8-18) and an open division for all ages. Youth competitions cover beef cattle, dairy cattle, dairy goats (seven breeds), meat goats, sheep (market lambs, registered sheep, commercial ewes and feeder lambs), swine (market barrows, breeding gilts, prospect and feeder pigs) and livestock judging.
- All livestock and small stock entries are made online, through the link in each department's rulebook.
- Enter separately for each competition.
- Agree to the rules, supply any required paperwork and payment before the entry deadline, and sign the release of liability form.
- An entry is not valid until the fair office receives it and staff approve it.
Four documents govern entries: the 2026 Livestock General Rules, the 2026 Health Rules, the 2026 Youth Livestock Rules and the Exhibitor Entry Signature Release Form. Entry fees and deadlines are set in the department rulebooks, so read them before you budget or plan travel.
Competitive Exhibits Beyond Livestock
The fair also runs open and youth exhibit contests with blue ribbons for winners. Categories include Fine Arts and Photography (oil paintings, sculpture, glass), Home and Culinary Arts (quilts, wood carvings, preserves, jams, jellies and pies), Horticulture (single-stem roses, home-grown vegetables, container gardens) and Youth and Student Arts, a free program for students across Arizona. A "State of Wonder" theme exhibit in 2026 was open to professional artists, amateurs, youth and photographers. Youth livestock exhibitors compete for the Grand Champion title.
Where
Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 West McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Livestock shows are held in the Ag Center and Cattle Barn.
Questions
Can an adult enter livestock?
Rabbit and Cavy and Poultry have open divisions for all ages. The youth livestock rules cover ages 8 to 18.
Do I need to enter every show separately?
Yes. Each competition needs its own entry, submitted online and approved by the fair office.
Who do I call?
The livestock office number is 602-257-7130.
Is the 2026 fair still on?
No. The most recent edition closed on November 1, 2026. Next year's dates and rulebooks will be posted on the fair's website.
Official Links
- Arizona State Fair
- 2026 Livestock Entry Categories: schedule, rulebooks and entry process
- Guide to Competitive Entries at the 2026 Arizona State Fair
- Youth Livestock Show - Youth Week
Arizona County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Arizona youth shows run through county Extension offices, 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, and each show publishes its own rules. Dates run from January roundups to the State Fair in October.
Examples
The Arizona 4-H Stock Show and Roundup is set for January 30 and 31, 2027 in Tucson, with registration closing January 15. The Yavapai County Fair ran September 10 to 13, 2026 at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. The Arizona State Fair ran October 1 to November 1, 2026, with its Sale of Champions on October 3.
Who can show
The State Fair says youth competitions are for ages 8 to 18. The Roundup uses Junior (8 to 10), Intermediate (11 to 13) and Senior (14 to 18) divisions.
Rules to check
Pima County asks members to complete Arizona Youth Livestock Quality Assurance training and ties each animal to an ownership deadline, a tag and a weigh-in. Weights, tagging and sale rules differ by show.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for the premium book and entry dates before you buy an animal.
Read the full guide: Arizona County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Arizona National Livestock Show
Billed as the largest livestock show in the Southwest, it draws youth exhibitors with about 2,500 cattle, horses, sheep, goats and swine; 2026 runs December 27-31.
- Arizona National Livestock Show Livestock Judging Classic
Livestock judging contest where entrants rank cattle, sheep, swine and goats and give oral reasons; the junior division for 4-H and FFA runs during the Phoenix livestock show.
Phoenix, AZ | Organizer: Arizona National Livestock Show Official event details - Arizona FFA Pinnacle Senior Conference
Senior leadership conference for Arizona FFA members, scheduled January 22-23, 2027 at Peoria High School alongside a mini leadership camp.
Peoria, AZ | Organizer: Arizona FFA Official event details - Maricopa County Fair
Maricopa County's fair is set for April 2-11, 2027 at the Phoenix fairgrounds, open Thursday through Sunday with 4-H and FFA livestock, exhibits and rides.
- Cave Creek Rodeo Days
Western-town rodeo festival at Cave Creek Memorial Arena; the 2026 run was March 26-29, and Rodeo Days is held each spring.
37201 N 28th St, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 | Organizer: Cave Creek Rodeo Days Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.