What the Indiana State Fair Is
The Indiana State Fair fills the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center in Indianapolis with livestock shows, 4-H projects, farm exhibits, food, a midway and free concerts. The most recent fair ran Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 23, 2026, and was closed on Mondays. The 2026 theme was baseball, "Batter Up, Indiana!"
How the Livestock Weeks Are Organized
For exhibitors, the fair runs in three livestock weeks, and each week has its own admission credentials:
| Week | Dates in 2026 | Credential price |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9 | $45 |
| Breeding | Tuesday, August 11 to Sunday, August 16 | $55 |
| Open | Tuesday, August 18 to Sunday, August 23 | $55 |
Every exhibitor receives two complimentary credentials for each week an entry is made. A full-fair exhibitor credential is $100, a single-day exhibitor ticket is $13, and the exhibitor vehicle parking pass is $30. Entries opened May 18 and closed July 1, 2026, with late entries taken in most departments for a higher fee.
The 2026 show calendar began with the Open Cattle Show and 4-H beef showmanship on Friday, August 7 in the Corteva Coliseum, and the Indiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Judging Contest on August 6. Farm Bureau sponsored the 4-H Supreme Drive for dairy cattle, Boer goats, breeding ewes and breeding gilts on Sunday, August 16, and Supreme Showmanship for swine, beef, sheep and goats on Sunday, August 23.
What Visitors Find
- Hoosier Lottery Free Stage and Grandstand concerts.
- Midway rides, including the Ball State Skyride and the Indiana State Fair Train.
- The Meijer Family Fun Park and Pioneer Village.
- Featured Farmers presented by Corteva Agriscience.
- Taste of the Fair and Taste and Create food programs.
- Competitions including the Indiana Brewers' Cup, the Wine and Spirits Competition and the State Fair Queen Program.
- Taste From Indiana Farms, a free Indiana Farm Bureau sampling event in the Fall Creek Pavilion, Thursday August 13 through Sunday August 16, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets, Discounts and Parking
Children age 5 and younger are admitted free every day. In 2026 the fair offered $2 Tuesdays on August 11 and 18 ($2 admission, $2 midway rides and $2 food specials), free admission for military, veterans, first responders and their immediate families on August 12, an Indianapolis Indians family day with a voucher on August 13, an IndyStar free ticket day on August 19 and free admission for AAA members on August 20. A $5 Value Menu returned, bicycle riders got $1 off admission with free secure bike parking, and tractor shuttles ran around the grounds. Guests paid a $10 facility charge per vehicle, cash or card. Main entrances are Gate 1 on 38th Street, Gate 2 on 42nd Street, and Gates 5 and 6 on Fall Creek Parkway.
Where
Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205. Fair office: (317) 927-7500. Exhibitor entry questions go to the Entry Department at (317) 927-7515.
Questions
Can I take my own animal?
Yes, if you enter by the deadlines. 4-H and open livestock each have their own entry books, and 4-H exhibitors must have animals identified through Indiana 4-H Online by May 15.
How are premium checks paid?
Exhibitors complete an electronic W-9 at entry. Direct deposit is optional in 2026 and becomes the only payment method in 2027.
What is the penning and stalling auction?
It sells stall and pen selection order online; in 2026 it was held Monday, June 15 at 8 a.m., and proceeds support the Indiana State Fair Youth Development Fund.
Official Links
- Indiana State Fair 2026 event page: attractions, entrances and parking
- Livestock show schedule
- Livestock FAQs: W-9, premiums, penning auction
- 4-H livestock entry books: exhibitor credentials, fees and schedules
- AgriNews: ways to save at the Indiana State Fair: discount days
- Indiana Farm Bureau 2026 State Fair release: Taste From Indiana Farms and Supreme contests
Indiana County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Indiana's 92 counties each host a fair, and most run in July, per the Farm Bureau's 2026 county fair guide. Allen County ran June 23-28 and Adams County July 19-23.
State fair
The 2026 Indiana State Fair ran August 7 to 23 in Indianapolis, with 4-H beef, swine and sheep shows starting August 7, per the livestock show schedule.
IDs and health
Animal ID goes into Indiana 4-H Online by May 15, per the 2026 ID chart. Indiana animals need no BOAH health certificate unless the show asks, per the state requirements.
Who can show
Indiana 4-H runs from third grade through grade 12, up to ten years, per the eligibility policy. Members enroll each year in 4-H Online.
Show week
Harrison County opened livestock check-in June 19 and held its auction June 25, per its 2026 handbook.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for your fair book and ID day dates.
Rules and entry limits differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Indiana County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Marion County Fair
Mark June 26 to July 5, 2026 for the Marion County Fair in Indianapolis (10 days, Friday start). Held each year; the most recent dates were June 26 to July 5, 2026.
Indianapolis, IN Official event details - Indiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Judging Contest
Open to 4-H and FFA members, this state contest at the Indiana State Fair teaches youth to evaluate horses, and no Area Contest qualifier is required. Held each year; the most recent date was August 6, 2026.
- Indiana State Fair 4-H Beef Showmanship
Young Indiana 4-H exhibitors lead their beef animals before the judge in showmanship classes at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Held each year; the most recent date was August 7, 2026.
- Indiana State Fair Open Cattle Show
Breeders from around Indiana bring beef cattle to the Open Cattle Show at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, which shares its day with 4-H beef showmanship. Held each year; the most recent date was August 7, 2026.
- Indiana State Fair 4-H Dairy Beef Showmanship
Dairy beef and dairy feeder exhibitors compete in showmanship at Corteva Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Held each year; the most recent date was August 11, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.