What the Nebraska State Fair Is
The Nebraska State Fair is an 11-day fair in Grand Island that always ends on Labor Day. The 2026 fair ran August 28 to September 7 at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds at Fonner Park. For young exhibitors it is the state stage for 4-H and FFA livestock and static exhibits, and for visitors it adds concerts, a carnival, food vendors and open-class shows. The Nebraska State Fair works in partnership with Nebraska 4-H and Nebraska FFA to put on their livestock shows.
Ways to Take Part
| Division | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 4-H livestock | Breeding and market beef, feeder calf, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, with showmanship |
| FFA livestock | Beef, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry, with showmanship |
| Open class | Beef, dairy cattle, sheep, swine, boer goats, dairy goats, poultry, llamas and alpacas, Texas Longhorns |
| 4-H and FFA static exhibits | Projects judged and displayed, open daily during the fair |
FFA and 4-H exhibitors are entered automatically into showmanship for each livestock species they enter, except 4-H dog exhibitors.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Enter online by 8 p.m. Central on August 10 for 4-H and FFA livestock and for 4-H in-person events such as contests, the fashion show, robotics showcase and culinary challenge.
- Static exhibits: 4-H static entries are due by noon Central on August 24 and are entered by county staff. 4-H horticulture entry is noon to 4:30 p.m. on August 25. FFA static exhibits are due by 8 p.m. on August 26.
- 4-H check-in starts Friday, August 28: poultry 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., beef 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., sheep 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Swine check in Saturday 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., rabbits 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. and goats 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
- 4-H shows run August 29 and 30, with showmanship and breeding classes first and market classes Sunday: feeder calf and market beef at 8:00 a.m., market swine at 8:00 a.m., market lamb at 8:30 a.m., and the 4-H Final Drive at 4:00 p.m.
- FFA check-in is September 5 and 6, with breeding shows September 6 and market shows Monday, September 7, ending with the FFA Championship Selection at 3:30 p.m.
All dates and times in the livestock schedule are tentative and subject to change. Swine exhibitors should have a Premise ID ready when entering.
Open Class Highlights
- Open class beef shows September 2 and 3, with the Open Class Beef Supreme Drive on September 3 at 5:00 p.m.
- Open class sheep show September 4 at 8:00 a.m.; open class dairy show September 4 at 9:00 a.m.
- Boer goat silver and bronze shows September 2 and 3.
- Open class poultry, waterfowl, pigeon and egg show September 6.
Visiting: Hours, Prices and Parking
- Gates open at 7 a.m. daily; vendor and entertainment buildings open at 9 a.m.
- Gate admission: adults 13-59 $12, seniors 60+ $6, youth 6-12 $6, children 5 and under free. Opening Friday is free before noon, Tuesday is $2.50 for ages 6 and up, and military are free with ID on Monday, September 7.
- Carnival wristbands are $37 on weekdays and $42 on weekends during the fair.
- Parking on the fairgrounds is free, with free shuttle service from Sam's Club on the hour starting at 9:00 a.m.
- 4-H and FFA static exhibits are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days and close at 5 p.m. on the final Monday.
- Concerts included two indoor shows at the BigIron Events Center on August 30 and 31 and three outdoor shows at TD Landing on September 4, 5 and 6. Concert tickets include gate admission.
Where
Nebraska State Fairgrounds at Fonner Park, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, Grand Island, NE 68801. Buses drop off at the North Gate off Fonner Park Road. Pets are not allowed, though competition animals and service animals are.
Questions
Is showmanship a separate entry?
Not for 4-H or FFA livestock exhibitors in 2026. They are entered automatically.
Can I watch the livestock shows online?
Yes. Shows are webcast on RingsideLive with archived videos afterward.
Can I come and go?
Yes, get your hand stamped before leaving to re-enter the same day.
Who do I call?
The fair office is 308-382-1620. For tickets, call the box office at 308-384-0151.
Official Links
- Nebraska State Fair FAQ
- Livestock exhibitor information
- 4-H and FFA livestock
- 2026 detailed livestock schedule (PDF)
- Gate and carnival pricing
- Hours
Nebraska County Fairs: The Essentials
Nebraska county fairs are run by local fair boards and agricultural societies, while Nebraska Extension runs the 4-H side. Nebraska 4-H points to nebraskafairs.org for a printable list of fair dates and locations.
Examples
Cherry County's 2024 book paid purple $5, blue $4, red $3 and white $2 on standard classes. Pawnee County's 2026 book paid $7, $5, $3 and $1 on typical breeding and market classes and requires YQCA before June 15. Saline County's open class is open to any Nebraska resident, with animal entries due June 13 in its 2025 book. Deadlines differ by county, so read your fair book early.
State fair
The Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island ran August 28 to September 7 in 2026 per Pawnee County's book. 4-H youth must enroll by June 15, static exhibits need a county purple ribbon, and livestock entries close August 10 at 8 p.m. Central.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Nebraska 4-H Horse Expo
The Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show, the statewide 4-H horse competition, in Grand Island with check-in at Thompson Arena. The next dates posted are July 10 to 14, 2027.
- Hall County 4-H Fine Arts Night
Speech and talent contests for Hall County 4-H members, held March 24, 2026 at 6:30 pm in the College Park Auditorium; registration forms were due March 10.
Grand Island, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Hall County Official event details - Hall County 4-H Bicycle Road-E-O
Bicycle safety and skills event for ages 5-18 held May 27, 2026 at the Hall County Extension Office in Grand Island; pre-registration closed May 20.
Grand Island, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Hall County Official event details - Nebraska Affiliate Foundation Quarter Horse Registry Show
Quarter horse registry show opening the State Fair horse program, with classes starting at 8:00 a.m. in the indoor arena on Aug. 28 and 29, 2026.
Grand Island, NE | 308-382-1620 | Organizer: Nebraska State Fair Official event details - Nebraska State Fair Draft Horse Pull
Draft horse pulling contest in the indoor arena at the Nebraska State Fair, scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.