Strong Agriculture Participation, New Entertainment Offerings, and Record-Breaking Concert Attendance Made the 2026 Fair One for the Books
As autumn arrives and we bid farewell to summer, it’s time to take stock of another memorable year at The Great New York State Fair. Nearly a million visitors came through the gates during the 13-day celebration, immersing themselves in the food, agriculture, entertainment, traditions and cultural experiences that make The Fair uniquely New York. From the highest number of Holstein entries in nearly a decade to the indulgent amount of perfectly chilled milk poured, agriculture took center stage once again. Add in the food, the fun and a slate of new entertainment offerings—including record-breaking concert attendance—and it’s clear the 2026 Fair gave fairgoers plenty of memorable moments to savor.
“For 185 years, The Great New York State Fair has served as a celebration of agriculture and community,” said NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “This year, that rich history came to life once again, giving fairgoers an opportunity to immerse themselves in and learn about the very best of New York State agriculture while celebrating our diverse communities in a welcoming, inclusive, and family-friendly environment.”
Fair Director Julie LaFave added, “2026 was a year filled with big moments, new experiences, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. When we look at the numbers, what stands out most is the incredible community behind them. It’s the farmers, exhibitors, food vendors, performers, partners, staff, volunteers and, of course, the nearly million people who walked through our gates who make The Fair what it is. The Fair brings New York together, and we’re incredibly proud of what we all created this year.”
Let’s talk about numbers! The following stats highlight The Fair as the ultimate hub for fun, food, and farming excellence in New York State. With a whopping 962,795 visitors, including its highest overall and single-day attendance since 2019, the 2026 Fair was truly unforgettable.
Agriculture at its Roots!
Agriculture remains the heart of The Fair. Visitors of all ages explored the vital role farming plays in our daily lives—from sustainable practices and innovative technology to the journey from seed to harvest to table. The Fair connects agricultural traditions with tomorrow’s innovations while inspiring the next generation of farmers, veterinarians, scientists, entrepreneurs, and so much to carry on this proud heritage. Highlights include:
- Nearly 7,400 livestock entries, including the greatest number of Holstein dairy cattle in nearly a decade. For the first time since 2019, the New York State Holstein Show returned to the Toyota Coliseum with more than 200 head of elite Holstein cattle having made their way from the cattle building to the big arena.
- The brand new 10,500 square-foot FFA Building was unveiled on Opening Day, providing a permanent home for the New York State FFA Convention while supporting agricultural education and helping develop the next generation of agricultural leaders.
- More than 200 youth leaders, aged 12-18, participated in Agriculture Career Day. The event featured nine interactive stations exploring careers such as equipment engineering, food product pricing, soil and water conservation, and more. In partnership with the New York State Department of Labor, 25 FFA members from across the state facilitated the activities, which included a stop at the Wool Center to explore careers in natural fiber textiles and fashion.
- The Voice of the Farmer Garden (VOFG), now in its fourth year and cultivated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, has donated over 360 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries across the City of Syracuse this year to date. The Garden features roughly 55 crops and nearly 70 varieties of plants, including pollinators, cut flower varieties, and cover crops. Introduced this year: Families had a new way to explore with the introduction of the Voice of the Farmer Garden Passport. Children searched for crops, collected stamps, and learned as they moved through the garden. The passport artwork was created by Sadie Irvine, a member of the Onondaga County 4-H Teen Council, bringing the work of one of our local 4-H youth into an exhibit experienced by visitors from across New York.
- The expanded Taste NY Marketplace, Pop-Up Market and Tasting Yard showcased over 250 unique products from more than 80 vendors, offering visitors a chance to sample and purchase local foods, beverages, and gifts. Forty-seven producers presented their offerings at the Marketplace, while the Tasting Yard featured 10 days of seminars focusing on New York hard cider, wine, beer, and distilled spirits.
- Thirteen recipients were recognized at the annual Women in Agriculture Awards ceremony on September 2, further emphasizing the United Nation’s designation for 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
- The New York State Milk Bar continued to serve up workforce development alongside its famous cold milk. Now in its fifth year and led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, the program has employed 120 young people, ages 14 to 19. In 2026, 43 youth worked at the Milk Bar, including 22 returning employees. Through hands-on training in customer service, communication, time management, money handling and public education, as well as farm tours and a visit to Cornell Dairy, participants gained valuable workplace skills while learning more about New York’s dairy industry. Additionally, 12 inspectors from across the state worked mornings and nights to ensure a safe supply of “nature’s most perfect food” and New York’s top agricultural product.
The Flavors of The Fair!
The Fair is a food paradise. Whether sampling longstanding favorites or indulging in the latest craze, there is a flavor for all tastes. Here’s a delicious smattering of this year’s highlights, including some of the best of New York agriculture!
- 297,746 cups of chilled milk poured at the Milk Bar, with chocolate milk comprising nearly 78 percent! The youth servers poured nearly 180 gallons of milk per hour That’s close to one cup of ice-cold milk being served to a happy fairgoer every second! Next year, white, chocolate, and strawberry milk will be available all 13 days of The Fair with the newly constructed Milk Bar.
- At the Maple Booth, thousands of gallons of pure maple syrup turned into sweet treats, with the most popular selling items being 9,522 maple ice cream cones, 5,585 bags of maple cotton candy, 2,740 maple milkshakes, 2,520 maple donuts, and 20,750 ounces of maple sugar.
- The Great New York State Fair Potato Booth received 50,711 orders of potatoes, with the most requested item being the classic $1 baked potato with butter and sour cream, with other fan favorites including the loaded potato with cheese, bacon, butter and sour cream as well as the Tully’s Chicken Wing Dip potato. Tully’s Good Times owner Dan Giamartino noted that customers were especially impressed with the size and quality of the locally grown New York potatoes, with one customer announcing, “This is the biggest potato I have ever eaten!”
- Nearly 600 vendor applications were received in 2026, a 25 percent increase over 2025, with 355 vendors sharing their goods and services with fairgoers across more than 400 stands.
- The new “Best of The Fair” food and drink awards were given to vendors across multiple categories including Savory, Sweet, Fried food, Non-alcoholic, and Alcoholic beverages, as well as Fairgoers’ Choice Awards from over 800 handwritten submissions.
- New vendor, Knightly Rose, the judge’s first place selection in the Sweet category shared that they used 249 gallons or nearly 2,000 pints of sorbet! Owner Dennis Knight said, “We came to New York hoping to introduce people to Knightly Rose, and we left feeling like New York had welcomed Knightly Rose with open arms. We’re incredibly grateful to The Fair, the staff, and everyone who supported us. We’re already looking forward to coming back!”
Concerts, Circus, Corgis, and Core Memories Made!
The Fair averaged 140 daily events with more than 1,800 total scheduled events and performances during the 13-day run, from cultural dances to historical demonstrations. Music lovers showed up in droves to Chevy Court and Suburban Park, where 41 headline acts rocked the stages—including chart-topping and acclaimed artists like Melissa Etheridge, Trace Adkins, Sean Paul, and the All-American Rejects, plus family friendly options such as Moonlight Princesses and The Magic School Bus. Across the 375-acre fairgrounds, fun could be found everywhere!
- The Fair’s second-largest crowd of all time turned out on August 29 for Third Eye Blind with ~49,000 in attendance.
- Flo Rida on August 30 made The Fair’s top 10 all-time list with ~39,000 fairgoers in attendance.
- Hollywood Circus and the Fast and the Furriest Corgi races in the Expo Center drew thousands of daily visitors to see the spectacular display. An estimated 82,000 fairgoers enjoyed the high-flying acrobatics of the circus performers and fast-moving legs of the corgis.
- New entertainment made a big splash this year, including gravity-defying stunts from Ski Extreme Productions at the Suburban Park Pond. Meanwhile, daily programming in the Empire Room offered fairgoers alternative entertainment experiences, from line dancing and an LGBTQ+ Pride Day cocktail hour to a performance by Taylor Swift tribute act Cruel Summer.
- New and returning Special Days provided even more to celebrate, including partnerships with the Syracuse City School District and TACNY to offer STEAM Day on August 27 and science-based activities including The Science of Roller Coasters on August 29. Grape Day also made a triumphant return, with the New York Wine and Grape Foundation pouring this year’s award-winning New York wines.
- New York artists and cooks showed off their goods as competitive entries in the Wegmans Creative Arts Center increased by 43 percent in 2026, with 685 exhibitors across multiple categories, including fine arts, photography, culinary, Bucket of Junk, and new this year, Plein Air.
- Touches of red, white, and blue could be seen across the Fairgrounds, as America’s 250th celebration was infused in various elements of The Fair, from the two-night Great American Drone Show and the remarkable sand sculpture in the Micron Center of Progress to patriotic competitions in the Wegmans Creative Arts Center, the 2026 Fair pin design, and more.
Mark Your Calendars!
The countdown begins—just 47 weeks until The Great New York State Fair opens its gates on Wednesday, August 25, 2027! Get ready for more fun, food, friends, and unforgettable moments.
Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.
The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
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