'Fair Spirit': Iowa State Fair announces 2026 theme
'Fair Spirit': Iowa State Fair announces 2026 theme
STACEY. THANK YOU. AMANDA. THE 2025 IOWA STATE FAIR HAS OFFICIALLY WRAPPED, AND THE FINAL ATTENDANCE NUMBERS ARE IN A WHOPPING 1.16 MILLION PEOPLE CAME TO THE STATE FAIR THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR SAW RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE FOR THE FAIR. THIS YEAR’S TURNOUT WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST IN HISTORY. THE FAIR WAS JUST SO CLOSE. JUST 20,000 PEOPLE SHY OF BREAKING THAT ATTENDANCE RECORD. vlog BEAU BOWMAN IS AT THE FAIRGROUNDS FOR US THIS EVENING TO GIVE US A LOOK AT HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SUCH HIGH NUMBERS, DESPITE SOME CHALLENGING WEATHER. DESPITE THE RAIN, HEAT AND HUMIDITY, THE 2020 FAIR WAS STILL THE THIRD MOST ATTENDED ON RECORD. FOOD VENDORS ARE CLEANING UP AND SHIPPING OUT. THE FAIR IS OVER. IT’S SAD, BUT IT’S. IT’S READY TO GET OVER AND EXHAUSTED. WHEN? WHEN WAS THE FAIR’S BIG WINNER? WITH THE FAIR’S BEST NEW FOOD? THE CHICKEN BACON RANCH EGG ROLLS. HE SPENT THE LAST 11 DAYS WORKING OVER A HOT DEEP FRYER. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY EGG ROLLS YOU DID? NO, I REALLY HAVE NO CLUE. TWO NEW ADDITIONS THIS YEAR LED TO THE FAIR SUCCESS. DESPITE RAINY AND HOT WEATHER. ACCORDING TO FAIR CEO JEREMY PARSONS, MORE SEATING AND THE ABILITY TO BRING IN OUTSIDE FOOD AND DRINK WITH THE WEATHER. YOU KNOW, BEING FOR PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO BRING IN THEIR OWN FOOD AND BEVERAGE WAS WAS TREMENDOUS. I’M SURE WAS A HUGE HELP. AGAIN, KNOWING WE’VE JUST ADDED MORE PICNIC TABLES AND REALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MORE OF THE NATURAL NATURAL SHADE AND THEN CREATED ARTIFICIAL SHADE. I KNOW MADE THE EXPERIENCE BETTER ON THOSE REALLY, REALLY HOT DAYS. AND WHILE THE FAIR DIDN’T BREAK THE ATTENDANCE RECORD, THEY DID BREAK RECORDS AT THE GRANDSTAND CONCERTS, BOTH IN TICKET SALES AND IN MERCHANDISE. THAT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT PIT, MEGAN MORONEY, FORREST FRANK, T-PAIN, FOUR ACTS THAT REALLY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON MUSICALLY. BUT YET WE’RE FOUR OF THE HIGHEST ATTENDED CONCERTS. PARSONS SAYS NEXT YEAR, THEY’RE ALREADY LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET TO THE FAIR, WHETHER THAT’S TRAFFIC PATTERNS AROUND THE FAIRGROUNDS. WE’LL BE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DES MOINES AND DES MOINES PD. ONLY 359 DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE 2026 IOWA STATE FAIR. MARK YOUR CALENDARS. AUGUST 13TH THROUGH THE 23RD AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR. BEAU BOWMAN vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. AND TODAY TEN IOWA STATE FAIR VENDORS DONATED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF LEFTOVER FOOD TO THE FOOD BANK OF IOWA. TOGETHER, THESE VENDORS DONATED ALMOST 6,000 POUNDS OF FOOD. THAT’S ON TOP OF THE FOOD PEOPLE DONATED AT THE FAIR ON SUNDAY. THE FOOD BANK OF IOWA HAS BEEN RESCUING UNSOLD FOOD SINCE 2018. THE USDA ESTIMATES UP TO 40% OF THE U.S
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'Fair Spirit': Iowa State Fair announces 2026 theme
We still have 345 days until the next Iowa State Fair, but officials are already spreading "fair spirit." The State Fair announced its 2026 theme on Tuesday: "Fair Spirit."Video above: Which records were broken at the 2025 Iowa State Fair?"Reflecting on 'The Spirit of Iowa ’76,' the 1976 Fair which marked America’s bicentennial, the 2026 celebration will highlight our heritage, honor earlier generations and dream about the innovations that will shape our future," according to a news release. "The Iowa State Fair is a tradition that unites Iowans from each corner of the state, as well as attracting visitors from around the world. Each year, Fairgoers come together to honor Iowa’s tradition of agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement.."The next Iowa State Fair is scheduled to run from Aug. 13-23, 2026. And if you're planning further ahead, here are the dates for the next three: Aug. 13-23, 2026; Aug. 12-22, 2027; Aug. 10-20, 2028. Click here for full coverage of the Iowa State Fair.LIST: Previous Iowa State Fair themes2025: Fair Sweet Fair2024: Fair Fever2023: Best Days Ever2022: Find Your Fun2021: How Do You Fair?2020 (no fair due to pandemic): How Do You Fair?2019: Nothing Compares to State Fair Favorites2018: Nothing Compares to State Fair Moments2017: Nothing Compares to State Fair Thrills2016: Nothing Compares to My State Fair2015: Nothing Compares, Fair Tour2014: Nothing Compares, Amazingly Amusing2013: Nothing Compares, Happiness Is2012: Nothing Compares, It's Fairlicious2011: Nothing Compares, 100 Years of the Butter Cow2010: Non Stop Fun2009: State Fair Time2008: U Gotta Love It2007: Sounds Like Fun2006: Only at the Fair2005: America's Favorite Fair...and it's right in your own backyard2004: Still the One2003: One in a Million2002: The Big One2001: It's a Winner!2000: Zero In, August 10-20, 20001999: Knock Yourself Out1998: Way Too Much Fun1997: Go for It1996: Let Yourself Go1995: The Fun and Only1994: The Only Fun of Its Kind1993: The Only Fun of Its Kind1992: The Only Fun of Its Kind1991: Iowa's Blue Ribbon Fun Fest1990: Iowa's Blue Ribbon Fun Fest1989: An Old-Fashioned Good Time1988: An Old-Fashioned Good Time1987: Celebrate an American Classic1986: Come Home to the Iowa State Fair1985: Augustfest!1984: Just See Us Now1983: So Much More To Go For1982: So Much More To Go For1981: So Much More To Go For1980: Celebrate, Iowa1979: Get In Touch With Iowa1978: Take a Closer Look1977: New Horizons1976: Spirit of Iowa'761975: The Colonizers1974: The Discoverers1973: Discover Hawaii1972: Discover Canada1971: Discover Mexico1970: Discover Iowa1969: Our Roaring 20s Heritage1968: Our Gay 90s Heritage1967: Our Pioneer Heritage1966: Our Explorer Heritage1965: Our Indian Heritage
DES MOINES, Iowa —
We still have 345 days until the next Iowa State Fair, but officials are already spreading "fair spirit."
The State Fair announced its 2026 theme on Tuesday: "Fair Spirit."
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Video above: Which records were broken at the 2025 Iowa State Fair?
"Reflecting on 'The Spirit of Iowa ’76,' the 1976 Fair which marked America’s bicentennial, the 2026 celebration will highlight our heritage, honor earlier generations and dream about the innovations that will shape our future," according to a news release. "The Iowa State Fair is a tradition that unites Iowans from each corner of the state, as well as attracting visitors from around the world. Each year, Fairgoers come together to honor Iowa’s tradition of agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement.."
The next Iowa State Fair is scheduled to run from Aug. 13-23, 2026. And if you're planning further ahead, here are the dates for the next three: Aug. 13-23, 2026; Aug. 12-22, 2027; Aug. 10-20, 2028.
Click here for full coverage of the Iowa State Fair.
LIST: Previous Iowa State Fair themes
- 2025: Fair Sweet Fair
- 2024: Fair Fever
- 2023: Best Days Ever
- 2022: Find Your Fun
- 2021: How Do You Fair?
- 2020 (no fair due to pandemic): How Do You Fair?
- 2019: Nothing Compares to State Fair Favorites
- 2018: Nothing Compares to State Fair Moments
- 2017: Nothing Compares to State Fair Thrills
- 2016: Nothing Compares to My State Fair
- 2015: Nothing Compares, Fair Tour
- 2014: Nothing Compares, Amazingly Amusing
- 2013: Nothing Compares, Happiness Is
- 2012: Nothing Compares, It's Fairlicious
- 2011: Nothing Compares, 100 Years of the Butter Cow
- 2010: Non Stop Fun
- 2009: State Fair Time
- 2008: U Gotta Love It
- 2007: Sounds Like Fun
- 2006: Only at the Fair
- 2005: America's Favorite Fair...and it's right in your own backyard
- 2004: Still the One
- 2003: One in a Million
- 2002: The Big One
- 2001: It's a Winner!
- 2000: Zero In, August 10-20, 2000
- 1999: Knock Yourself Out
- 1998: Way Too Much Fun
- 1997: Go for It
- 1996: Let Yourself Go
- 1995: The Fun and Only
- 1994: The Only Fun of Its Kind
- 1993: The Only Fun of Its Kind
- 1992: The Only Fun of Its Kind
- 1991: Iowa's Blue Ribbon Fun Fest
- 1990: Iowa's Blue Ribbon Fun Fest
- 1989: An Old-Fashioned Good Time
- 1988: An Old-Fashioned Good Time
- 1987: Celebrate an American Classic
- 1986: Come Home to the Iowa State Fair
- 1985: Augustfest!
- 1984: Just See Us Now
- 1983: So Much More To Go For
- 1982: So Much More To Go For
- 1981: So Much More To Go For
- 1980: Celebrate, Iowa
- 1979: Get In Touch With Iowa
- 1978: Take a Closer Look
- 1977: New Horizons
- 1976: Spirit of Iowa'76
- 1975: The Colonizers
- 1974: The Discoverers
- 1973: Discover Hawaii
- 1972: Discover Canada
- 1971: Discover Mexico
- 1970: Discover Iowa
- 1969: Our Roaring 20s Heritage
- 1968: Our Gay 90s Heritage
- 1967: Our Pioneer Heritage
- 1966: Our Explorer Heritage
- 1965: Our Indian Heritage