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Updated Sept. 4, 2026.
The Nebraska State Fair enters its final weekend in Grand Island before closing Labor Day, Sept. 7. Parking remains free, and Home Free, Shinedown, HARDY and Fiesta Latina are still ahead.
By Hola Nebraska
GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska — The 2026 Nebraska State Fair enters its final weekend Friday, Sept. 4, with four days of events remaining before the fair closes on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Regular admission is $12 for adults ages 13 through 59 and $6 for youth ages 6 through 12 and adults age 60 or older. Children age 5 and younger enter free.
Friday also brings the Lunch Bunch promotion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors who purchase full-price admission on-site during that period receive a food voucher equal to the price of the admission purchased.
The remaining entertainment schedule includes Home Free on Friday, Shinedown on Saturday, Fiesta Latina and HARDY on Sunday, and the Nebraska Demolition Derby Championship on Monday.
Parking at the fairgrounds remains free throughout the final four days, and free shuttle service continues from Sam’s Club in Grand Island.
Nebraska State Fair 2026: final four days
- Dates remaining: Friday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 7.
- Location: Nebraska State Fairgrounds, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, Grand Island.
- Adult admission: $12 for ages 13–59.
- Youth admission: $6 for ages 6–12.
- Senior admission: $6 for ages 60 and older.
- Children age 5 and younger: Free.
- Parking: Free.
- Off-site shuttle: Free from Sam’s Club.
- Gates: Open at 7 a.m. daily.
- Fair office: 308-382-1620.
- Box office: 308-384-0151.
Friday offers Lunch Bunch and a Home Free concert
The Lunch Bunch promotion runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.
Visitors who buy a full-price gate admission ticket on-site during those four hours receive a food voucher equal to the admission price they paid.
Home Free will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at TD Landing. The all-vocal country group does not require a separate concert ticket; the performance is included with regular gate admission.
Friday through Sunday carnival wristbands cost $42 in addition to fair admission.
Shinedown and Ranch Rodeo are scheduled Saturday
Saturday, Sept. 5, includes two major ticketed events.
The Ranch Rodeo begins at 5:30 p.m. at the US Foods Outdoor Arena. General admission is listed at $20, while VIP admission is $40 before applicable fees. Children age 5 and younger enter the rodeo free.
Shinedown will perform with Dexter and the Moonrocks at 7:30 p.m. at TD Landing.
Current base prices are $95 for general admission and $105 for pit admission, before applicable online fees. The VIP area is sold out.
Tickets for ticketed events purchased before entering the State Fair include fair gate admission for the same date.
Fiesta Latina and HARDY take place Sunday, Sept. 6
Sunday will bring Fiesta Latina: Celebrating Our Raíces to the fairgrounds with music, folkloric dance, a car display, a parade and performances on multiple stages.
Activities begin at 10 a.m., and the Fiesta Latina Celebration Parade is scheduled for 2 p.m..
512: The Selena Experience will perform twice at the Pump & Pantry Party Pit, with shows scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m..
Other scheduled performers include the Hispanic Arts Center of Omaha, Mariachi Los Caballeros, Raíces de Mi Pueblo, Grupo Folklórico Sangre Azteca and Grupo Folklórico Belleza de Nuestra Tierra.
Fiesta Latina entertainment is included with regular Nebraska State Fair admission.
Related: Hola Nebraska’s complete Fiesta Latina schedule includes the parade, Selena tribute performances and stage times for Sunday.
HARDY will close the Nebraska Lottery Concert Series Sunday night with special guest McCoy Moore. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at TD Landing.
Current base prices are $87 for general admission and $97 for pit admission, plus applicable fees. The VIP area is sold out.
Veterans and active-duty military enter free on Labor Day
The Nebraska State Fair closes Monday, Sept. 7.
Veterans and active-duty military personnel can receive free gate admission Monday with qualifying identification.
Other visitors continue to pay regular gate prices: $12 for adults ages 13 through 59, $6 for youth ages 6 through 12 and adults age 60 or older, and free admission for children age 5 and younger.
The Nebraska Demolition Derby Championship begins at 2 p.m. Monday at the Motorsports Park.
Ticket prices are $30 for adults, $16 for youth ages 6 through 12 and $41 for pit access, before applicable fees. Children age 5 and younger enter free.
Advance event tickets include State Fair admission for the same day when purchased before entering the fairgrounds.
Carnival rides will also cost one credit each from 5 to 7 p.m. during the Labor Day Last Blast promotion.
Free parking remains available through Sept. 7
The Nebraska State Fair does not charge visitors to park in its designated public parking areas.
Main parking is available on the west side of the fairgrounds near South Locust Street and State Fair Boulevard. Additional parking is available east of the grounds near Fonner Park Road and Stuhr Road.
Accessible parking is also available in designated areas.
Visitors can also park at Sam’s Club, 1510 N. Diers Ave., and use the free State Fair shuttle.
Shuttle buses leave Sam’s Club at the top of each hour beginning at 9 a.m. Service normally continues into the evening and runs later on concert nights. Shuttle operations end earlier on Labor Day.
Fair gates open at 7 a.m. each day
Nebraska State Fair gates open at 7 a.m. daily. Vendor and entertainment buildings generally begin operating at 9 a.m.
The Nebraska Building will remain open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.
Visitors who leave the fairgrounds and plan to return later the same day need a hand stamp before exiting. A general-admission ticket cannot be scanned a second time for reentry.
Current admission prices, carnival rates and discount information are available through the Nebraska State Fair pricing guide.
The Nebraska State Fair closes Monday, Sept. 7
The 2026 Nebraska State Fair continues through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Grand Island.
The fair office can be reached at 308-382-1620. Ticket questions can be directed to the box office at 308-384-0151.
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