Fair Dates: July 29 - Aug. 9, 2026

Please check back later for 2026 Ohio State Fair information. The 2026 Ohio State Fair is July 29 - Aug. 9!

2026 admission and parking prices will be added at a later date.

Advance-Sale Admission & Parking (May 1 through July 22):

• Advance-Sale Admission Ticket – $8
• Three-Day Admission Ticket – $20 (limited to one admission scan per day)
• 12-Day Admission Ticket – $75 (limited to one admission scan per day)
• Parking – $10

Admission & Parking beginning on July 23, and on-site:

• Adults (ages 13-59) – $12
• Youth (ages 6-12) – $10
• Senior (ages 60+) – $10
• Children five and under – Free
• Veterans, Military, and First Responders (public police, fire, and emergency services) with appropriate ID – Free
• Parking – $10

2026 admission and parking prices will be added at a later date.

• $37 - Ride-All-Day Wristband
• $33 - Advance-Sale Ride-All-Day Wristband (available through July 22 only)
• Individual Tickets - Fairgoers can buy individual digital tickets on site. All rides require three or more tickets.

• Advance-sale wristbands are available for online purchase pre-fair — Click the buy now button below
• At the Fair, RFID-enabled ride-all-day or reloadable wristbands can be purchased at magic money kiosks with cash or credit card.

Parking

Parking costs $10 per vehicle. Parking will be available to purchase with admission on May 1 or on site upon arrival to the Fair.

Park-and-Ride

Free park-and-ride options will be available each day of the Fair allowing guests to park for free at nearby lots and ride complementary shuttles to and from the fairgrounds.

Fair Hours

• Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., except Sunday, Aug. 9, when admission gates close at 6 p.m. Most buildings and activities close at 6 p.m. All Fair activities are concluded by 9 p.m.

Admission gates open daily at 7 a.m. Please note that most food vendors, activities, entertainment, and buildings do not open until 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends. Fairgoers must exit the grounds by 11 p.m. each day of the Fair, except for the last day of the Fair when the fair closes at 9 p.m.

Midway Ride Hours

Ride Hours
Hours by Day

• Wednesday, July 23: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Thursday, July 24: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. **Sensory-friendly morning (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• Friday, July 25: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Saturday, July 26: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday, July 27: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Monday, July 28: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 29: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 30: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Thursday, July 31: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 1: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 2: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 3: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

The safety of our fairgoers, exhibitors and employees is our top priority. Prior to entry, you will be asked to walk through a metal detector (magnetometer). All patrons, vendors, concessionaires, and exhibitors must wear shirts and shoes while on the property.

Bags
Purses, backpacks, book bags, coolers, strollers, etc. are permitted, but are subject to search. Bag searches may also be conducted for guests entering concerts and events in the WCOL Celeste Center.

Prohibited items
Several items are expressly prohibited at the Ohio State Fair, including: illegal weapons and substances; the use of bicycles in non-parking areas, the possession or use of Segways/hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, mopeds, motorcycles, and other two-wheel vehicles; the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones); pets (other than service animals or animals used as a part of a competition); laser pointers; selfie sticks; glass bottles and containers; and any form of apparel including face masks meant to conceal the wearer’s identity (permitted for religious and health reasons).

Prohibited activities
Roving solicitations, vending, and selling are not permitted except when confined to a contracted booth or space. Picketing, protests, or other demonstrations are not permitted.

Outside food and beverage
You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Glass bottles and containers are not permitted on grounds.

All conditions for admission may be enforced by the Ohio State Fair or the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The Ohio Expositions Commission reserves the right to use photographs and video of any and all individuals taken on grounds for purposes including but not limited to advertising and promotion. The Ohio Expositions Commission may edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish and distribute this photo for purposes as it sees fit. By entering the grounds, I agree that my photo or likeness may be used.

1886 Restaurant
7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Operated by Schmidt's Sausage Haus, the air-conditioned 1886 Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner offering fairgoers a menu of Schmidt’s tried and true staples along with a variety of other items. One cannot live on sausage alone! Fun Fact, Schmidt’s was founded in 1886 and the Ohio State Fair found its permanent home here in 1886, hence the perfect name!

Administration Building (1909)
8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (closes at 5 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)
This building houses many of the Ohio Expo Center staff offices.

The Barnyard
Open all Fair hours, show times available on our daily schedules
This building is home to the free petting zoo and pig races. Check your daily schedule for showtimes. In 2024, this building was called "The Dog House," and hosted canine entertainment activities.

Bricker MarketPlace Building (1966)
10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)
Visit commercial and informational booths offering a variety of novelties, jewelry, demonstration items, home remodelers, state agencies, and attractions, as well as the Food Court and an Ohio beer and wine sales location.

Brown Sheep Building presented by Kubota (1930)
8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)

Cardinal Stage
Show schedules available at ohiostatefair.com/events
Catch a little bit of everything at the brand-new Cardinal Stage, from free live music performances to amazing hypnosis shows.

Central Park
Open all Fair hours
Relax at the center of the Fair.

Taft Coliseum (1917)
Open all Fair hours

Cooper Arena (1965)
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Swing by this building daily for exciting dairy cattle events and judging.

Cox Fine Arts Center (1909)
9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)
Home to one of the largest state fair fine arts exhibitions. Patrons can also purchase artwork from the All Ohio Art Gift Shop from Ohio artists.

Dairy Products Building (1925)
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
See the famous butter cow sculpture, which first appeared at the Ohio State Fair in 1903, while you enjoy your favorite dairy products from Ohio-produced ice cream to the celebrated cheese sandwich.

Fair Flea Market (1888)
10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)
Searching for that perfect vintage item? Look no further; a variety of antique dealers and exhibitors sell jewelry, records, toys, memorabilia, and more at the Fair.

First Aid/EMS Center
9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Medical assistance is provided in this air-conditioned First Aid Center located North of Kasich Hall.

Gazebo Stage
Open all Fair hours
This stage is home to many talented performers, set to provide family-friendly entertainment and music at the heart of the Fair, near Central Park.

Gilligan Livestock Complex (1872 and 1978)
8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (closed on last Sunday of Fair)

Infant Care and Nursing Stations presented by AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio
The Ohio State Fair offers two air-conditioned family care stations, one located in Kiddieland and the other in the Lausche Youth Exploration Space presented by the Ohio Soybean Council, at which parents can change their children’s diapers, and mothers who prefer to breastfeed their children in privacy can do so comfortably. Additional nursing stations are located in Kasich Hall and the Bricker MarketPlace Building.

Kasich Hall (2016)
9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)
The Ohio Expo Center’s newest building opened in July 2016. It now houses the Fair’s Creative Arts and Youth Arts exhibits (Hall B), sporting events, banquets, and other events (Hall A), as well as the permanent Ohio Agriculture Hall of Fame exhibit.

Lausche Youth Exploration Space presented by the Ohio Soybean Council (1965)
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)
Visit the Youth Exploration Space to find many engaging youth-oriented exhibits and activities including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, OSU Physics, COSI + Rocket and Space Zone, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Ohio Department of Higher Education, Tiny Town play area, family fun area, healthy initiatives hub, and much more! This year's theme is space with a focus on aerospace and aviation, as well as healthy initiatives.

Natural Resources Park (1956)
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (times of activities vary)
Enjoy free fishing for kids, kayaking, archery, a butterfly house, and so much more in this beautiful 8-acre park maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Enjoy native Ohio wildlife, a geological walkway, a new nature center, and a tall grass prairie. The outdoor amphitheater hosts free music and entertaining programs, such as the popular lumberjack show, throughout each day of the State Fair.

Ohio Agriculture Center (2026)
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
The brand-new Ohio Agriculture Center takes you on an immersive journey from farm to fork, where hands-on exhibits let you battle weeds with drones, harvest crops as you simulate driving a combine, and discover the science behind modern farming and agriculture. Pull up a seat at the Taste of Ohio Cafe, where real Ohio farmers serve up fresh pork, beef, poultry, dairy, lamb, and more. It's an unforgettable agricultural adventure the whole family can taste, touch, and experience.

Ohio Showcase Building (2026)
10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Step inside the brand-new Ohio Showcase Building and be swept into the story of Ohio through a breathtaking 360-degree film, then explore four immersive exhibit sections celebrating the innovation, people, land, and community that make Ohio extraordinary — including a life-size replica Wright Flyer and touchscreen exhibits highlighting the Buckeye State's most iconic people and inventions. When you're ready to taste Ohio's best, the food hall brings together beloved local chefs and homegrown favorites like Marlow's Cheesesteaks, The Cheesecake Girl, Daisy's Fish Shack, Gabriela Filipina Cantina, Schmidt's, and Bojangles. It's the ultimate celebration of everything Ohio has to offer, all under one roof.

O’Neill Swine Building (1973)
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Quiet Room
The air-conditioned Quiet Room is located in the brand-new Ohio Showcase Building. Look for the Q symbol on the Ohio State Fair map. With sensory items, and comfortable seating, it provides a space for quick sensory relief. Volunteer assistance during the Fair is kindly provided by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and OCALI.

Rabbit and Poultry Pavilion (1905)
8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)

Roosters crow to wake the grounds at this pavilion, home to rabbit, chicken, turkey, and duck exhibits.

Rhodes Center (1956)
Open during scheduled events only

This expansive facility is home to the All-Ohio State Fair Band and the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. The Rhodes Center also hosts the annual 50 Year Club meeting. The 50 Year Club Meeting will be held on Monday, July 31 at 10 a.m. There are also various 4-H judging events held in the Rhodes Center on certain days.

Machinery Social Hall (formerly Taste of Ohio Pavilion) (1905)
10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (closes at 6 p.m. on last Sunday of Fair)

WCOL Celeste Center (1991)
Show schedules available at ohiostatefair.com
Big-name concerts and free shows are a part of the Ohio State Fair Concert Series held in this air-conditioned arena. Concessions are available for purchase, as well as Ohio beer and wine during select concerts.