With the 2026 state fair season just around the corner, we’re publishing our 2026 “Top 30 State Fairs” list, now an annual tradition, four years running.

This list is based exclusively on two factors: per day attendance numbers (total 2025 attendance divided by total days open) and their baking competitions (history of past Blue Ribbon Group special contests). Our other criteria? They have to take place the second half of the year, the Blue Ribbon Group official state fair season. In fact, the majority of the best state fairs happen in a three month window: August, September, and October.

The Minnesota State Fair lands in the #1 spot for the fourth year in a row. The Iowa State Fair comes in second. Three fairs leapt two spots each, to land at 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively: Tulsa State Fair, Big E, and North Carolina. With their daily average attendance number, the State Fair of Texas lands in the #6 spot. Wisconsin falls closely, behind Texas. Here is the complete list.

Since 2006, Blue Ribbon Group has managed special recipe contests at large state, county and regional fairs. Find a collection of winning recipes at BlueRibbonGroup.net and featured on BlueRibbonFoodies on Instagram and Facebook.