Minnesota State Fair Adds 36 New Foods and 9 Vendors for 2026 Run

Q: How does the State Fair fund massive upgrades without raising ticket prices?

The Minnesota State Fair pays for major upgrades without raising general admission prices by relying on a self-supporting business model and project-specific fundraising rather than depending solely on ticket revenue. Fair officials have kept 2026 admission and parking prices unchanged even as the board approved more than $67 million in improvements. That is possible because the fair draws money from multiple sources: ticket sales, vendor fees and revenue-sharing, year-round facility rentals, corporate sponsorships, and special events tied to the fairgrounds. With attendance typically near 2 million, those non-ticket streams are substantial. For the biggest capital projects, the fair also uses targeted fundraising. The clearest example is the renovation of the historic 4-H Building, where a $35 million campaign has drawn major private gifts, including a $10 million donation from Kathy and Jim Cargill, along with support from other donors and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Proceeds from some fair-branded merchandise also help support foundation work. The fair is also phasing construction over multiple years, which spreads costs. Its $22 million investment in the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum is being carried out across 2025 and 2026, while the 4-H renovation is aimed for completion in 2027. In short, the fair avoids a ticket-price hike by combining steady operating income, sponsorships, private philanthropy, and multi-year capital planning.

3 articles · Updated · KSTP · Jul 9

Thirty-six new food and drink items and nine new vendors will join the 2026 Minnesota State Fair lineup when the event opens Aug. 27.
New offerings include Pickle Pie at LuLu’s Public House, a Surf ‘N’ Turf Burger at Cafe Caribe and a Hmong Corndog at Union Hmong Kitchen.
Dockside Poppers at Summer Lakes Boat House is among the new vendors and will open in a new building featuring daily live entertainment.
Some items will be sold only for part of the fair, including Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries from Aug. 27-Sept. 1 and Midtown Global Market’s El Taco Torro from Sept. 2-7.
The 2026 fair runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 7, with organizers also releasing a map of the new food and vendor locations.