America’s best state fair was just named, and it’s open right now

The ranking compared major state fairs using visitor reviews, ticket prices, Google searches, and social media popularity.

State fair season is already winding down in parts of the country, but the fair named the best in America has only just begun.

A new study from ACE.com ranked major state fairs using five factors: average monthly Google searches, visitor ratings, ticket prices, and the number of posts associated with each fair’s hashtags on TikTok and Instagram. Higher search, social media, and review numbers helped a fair, while less expensive admission improved its score.

That means this is largely a ranking of popularity, online attention, and value, rather than a definitive verdict on the experience itself. A smaller fair can be excellent without generating hundreds of thousands of Instagram posts.

But as a Wisconsin resident, I was happy to see the Wisconsin State Fair make the top 10, although I’m not entirely convinced Instagram hashtags are the best way to settle a Minnesota-versus-Wisconsin state fair debate.

Here are the 10 state fairs that came out on top.

10. Kansas State Fair

The Kansas State Fair may not generate the same search and social media numbers as Minnesota or Iowa, but it earned a 4.5 visitor rating and had the lowest admission price in the study. Advance tickets cost $7, while admission increases to $10 once the fair begins.

Held in Hutchinson, the 2026 Kansas State Fair runs from September 11 through 20. Visitors will find concerts, livestock competitions, carnival rides, and longtime attractions such as Ye Old Mill, the State Fair Railroad, and the Giant Slide.

9. Indiana State Fair

The Indiana State Fair received a 4.4 visitor rating and generated more than 67,000 posts across TikTok and Instagram. The 2026 event ran from August 7 through 23 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Its free entertainment is a particularly good value. Concerts on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage are included with admission, along with attractions such as the new air-conditioned Big Top Circus introduced this year.

8. Illinois State Fair

The Illinois State Fair in Springfield placed eighth with a 4.6 visitor rating, tying Wisconsin and Iowa for the second-highest rating among the top 10. Admission was also among the least expensive in the ranking at $10.

This year’s fair ran from August 13 through 23, with livestock competitions, concerts, tractor pulls, a rodeo, and a demolition derby filling the schedule. The fairgrounds are also home to the famous 500-pound butter cow, which is sculpted inside a refrigerated display case.

7. Ohio State Fair

The Ohio State Fair attracted about 49,500 monthly searches and earned a 4.4 visitor rating. Its $9 advance ticket price also made it one of the more affordable fairs included in the study.

Held in Columbus from July 29 through August 9 this year, the fair included rides, livestock shows, concerts, and a newly renovated food hall featuring Ohio businesses. The long-running butter cow display remains one of its best-known traditions.

6. Wisconsin State Fair

Wisconsin placed sixth with a 4.6 visitor rating and approximately 49,500 monthly Google searches. Its Instagram and TikTok numbers were lower than several fairs ranked above it, which may have prevented it from climbing higher.

The Wisconsin State Fair celebrated its 175th anniversary in West Allis this August. More than 100 new foods are typically introduced each year, but the Original Cream Puff remains the fair’s signature treat and has been served there since 1924.

5. Washington State Fair

The Washington State Fair earned fifth place with 74,000 monthly searches, a 4.3 visitor rating, and a $15 ticket price in the study. It also attracted more than 58,000 posts across Instagram and TikTok.

Located in Puyallup, the fair is known for its scones, grandstand concerts, livestock exhibits, and a large midway. Unlike many fairs on this list, it runs well into September, making it one of the remaining opportunities to attend a major state fair this year.

4. North Carolina State Fair

The North Carolina State Fair received a 4.4 visitor rating and had one of the least expensive tickets in the top 10. Advance adult admission for the 2026 fair is $10, while tickets purchased during the event cost $13.

The fair runs from October 15 through 25 in Raleigh. In addition to rides and aggressively deep-fried food, visitors can see thousands of animals, agricultural competitions, and the Village of Yesteryear, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with more than 100 artists and traditional craftspeople.

3. Florida State Fair

The Florida State Fair tied Minnesota for the highest Google search volume in the study, averaging 90,500 searches per month. Its lower visitor rating and social media totals left it in third place overall.

Held each February in Tampa, the fair features more than 90 rides, livestock exhibits, entertainment, and Cracker Country. The living history museum contains 13 original Florida buildings dating from 1870 to 1912.

2. Iowa State Fair

The Iowa State Fair came close to taking first place. It received a 4.6 visitor rating, generated nearly 142,000 posts across Instagram and TikTok, and charged just $11 for admission in the study.

More than 1 million people attend the Des Moines fair in a typical year. The Butter Cow is one of its most recognizable attractions, while the extensive food lineup includes dozens of items served on sticks.

1. Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair claimed the top spot after earning the highest visitor rating in the top 10 at 4.7. It also dominated social media, with more than 319,000 Instagram posts and 25,000 TikTok posts associated with its hashtag.

The fair opened August 27 and continues through Labor Day, September 7. Regular adult admission costs $20, but that has not slowed attendance: nearly 2 million people visited in 2025.

This year’s attractions include a 230-foot observation wheel, a renovated Coliseum, and plenty of classic fair food. Sweet Martha’s cookies, cheese curds, Pronto Pups, and roasted corn are among the foods most closely associated with the event.

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