The Peru Gazette

The Great New York State Fair to Run Wednesday, August 26 Through Labor Day, September 7

Albany, July 6, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that admission and parking passes for The 2026 Great New York State Fair will go on sale Tuesday, July 7, at 9 a.m. Packed with incredible value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment, agricultural exhibits, live demonstrations, and the Chevrolet Music Series. Admission remains free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under, continuing to ensure that The Fair is one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, providing an accessible space for the whole family to get offline and get outside. This year’s Fair will include more programming than ever before, with dozens of live performances and demonstrations, returning fan favorites and exciting new competitions, food and beverages from regional producers including a fresh lineup of vendors in the Taste NY marketplace, daily events in the reimagined Empire Room, and much more to discover. 

“The Great New York State Fair is a time-honored tradition, celebrating our agricultural heritage and a cornerstone of our summers here in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “People shouldn’t have to break the bank to have fun. As of today, tickets for this affordable, family-friendly event that will be packed with old favorites and new attractions are now on sale. New Yorkers – get your tickets today and I’ll see you at The Fair this summer!”

For those fairgoers who have plans to attend The Fair multiple times over the 13-day run, the $25 Frequent Fairgoer option again allows fairgoers to enter The Fair once a day, every day during The Fair. A Frequent Fairgoer ticket is non-transferable and is available exclusively online. Parking for the Fair costs $12. Advance tickets for The Fair’s famous Midway, operated by Wade Shows, will go on sale in the coming weeks. 

There are three ways fairgoers can buy admission tickets and/or parking: online, over the phone, and in-person from August 26 through September 7.

• Online: The link to purchase admission tickets and parking will go live at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at The Great New York State Fair’s website.
• Over the Phone: Starting July 7, tickets and parking may also be purchased over the phone by calling Etix toll-free at 1-800-514-3849 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
• At the Gate: Beginning Wednesday, August 26, kiosks positioned at all gates will be available for electronic ticket purchases. To minimize waiting time for the kiosks, large signs featuring QR codes will also be available at all entrances and in parking lots so fairgoers can use their smartphone to purchase tickets. Reverse ATMs are on site to convert cash into a usable card.

Including fees, the total cost for fairgoers will be:

• Admission: $8.32 per ticket ($8 admission, ticket fee of 14 cents, credit card processing fee of 18 cents)
• Frequent Fairgoer: $25.70 ($25 Frequent Fairgoer pass, ticket fee of 14 cents, credit card processing fee of 56 cents; note that the Frequent Fairgoer passes are available exclusively online)
• Parking: $12.41 per vehicle ($12 parking, ticket fee of 14 cents, credit card processing fee of 27 cents)