Guide · Arizona State Fair

October 1 to November 1, 2026.
Thursday through Sunday.
Gates open at noon.

The Arizona State Fair runs four days a week through October at the State Fairgrounds on McDowell Road in central Phoenix. The fair's own history page dates it to 1884.

Doug Palmer, AZ REALTOR® · My Home Group Real Estate · Published 21 October 2026

The calendar

The dates, newest first

November 1, 2026: the last day.The 2026 run ends on a Sunday. Next year's dates are not announced yet.
October 24, 2026: Public Enemy.The last show on the fair's Coliseum Concert Series list, 7pm at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Every seat is reserved and includes fair admission. Coliseum Concert Series
October 1 to November 1, 2026: open Thursday through Sunday.Gates open at noon. Last entry is 9pm Thursdays and Sundays, 10pm Fridays and Saturdays. There is no fixed closing time: the fair stays open based on crowd size and event activity, and the carnival ends when the lights on the La Grande XL Wheel go dark. Fair hours

Building hours: the barns close at 9pm. The North and South Coliseum Halls, the Fair Marketplace and the Hangout close at 10pm.

Tickets and parking

What it costs at the gate

Adult, 13 and up

$20

Taxes and fees included.

Child 5 to 12 / Senior 62 and up

$12 / $14

Age 4 and under is free every day, no ticket needed.

Parking, per vehicle

$20

North and West lots. Oversized $45, VIP $62.74. Lots open at 10am, two hours before the gates.

Military and first responders: $12 admission, on site only with ID, for the cardholder plus one guest. Active or retired military, fire, police, EMTs, paramedics and 911 dispatchers qualify.

The deals

Where the fair itself discounts

5-5-5, Thursdays and Fridays before 5pm.$5 admission and $5 games. On site only.
Feel Good Fridays, noon to 7pm.Bring eight cans of nonperishable food to the gate for one free admission. Donations go to St. Mary's Food Bank and Operation Santa Claus.
$5 Foodie Fridays, noon to 6pm.Participating food stands serve $5 tasting portions every Friday in October. October 23 and 30 remain.
Unlimited ride wristband, Thursdays and Sundays.$60 with taxes and fees, unlimited rides until 9pm and two free games. Buy and redeem by 7pm. The Sling Shot is not included. All deals

Getting there

Parking, the shuttle and the roads

Address.Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
From the East Valley.I-10 west to exit 143C, 19th Avenue, then north on 19th Avenue. From the North Valley, I-17 to exit 197, then north on 19th Avenue. From the West Valley, I-10 east to exit 142, 27th Avenue, north to Thomas Road, east to 19th Avenue, then south.
The lots.The North Lot is entered from 19th Avenue at Monte Vista or Encanto. The West Lot sits between 19th and 20th Avenues, entered off Encanto. VIP parking enters off Encanto, east of 19th Avenue.
Free shuttle from Phoenix College.Park at the Phoenix College West Lot, 1202 W. Thomas Road. Shuttles run Fridays 5pm to 10pm and Saturdays and Sundays noon to 11pm. There is no Thursday shuttle.
Rideshare.Pick-up and drop-off is at the southwest corner of the West Lot. Drivers enter at 19th Avenue and Encanto.
McDowell after dark.McDowell Road is closed between 15th and 19th Avenues after 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Directions and parking

Before you go

The rules at the gate

Bags.12 by 12 inches or smaller. Medical and diaper bags are exempt from the size limit. Every bag is screened.
Food and water.No outside food, drinks or alcohol. One factory-sealed water bottle per person and empty refillable bottles are allowed, with free refill stations on the grounds.
Animals.Service animals as the ADA defines them are welcome, but not on carnival rides. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed unless fair management authorizes them.
Lost and found.Guest Services, at the southwest corner of Veterans Memorial Coliseum and inside the Fair Marketplace. Know before you go

The fair is in central Phoenix

If living close to downtown and the fairgrounds matters to you, I can walk you through the central Phoenix neighborhoods and what is on the market there.

Text me 480-485-4261

Sources

Checked 21 October 2026, all from the Arizona State Fair's own site. Dates, gate, building and lot hours, and admission: Fair hours and the home page. Admission, parking prices, bags, food and water, animals and lost and found: Know before you go. Lots, oversized and VIP parking, the Phoenix College shuttle, rideshare, driving directions and the McDowell closure: Directions and parking. Deals, shuttle hours, the free admission age and the military and first responder rate: Deals and promotions. Concert: Coliseum Concert Series. 1884: History. The hours page lists free admission as under 4; the FAQ and deals pages both say 4 and under, and this page follows those two.

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