Alaska State Fair 2026: Dates, Concerts, Parking & Giant Cabbages
The Alaska State Fair is the biggest end-of-summer event in the state — a 12-day run of giant vegetables, national-headliner concerts, fair food, livestock barns, and a full carnival, set against the mountains of the Mat-Su Valley. Here is everything you need to plan a visit in 2026.
When and where
The 2026 fair runs August 21 through September 7 in Palmer, about 45 minutes north of Anchorage at the Alaska State Fairgrounds (2075 Glenn Highway). Gates are generally open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Note that the fair is closed on two mid-week pairs of days — Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25–26 and September 1–2 — so plan around those if you are making the drive.
Getting there and parking
Almost everyone arrives via the Glenn Highway from Anchorage or Wasilla. On weekends and concert nights the traffic and the lots fill early, so come earlier than you think you need to, carpool if you can, and expect a walk from general parking. Weekdays are noticeably calmer.
The 2026 concert series
The fair books more than a dozen national acts at the Borealis Theatre. The 2026 lineup includes CAKE, Megadeth, AJR, The Beach Boys, deadmau5, Modest Mouse, and Lyle Lovett, among others. One important heads-up: a concert ticket does not automatically include fair admission — if you want to make a full day of it, buy the "with fair admission" bundle. See the State Fair hub for the full lineup and ticket links.
The giant vegetables
The fair is world-famous for produce the size of furniture. The signature events are the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off (Friday, September 4 at 6 p.m.) and the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off (Monday, August 31 at 2 p.m.), both included with admission. Why do things get so big here? The Mat-Su Valley bakes under 19-plus hours of midsummer daylight, and combined with rich glacial soil, crops just keep packing on weight — the Alaska record cabbage tops 138 pounds. More on that in our piece on how the cabbages top 100 pounds.
Fair food
Come hungry. The Palmer cream puffs have a genuine cult following (and lines to match — get one early), and the grounds are packed with reindeer sausage, fresh Alaska seafood, funnel cakes, and deep-fried everything. Our guide to what to eat at the Alaska State Fair has the must-tries.
Beyond the midway
There is far more than rides: the lumberjack show, 4-H and livestock barns, a demolition derby and monster trucks, an archery demo, a petting zoo, and a huge slate of competitive exhibits. It is an easy full day, and it spans Labor Day weekend — the unofficial close of Alaska summer.
Plan your visit
Start with the Alaska State Fair hub for the schedule and tickets, browse other events in Palmer, and see what else is on around Southcentral Alaska.