Minnesota State Fair 2026 Attendance Sets Two Records

The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing! The great Minnesota get-together officially kicked off on Thursday (August 27th) and while it is always a signal that summer is coming to an end, it does help ease the transition a bit.

It was a record-breaking start to the huge event! On Thursday, an all-time opening day attendance record was broken. 155,185 people attended opening day. That is a pretty brave thing to do, considering the crowds. Ha!

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That was not only a record-breaker for opening day of 2026, but it wasn't even close. The last all-time first day attendance record was broken in 2024, when 138,875 attended the event on opener.

That got me thinking - will we break an all-time attendance record for 2026? We are off to a pretty good start so I decided to look at some weekend numbers to see how things shook out.

More Records Broken Opening Weekend Of The 2026 Minnesota State Fair

It looks like we might really do it, at least if things continue on the track they are on now! On Friday (August 28th), the second day of the fair, another record was broken going into the weekend.

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About 204,065 people walked through the doors, which absolutely smashed the all-time attendance record for the first Friday of the event, which saw 171,233 visitors back in 2024. It's even more impressive considering last year only 153,988 went. Things are off to a HUGE start.

We didn't break any attendance records on Saturday (August 29th) but massive, record-breaking attendance for the first few days of the fair is definitely promising. How fun would it be to break an attendance record?

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The all-time attendance record was set in 2019 when 2,126,551 Minnesotans (and beyond) went to the fair. We will see how things shake out leading into the rest of the event.

There's lots of time left but things look good where they stand now! I am hungry now. I can't wait to go later this week.

38+ Foods On a Stick You Can Get at the Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair is fast approaching! Plan out your trip and take a look at the foods on a stick that you can find at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

Gallery Credit: Carly Ross

Items People Are Prohibited From Bringing Into The 2026 Minnesota State Fair

The 2026 Minnesota State Fair is nearly here, with the "Great Minnesota Get-Together" running Thursday, Aug. 27, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. If recent years are any indication, the fairgrounds are about to get very busy.

Last year's fair drew 1,940,869 people across its 12-day run — the fifth-highest attendance in the event's history — and it was once again voted the best state fair in America by USA Today readers.

Before you go, the list below is items that will not be allowed into any part of the fairgrounds, as well as additional items that, while they may be allowed into the fairgrounds, are forbidden in the Grandstand for the concerts and events.

Gallery Credit: David Drew

Source: Minnesota State Fair Smashes 2 Attendance Records To Start 2026