If your idea of Sacramento summer is the smell of fried dough and the scream of coaster riders at Cal Expo, this is your last July to lean in.
Today, tickets went on sale for what organizers are billing as the California State Fair’s final midsummer run, set for July 17 through Aug. 2. The 17-day event at Cal Expo will feature rides, competitive exhibits, free-admission concerts in the Toyota Concert Series and the usual calorie-heavy fair-food lineup. Starting in 2027, the fair will permanently shift to a fall schedule.
Single-day tickets and Family Fun Packs are available now through the fair’s official ticketing partner, Etix, and advance prices start at $10, the California State Fair admissions page shows. According to the California State Fair admissions page, advanced adult admission is $16, advanced child tickets (ages 5–12) are $10, advanced senior admission (62+) is $12, and children ages 4 and under are free. The admissions page also notes that discounted advance tickets will be sold at participating Save Mart locations.
Why the Fair Is Switching Seasons
The California Exposition & State Fair board voted to move the event to the fall beginning in 2027, with the first autumn run scheduled for Sept. 17 through Oct. 3, citing rising summer temperatures and a push to improve conditions for guests, vendors and staff. In a statement, Tom Martinez, CEO of California Exposition & State Fair, said, “With rising summer temperatures, shifting to the fall season allows us to create a more pleasant environment while maintaining the traditions Californians love,” per CapRadio.
What It Means for Visitors and Vendors
Organizers pointed to an attendance bump after unusually mild weather in 2025 and to recurring triple-digit heat days as key reasons for the switch. Local coverage noted an 8% attendance increase and meteorologists’ comparisons of typical mid-July versus mid-September highs. KCRA reported that officials also weighed vendor and 4-H concerns about working animals and staff in extreme heat as part of their decision. Fair leadership says the fall timeline opens the door to more harvest-focused exhibits and generally easier operating conditions.
How to Buy and Plan Your Trip
Tickets can be purchased through Etix via the fair’s website. The admissions page lists Family Fun Packs and reserved concert seating, with reserved Toyota Concert Series seats starting at about $40, while noting that the concert series itself is free with fair admission.
For confirmation of the ticket launch date, ABC10 reported that tickets would go on sale today.
Whether you are plotting one last scorching July pilgrimage to Cal Expo or planning to test-drive the cooler fall version in 2027, the calendar shift is locked in: the 2026 fair will be the final one in mid-July. Organizers say more programming and vendor details will roll out in the coming months.
