Guns will once again be off limits at the State Fair of Texas in 2026, as organizers double down on a weapons ban that has already pulled Dallas into a high-stakes legal fight. The restrictions will cover nearly all firearms across Fair Park and reflect a tougher security posture after a 2023 shooting that wounded three people. The 2026 fair is scheduled to run from Sept. 25 through Oct. 18.
What the 2026 rules say
The State Fair’s 2026 exhibitor materials spell the policy out in black and white: attendees, exhibitors and vendors are not allowed to bring firearms, large knives, clubs, ammunition or other weapons onto the grounds, except for elected, appointed or employed peace officers, according to the State Fair of Texas. The handbook adds that signs will be posted at all admission gates and directs readers to the fair’s FAQs for more details.
Where the legal fight stands
In June 2025, a Dallas County judge handed a key win to the City of Dallas and the State Fair by granting summary judgment in their favor and tossing Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit that targeted the gun ban, leaving the prohibition in place for now, KERA News reported. The ruling capped months of legal briefing and followed earlier emergency moves from Paxton’s office.
Appeals and earlier rulings
Before that loss, Paxton tried multiple emergency maneuvers in 2024, asking higher courts to block the policy. Both a state appeals court and the Texas Supreme Court turned him down, with the high court refusing to halt the ban on the eve of the 2024 fair, according to The Dallas Morning News. Hoodline followed the political showdown at City Hall during that period (the early clash).
The shooting that changed the debate
The tougher policy traces back to an Oct. 14, 2023, shooting inside the Tower Building food court that injured three people and forced a broader rethink of fair security, CBS News Texas reported. The gunman later pleaded guilty and, in June 2025, received a 12-year sentence, a development that organizers and some city officials have pointed to while defending the firearms ban.
City defense and legal fees
To fight Paxton’s lawsuits, Dallas hired outside trial counsel. Bloomberg Law reports that prominent litigator Jeff Tillotson agreed to represent the city at about $895 per hour under a discounted rate, well below his usual fee. The arrangement underscores how high-profile and expensive the dispute has become for both the city and fair organizers.
Reaction from gun-rights groups
Gun-rights advocates are not impressed. "The State Fair’s answer to a criminal sneaking in an illegal gun is to disarm law-abiding Texans - turning families into sitting ducks," Chris McNutt of Texas Gun Rights told Texas Scorecard, which has also tracked efforts at the Capitol to curb the fair’s authority.
What fairgoers should know
For anyone planning a corny-dog run in 2026, the fair’s official materials stress that only peace officers are exempt from the weapons ban and that clear notices will be posted at entry gates. Attendees are urged to review the State Fair’s FAQs and guidance before heading to Fair Park, according to the State Fair of Texas. Organizers and city officials say they will keep coordinating security resources and public messaging as opening day approaches.
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