Free State Fair of Texas tickets for students can now be used any day through October 18, including the last two weekends.
The fair said Monday that tickets given to pre-K through eighth graders within 100 miles of Fair Park are valid through the final Sunday of the 2026 fair. Those tickets have usually worked on weekdays only. Officials opened them to weekends after early bad weather disrupted family plans and after parents and educators asked for more flexibility.
“We know the weather at the beginning of this year’s Fair impacted plans for many families, and we want to make sure students still have every opportunity to use their free ticket and experience the Fair,” State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber said. He said the change is meant to give families a better shot at finding a day that works.
Due to inclement weather at the beginning of this year's Fair, tickets distributed to students in pre-K through 8th grade within a 100-mile radius of Fair Park will be valid any day of the Fair, including the final two weekends, through Sunday, October 18. In addition to free student admission for pre-K through 8th grade from participating school districts, the State Fair offers a discounted ticket opportunity for parents to receive $5 off admission – available online at https://t.co/1VK9U5s4k3. Learn more here: https://t.co/BYnWEIyCMV
— State Fair of Texas (@StateFairOfTX) October 5, 2026
The tickets come from a long-running partnership with area schools. They cover admission and include the fair’s educational exhibits, cultural programming and family entertainment. Since 2018, the fair has given out nearly 14.2 million free admission tickets to students and teachers across North Texas. This year’s weekend extension applies to tickets already distributed to students in participating districts inside that 100-mile radius of Fair Park in Dallas.
Parents still pay to get in, but the fair is offering $5 off adult admission online at BigTex.com/parents. Other discounts are available online and at the gate, depending on the day. Everyone gets a reduced price after 5 p.m.
The fair, a nonprofit, says its mission is to celebrate Texas through agriculture, education and community involvement. The 2026 fair opened in late September and runs through Sunday, October 18. Officials said 13 days were left when they announced the ticket change on October 5.
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