Eastern States Exposition is making visible changes ahead of The Big E 2026, and one of them has ended a tradition that lasted nearly two decades.
Opa-Opa Brewing Company, a Massachusetts brewery that had operated at The Big E for almost 20 years, will not return when the fair opens in West Springfield on September 18. The brewery says it was not invited back for 2026, ending a run that made its beer tent a familiar stop for generations of fairgoers.
The decision is bigger than a change in the food and drink lineup. Eastern States Exposition says the brewery’s former location is being affected by a redesign of the western end of the fairgrounds, where work is underway around The Big E Arena.
Opa-Opa Brewing Is Out After Nearly 20 Years at The Big E
Rickie Rizos, whose family owns Opa-Opa Brewing Company, announced that the brewery would not be part of the 2026 fair. According to CT Insider, the family had been preparing for what would have been its 20th year at The Big E.
Opa-Opa became known at the fair for flavored craft beers and its cinnamon sugar rims, an idea that helped the stand develop an identity beyond simply serving another beer on the grounds.
The financial side is significant as well. Rizos told MassLive that the income some businesses generate during roughly two weeks at The Big E can support a family business for much of the year.
For vendors that return every September, The Big E is therefore far more than a seasonal promotional event. More than one million people attend the fair in a typical year, giving small regional businesses access to a concentrated audience that would be difficult to reproduce elsewhere in New England.
Eastern States Exposition Says the Change Is Part of a Larger Redesign
Eastern States Exposition gave a practical reason for Opa-Opa’s departure.
The organization said vendors work under annual contracts and that Opa-Opa was informed on November 5, 2025, that it would not be included in the 2026 fair. The brewery’s former location is being changed to accommodate an entrance for a new venue planned for 2027.
The work is concentrated around the western section of the property near The Big E Arena.
Eastern States Exposition is conducting a multi-year master planning and feasibility process intended to change the layout and operations of parts of the fairgrounds. Opa-Opa appears to be one of the first longstanding fair fixtures directly affected by that work.
The organization has also left open the possibility that the brewery could apply for a different location at a future fair.
The Big E 2026 Runs From September 18 Through October 4
The 2026 edition of The Big E begins Friday, September 18 and runs through Sunday, October 4, giving visitors 17 consecutive days at the West Springfield fairgrounds.
According to the official Big E visitor information, gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Most buildings and Craft Common operate from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and the Avenue of States remains open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
The Avenue of States remains one of the features that separates The Big E from a standard state fair. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine each have their own state building, allowing the event to function as a regional New England fair rather than a celebration of a single state.
That regional format is particularly interesting in 2026, a year when large fairs and state exhibitions have received more attention nationally. NCHStats has also followed the Great American State Fair and the states participating in the America 250 event in Washington.
The Big E Arena Has a Packed 2026 Concert Schedule
The construction plans around The Big E Arena have not reduced the venue’s role in the 2026 fair. In fact, the current concert schedule is one of the strongest parts of this year’s program.
The official Big E Arena lineup includes several generations of major performers.
- Jessie Murph on September 18
- Alice Cooper on September 19
- Roger Daltrey with Amy Helm on September 20
- The Beach Boys on September 24
- Brad Paisley with Hannah Harper on September 25
- deadmau5 on September 26
- All Time Low on September 27
- Twisted Sister featuring Sebastian Bach with Tesla on October 2
- Ice Cube on October 3
- Styx on October 4
Several of those concerts arrive during the opening weekend, giving Eastern States Exposition a busy start to the fair. Jessie Murph performs on opening night, followed by Alice Cooper and Roger Daltrey during the first weekend.
Concert tickets for paid Arena performances include admission to The Big E, according to the fair.
Food, Agriculture and the Avenue of States Still Form the Core of the Fair
The headline concerts attract attention, but The Big E remains deeply tied to agriculture and the six New England states.
Farm-A-Rama, livestock exhibitions, agricultural competitions, Storrowton Village Museum and the Avenue of States continue alongside the Midway, food stands and entertainment stages.
Visitors will also find the International Plaza’s Dingle Peninsula Showcase, which focuses on Ireland, and the Mardi Gras parade that travels through the grounds.
The combination explains why a vendor change such as Opa-Opa’s departure attracts more attention here than it would at a conventional festival. People build routines around The Big E. The same buildings, food stands and family-run businesses become part of an annual September trip.
The 2026 Fair Could Be the Beginning of a More Noticeable Transformation
Opa-Opa’s removal gives visitors an early example of how Eastern States Exposition’s long-term redevelopment plans could change familiar parts of the property.
The new venue entrance is not scheduled to arrive until 2027, but preparations are already affecting the 2026 layout. More changes could follow as the organization moves further into its master planning process.
For visitors heading to West Springfield this September, The Big E will still contain most of the traditions associated with the event. The six state buildings remain. The Midway returns. Agricultural shows continue. A large concert schedule is already set.
At the same time, the fairgrounds are starting to change around them.
The departure of a vendor that had been present for almost 20 years is a small change when measured against the entire Eastern States Exposition property. For longtime visitors, however, it is also a clear sign that the organization is preparing a different version of The Big E for the years ahead.
