The Maryland State Fair is back in Timonium, and the 2026 edition is spread across three weekends instead of running as one long continuous event.
The fair opened on August 27 and continues through August 30, then returns September 3 through September 7, before finishing with a final weekend from September 10 through September 13.
The fairgrounds are located at 2200 York Road in Lutherville-Timonium.
The official Maryland State Fair website lists the full 2026 calendar and daily schedules.
The format gives visitors more flexibility, but it also means the experience changes from weekend to weekend. Horse racing is concentrated in the first two weekends, the biggest concerts arrive during the final weekend, and livestock competitions are spread across the full run.
When the Maryland State Fair Is Open?
Fair gates open at 5 p.m. on Thursdays and at 9 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Monday. The gates close at 9 p.m., and no new admissions are allowed after that time.
Carnival rides begin at 5 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. on the other fair days, then continue until closing. Most exhibition buildings operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on full fair days, with the Exhibition Hall remaining open until 9 p.m.
The complete hours are published in the fair’s visitor FAQ.
| Weekend | Dates |
|---|---|
| Weekend 1 | August 27 to August 30 |
| Weekend 2 | September 3 to September 7 |
| Weekend 3 | September 10 to September 13 |
Admission Starts at $15 for Adults
Gate admission costs $15 for adults ages 12 to 61, $12 for visitors 62 and older, and $10 for children ages 6 to 11. Children age 5 and younger enter free.
Advance online tickets were available at lower prices before opening day, but regular gate pricing now applies.
College students get a separate Thursday deal. A valid college ID brings admission down to $8 on August 27, September 3 and September 10, with a $26 unlimited-ride wristband also available. Other promotions are listed on the fair’s 2026 deals page.
Livestock and Agriculture Are Still at the Center of the Fair
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The rides get plenty of attention, but agriculture remains the reason the Maryland State Fair exists.
4-H and FFA exhibitors are showing beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry and horses throughout the fair. On August 28 alone, the official schedule includes a poultry show, beef showmanship, sheep showmanship, a meat goat show and a market swine show.
The fair also operates educational farm areas where visitors can see animals up close and learn how Maryland farms raise livestock and produce food. The full 2026 livestock and exhibitor schedule runs for dozens of pages, so families interested in a particular animal should check the date before arriving.
Maryland itself has more than 6.2 million residents, but agriculture remains a major part of the state outside its largest population centers. Our Maryland population profile shows just how different the state’s rural counties are from Baltimore and the Washington suburbs.
Horse Racing Returns for Seven Days
Thoroughbred racing is one of the more unusual parts of the Maryland State Fair because visitors can watch live races without buying a separate event ticket.
The fair has scheduled seven days of racing for August 28 through August 30 and September 4 through September 7. Post time is noon each race day.
Races take place on the fairgrounds’ five-eighths-mile track, and spectators can watch from the grandstand. The Off-Track Betting facility is also open for wagering. The fair includes horse racing in its free entertainment schedule.
Two Nights of Bull Riding Are Included With Admission
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The Battle of the Beast Rodeo returns with two evening shows, one on August 27 and another on September 10.
Both start at 7:30 p.m. and are included with regular fair admission. The competition brings together 25 International Bull Riders Association riders, along with cowgirl barrel racing. J Bar W Ranch is producing the event.
Concerts Take Over the Final Weekend
The largest ticketed music events are saved for the closing weekend.
Congress The Band performs September 11 at 7 p.m., with general admission lawn tickets priced at $25. CLUTCH follows on September 12 with JD Pinkus, with lawn tickets priced at $50.
September 13 shifts toward families and younger audiences. WTMD Morning Tunes is presenting a Pop Princesses Show at 11:30 a.m. followed by a K-Pop Dance Party at 2:30 p.m.
Concert tickets include fair admission, and visitors can bring their own blanket or lawn chair. Prices and show times are available through the M&T Bank Concert Series schedule.
There Is Plenty Going on Without an Extra Ticket
Some of the better family attractions are included with admission.
The 2026 lineup includes an otter show, Swifty Swine racing pigs, Dinosaur Encounter, miniature golf, strolling performers and Kardenni the Magician. Pig races are scheduled several times each full fair day, and the otter show runs at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays and Labor Day.
Latino Day is scheduled for September 6, with entertainment running from 11 a.m. until closing.
Bottom Line
The 2026 Maryland State Fair runs through September 13 with carnival rides, livestock competitions, seven days of horse racing, two nights of bull riding, concerts, food vendors and family entertainment. Admission starts at $15 for adults, and many of the major attractions are already included in the gate price.
