How to Save Money at the Texas State Fair

With the way prices have risen, it makes it easier to splurge a little when you know how to save money at your favorite yearly events, like the 2026 Texas State Fair! This year’s dates are September 25 – October 18, 2026, so clear your calendar!

Admission is free for children 2 and younger. Regular gate admission for adults (13+) is $15 Monday through Thursday and $25 Friday through Sunday. Children ages 3 to 12 are $10 every day, while seniors (60+) pay $13 Monday through Wednesday, $7 Thursday, and $20 Friday through Sunday. Daily tickets purchased online have a $2 ticket fee. Plus, each coupon costs $1. However, there are so many ways to save money! You can pinch a few pennies on admission tickets, food, alcohol, and even rides!

Not to mention, there are free activities, events, and live shows! Keep reading for more about how to save money at the 2026 Texas State Fair!

Don’t forget to check out our guide to the Texas State Fair for a look back at some of our favorite fair foods and activities!

Note: This year, any minor 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone (21+) beginning at 5pm when entering the Fair. One adult can accompany no more than 6 minors at a time.

How to Save Money on Admission Tickets at the 2026 Texas State Fair

Weekday Savings Hacks

$10 Opening Day Peanut Butter Drive – This year’s Opening Day offer was September 25, 2026: bring 2 jars of peanut butter to the gate and receive $10 admission. This offer has ended for 2026.

Mondays through Thursdays, adult gate admission is $15 and children ages 3 to 12 are $10. Seniors (60+) pay $13 Monday through Wednesday and $7 on Thursday.

On Fridays, adult gate admission is $25, children ages 3 to 12 are $10, and seniors (60+) are $20.

Seniors (60+) can enjoy $7 admission at the gate on Thursdays, or $9 online including fees. Be sure to have your ID with you.

After 5pm Monday through Thursday, adult admission is $10 at the gate, saving $5! A $2 ticket fee applies online.

$7 Feed the Need Wednesdays – Bring 5 canned food items per person in support of the North Texas Food Bank on Wednesdays and receive $7 admission at the gate. The donation program ends at 5pm.

Active and retired military members and veterans receive $5 off adult admission any day. Spouses with a valid Military Spouse ID and accompanying children ages 13 to 18 who live in the household also qualify. Bring valid documentation to the gate, or verify online. Online tickets have a $2 ticket fee.

Active and retired first responders receive $5 off adult admission any day. Their spouses and accompanying children ages 13 to 18 who live in the household also qualify. Bring a valid department badge or ID to the gate, or verify online. Online tickets have a $2 ticket fee.

Participating McDonald’s across North Texas offer discount vouchers for $5 off adult admission any day. Check those tray liners and inside your meal bag! Only one coupon per person, and discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

Value Days are every Tuesday and Thursday! Big Tex Insiders can get a promo code for $12 admission online, including ticket fees. Check the official discounts page for the current offer.

Weekend Savings Hacks

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are when you can expect adult Texas State Fair tickets to be the most expensive. Adult gate admission is $25, children ages 3 to 12 are $10, and seniors (60+) are $20. However, there are several ways you can save while still taking advantage of your weekend!

After 5pm Friday through Sunday, adult admission is $20 at the gate, saving $5! A $2 ticket fee applies online.

Active and retired military members and veterans receive $5 off adult admission any day. Spouses with a valid Military Spouse ID and accompanying children ages 13 to 18 who live in the household also qualify. Bring valid documentation to the gate, or verify online. Online tickets have a $2 ticket fee.

Active and retired first responders receive $5 off adult admission any day. Their spouses and accompanying children ages 13 to 18 who live in the household also qualify. Bring a valid department badge or ID to the gate, or verify online. Online tickets have a $2 ticket fee.

Participating McDonald’s across North Texas offer discount vouchers for $5 off adult admission any day. Check those tray liners and inside your meal bag! Only one coupon per person, and discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

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Any-Day Savings Hacks

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Children 2 years old and under receive FREE admission.

Plan out how much time you’ll be spending at the 2026 Texas State Fair and look into a season pass. A digital pass is $52 online, including fees, and covers all 24 days, with one visit per day. A commemorative hard-card pass is $60 at the gate and includes a weekday bring-a-friend ticket and other perks. The digital pass does not include the bring-a-friend ticket or VIP extras, so compare the options before buying.

The season-pass 2-pack combo is no longer available for 2026. Check the current ticket options before planning around a package deal.

Get a FLEX Ticket 2-Pack Combo for $104, including fees, with admission for two, $50 in Food & Midway Coupons, and two rides on the Dentzel Carousel. Each admission ticket is good for any one day of the Fair.
- NOTE: Check the official ticket page for current package availability and prices.

A single 1-Day FLEX Ticket is $27 online, including fees. The FLEX Ticket 4-Pack Combo is $134, including fees, and comes with four admission tickets, $50 in Food & Midway Coupons, and four rides on the Dentzel Carousel. Each admission ticket is good for any one day of the Fair.
- NOTE: Check the official ticket page for current package availability and prices.

Check with your school-age kiddos to see if they received a free ticket! For 2026, tickets distributed to pre-K through 8th-grade students at participating schools within 100 miles of Fair Park are now valid any day through October 18, including the final two weekends. Parents can also get $5 off admission through the Fair’s parent offer.

How to Save Money on Food/Drinks at the 2026 Texas State Fair

Thrifty Thursdays: Participating food vendors discount selected menu items every Thursday during the Texas State Fair, from mini treats to regular-size favorites. Check the official list before you go!

Did you know you’re allowed to bring your own snacks and nonalcoholic drinks into the Texas State Fair? Coolers must be soft-shell and no larger than 9 x 10 x 12 inches; hard-shell coolers are prohibited unless medically necessary. Leave alcohol, glass containers, and metal knives and forks at home. Keep in mind your food, drinks, and cooler will be searched at the gate.

Keep an eye out for beverage samples around the fairgrounds! The Fair lists Corona sampling near Cavalcade of Texas, Shiner sampling near Magnolia Beer Garden, and BeatBox sampling near Trio on the Green. Check each booth’s posted schedule and requirements before planning your stop.

Stop by the GO TEXAN Pavilion for Texas brands and samples, including free chocolate milk. Texas Wine Hour is listed on the daily schedule at 6pm; check the current schedule before heading over.

If you’re planning to attend the Texas State Fair with a group, pool your coupons together and share some of the more expensive, but some of the best, Texas State Fair creations. Not only will you save money, but you’ll be able to try a little bit of everything!

Look for bottled water for 2 coupons across the fairgrounds! Prices vary by vendor, so check the posted price before spending more.

If you stop by the Beer Barn, check its posted menu before spending your coupons. Beer prices vary by vendor, so comparing prices can leave you with a little more to spend on fair food!

Pair a Tuesday or Thursday Value Day ticket with discounted Tuesday rides or Thrifty Thursday food to make your coupons go a little further!

Exterior of Beer Barn — Photo from a previous visit; prices may have changed.

How to Save Money on Rides at the 2026 Texas State Fair

Thrilling Tuesdays: Most Midway rides are discounted to 5 coupons, and kiddie rides are 3 coupons. This excludes the Thrillway and the Texas Star Ferris Wheel.

Free Things to Do at the 2026 Texas State Fair

You can find a detailed map and schedule inside the Texas State Fair Visitor’s Guide.

You can enjoy FREE concerts on the Chevrolet Main Stage with your Texas State Fair admission ticket. For 2026, the Main Stage is inside the Fair Park Coliseum!

Planning to see a game at Cotton Bowl Stadium? You’ll need a separate game ticket. Tickets for the State Fair Classic, Red River Rivalry, and State Fair Clásico also include Fair admission on game day, so don’t buy admission twice! See BigTex.com for the game schedule and stadium bag rules.

There are four live-music stages to explore: the Chevrolet Main Stage, Bud Light Stage, White Claw Spotlight Stage, and the new ZiegenBock Stage at The Old Mill Inn. Performances are included with Fair admission!

At Chevrolet Park Plaza, northeast of the Top o’ Texas Tower and the Midway, you can test drive Chevy’s newest models every day from 10am to 7pm, with no coupons required. Drivers must be 18 or older, have a valid driver’s license, and pass a breathalyzer test; check with the staff for complete requirements.

Across Fair Park, you’ll get to experience live entertainment such as pig races, a stunt dog show, and more! See the full list linked below!

The Oak Farms Dairy Petting Zoo in Little Lone Stars Land and milking demonstrations near Big Tex’s Discovery Farm are great for the kiddos and animal-lovers in your group. Check the schedule linked below for times!

Wander through FREE exhibits like Big Tex Urban Farms, the African American Museum, and the Hall of State, including Mundo Latino’s Día de los Muertos exhibit. These are listed from 10am to 7pm. The Children’s Aquarium and Texas Discovery Gardens charge separate admission, so keep that in mind when planning your budget.

Inside the Creative Arts Building, you can watch chef demonstrations in the Cutco Kitchen daily at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm. Check out the exhibits while you’re there!

You can find the complete event schedule for the Texas State Fair here.

Other Ways to Save Money at the 2026 Texas State Fair

Food & Midway Coupons never expire! So, if you don’t already have a stash at home, keep that in mind for next year’s Texas State Fair and save any extra coupons you bring home. Coupons are $1 each and work for food, drinks, rides, and games. Unused coupons cannot be exchanged for cash.

Withdraw your cash before you enter the State Fair to save money on ATM fees.

Consider taking DART to save money on Lyft/Uber or parking costs. Official State Fair parking is $25 per space. Take the Green Line to Fair Park Station or MLK, Jr. Station, and check DART’s State Fair page for service updates. DART’s GoPass app also has a current code in its Events tab for $5 off a 1-Day State Fair ticket purchased online, with a limit of four tickets per order. The offer runs through October 18, 2026.

If you live ridiculously close to Fair Park, ride your bike! You can lock it up at gates 5, 6, and 11 without having to worry about the additional time and money it takes to park at the Texas State Fair.

Make sure to scour the 2026 Texas State Fair Visitor’s Guide for more details, including maps of the park, full-length schedules, and discounted food items. You can pick one up when you arrive or pull up the digital copy on your phone as you explore.

This will help you make the most of your time at the State Fair rather than wandering aimlessly, especially if you only have the standard, one-day admission ticket.

How to Save Money at the 2026 Texas State Fair: Final Thoughts

Learn how to save money at the 2026 Texas State Fair and enjoy it like a true Texan! Throw aside the belief that the State Fair has to be expensive and take advantage of all it has to offer, including the discounts!

Aside from the memories you’ll take home with you and the non-profits this spectacular event supports, all of the free entertainment and activities for people of every age make the Texas State Fair well worth your time and money. It only happens once a year after all!

Don’t forget to also check out our guide to the Texas State Fair for a look back at some of our favorite fair foods and activities!