Illinois Native Bailey Zimmerman Headlines Ag Day Concert

A native of downstate Illinois will return to the Land of Lincoln to headline the 2026 Illinois State Fair Grandstand for the Ag Day concert.

Homegrown Star Returns to Illinois Stage

Illinois country music fans are getting a hometown celebration next summer as multi-platinum artist Bailey Zimmerman headlines the Illinois Lottery Grandstand stage during the 2026 Illinois State Fair.

The Louisville, Illinois native will perform on Ag Day, Friday, August 14, which is sure to set records for attendance this summer.

BZ's rapid rise from posting songs on TikTok in 2020 to selling out venues nationwide has made him one of country's most authentic and powerful new voices. Now, Illinois fairgoers will see that energy firsthand under the lights in Springfield.

Chart-Topping Momentum

Zimmerman rocketed to fame with "Fall in Love," becoming the fastest debut country artist in more than a decade to hit number 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart. The 4x Platinum smash was followed by the 5x Platinum "Rock and a Hard Place," which held the top spot for six weeks.

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His sophomore album, Different Night Same Rodeo, continues the momentum, featuring collaborations with Luke Combs and The Kid LAROI, and earned nominations for the ACM Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards, while appearing on major national TV stages.

What Fans Need to Know

Tickets for Bailey Zimmerman at the Illinois State Fair will go on sale Friday, February 13 at 10 am through Ticketmaster. Prices range from $55 to $130, with a $30 pre-show party upgrade available.

The Illinois State Fair runs from August 13 to 23, 2026, with more details about tickets available HERE.

Check Out the Best-Selling Album From the Year You Graduated High School

Do you remember the top album from the year you graduated high school? Stacker analyzed Billboard data to determine just that, looking at the best-selling album from every year going all the way back to 1956. Sales data is included only from 1992 onward when Nielsen's SoundScan began gathering computerized figures.

Going in chronological order from 1956 to 2020, we present the best-selling album from the year you graduated high school.

Gallery Credit: Jacob Osborn