New Foods, Cream Puffs and Concerts Await at 2026 Wisconsin State Fair

The Wisconsin State Fair is kicking off on August 6, and it will be packed with new things for Illinois families to see, do, and devour.

mstroz

End of Summer To-Do List

We have officially reached the point of summer when the countdown of “things we have to do before school starts" begins.

My kids have made an end-of-summer wish list that includes pool days, play dates and overnights with friends, trips to the lake, and of course many fairs and festivals.

READ MORE: Culver's Fave Lands On National Fast-Food Bucket List

For many families in Northern Illinois, heading north to the Wisconsin State Fair is a must do every summer, and the good news is... the wait is almost over!

2026 Wisconsin State Fair

The 2026 Wisconsin State Fair returns to West Allis from August 6 through August 16 and this year the fair is celebrating 175 years of family fun.

Truth be told, the food alone is worth the drive to the Wisconsin State Fair.

Every year I’m amazed by the things people figure out how to put on a stick, deep fry, cover in cheese, or turn into a dessert, and this year will be no exception.

Some of the wild new food dishes coming to the State Fair in 2026 include:

• Al Pastor Pizza topped with marinated pork and pineapple.
• A Bayou Crunch Cup featuring crispy fries, Cajun slaw and alligator nuggets.
• Egg Roll A-La-Mode that combines breakfast ingredients with Wisconsin frozen custard.
• Bloody Mary Mac Daddy which is a mac and cheese creation with Bloody Mary-inspired toppings.
• Caramel Apple Cheese Curd Taco which is sliced Granny apples, fried white cheddar cheese curds topped with caramel sauce and sprinkled with crushed graham crackers.
• AND a Bugged-Out Frozen Cheescake On a Stick "Creamy cheesecake with a center of caramel and ants, dipped in chocolate, then loaded with crunchy crickets and worms." (Oh, heck no!)

Of course, the fair isn’t just about eating your way through the midway. (Although that's honestly my favorite part).

The Main Stage entertainment lineup for the 2026 Wisconsin State Fair includes:

• Bailey Zimmerman
• Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge
• Nelly
• For King + Country
• The Isley Brothers
• The All-American Rejects, and more!

New 2026 Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puff Flavor

Enjoying a Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puff is a MUST for any first time visitor, and this year there's a new cream puff flavor to try in honor of the Fair's 175th anniversary: Fair-aschino Cherry!

There will also be a Cream Puff beer:

Now that I have your mouth watering and your party pants excited, there's just one more thing to do: visit wistatefair.com for tickets and more information!