The Arkansas State Fair attracted 500,785 visitors during its 10-day run this year, fair officials said Monday, marking the fourth occasion in the event’s history that attendance exceeded a half-million.
Final totals and highlights
Organizers released the finalized receipts Monday, saying the final Sunday drew 57,258 people and that overall attendance topped last year’s total of 473,602 by 27,183. The fair runs annually at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock; the 87th annual fair concluded this month.
“Welcoming half a million guests is a testament to the families, exhibitors, vendors, sponsors and volunteers who make the Arkansas State Fair an Arkansas tradition,” said Tiffany Wilkerson, general manager of the Arkansas State Fair.
- Family Fun Day set a single-day Monday record with 47,662 attendees, officials said.
- The Sale of Champions raised more than $190,000 in total; the Grand Champion steer sold for $35,000 and was exhibited by Tinley Wingert of Rose Bud.
- Fair officials reported no major security incidents across the 10 days, according to Elicia Dover, media contact for the Arkansas State Fair.
Attendance in recent years
| Year | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 559,677 |
| 2024 | 550,899 |
| 2025 | 473,602 |
| 2026 | 500,785 |
According to Elicia Dover, the first year the fair surpassed a half-million attendees was 2021, which drew 539,358 people. Dover is the fair’s media contact and provided the historical attendance context in the release.
Wilkerson cited several features of the 2026 fair in the organizers’ release, including a first-ever Great Corn Dog Countdown that opened the event with the governor and lieutenant governor, strong auction results at the Sale of Champions and favorable weather during the fair’s run. Wilkerson said the fair is already planning for 2027.
Organizers announced dates for next year’s event: the 88th Annual Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show will run Oct. 15 through Oct. 24, 2027.
