Florida has more than 100 county fairs and festivals each year, but there’s only one official state fair.
Held in Tampa, Florida, every February, the Florida State Fair recently ranked as one of the 10 best state fairs in the country by a panel of experts and USA TODAY readers.
“From funnel cake to enormous pumpkins, state fairs celebrate some of America's biggest and best,” USA TODAY’s 10Best list says.
“These sprawling celebrations feature local agriculture, art, music, and of course, deep-fried delicacies.”
Here’s where the Florida State Fair ranked on the list and when it happens in 2026.
USA TODAY's 10Best: See the best state fairs in the U.S.
Which state has the best state fair? Florida ranks in top 10
USA TODAY’s ‘10Best’ lists are determined by experts who nominate their top picks, and are then voted on by readers.
And on its rankings of the best state fairs in the U.S., Midwestern states took the top spots. Minnesota took the crown, with Iowa in second place and Wisconsin in third. Florida slid onto the list in eighth place.
Here’s USA TODAY’s 10Best list of the best state fairs in the U.S.:
Minnesota State Fair (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Iowa State Fair (Des Moines, Iowa)
Wisconsin State Fair (West Allis, Wisconsin)
State Fair of Texas (Dallas, Texas)
South Carolina State Fair (Columbia, South Carolina)
Indiana State Fair (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Alaska State Fair (Palmer, Alaska)
Florida State Fair (Tampa, Florida)
Washington State Fair (Puyallup, Washington)
Ohio State Fair (Columbus, Ohio)
What city is Florida State Fair in? When is it?
The Florida State Fair is held in Tampa every February. The next Florida State Fair will run from February 5 through February 16, 2026. There’s even a countdown on the state fair website (182 days to go!).
“Visitors can enjoy thrill rides, livestock competitions, cooking demos, and a sprawling midway packed with outrageous fair food,” USA TODAY’s rankings list says.
“Known for its creative culinary offerings like deep-fried strawberry shortcake, the fair features concerts, circus acts, and Florida-themed exhibits celebrating the state’s culture and history.”
How much does it cost to go to the state fair in Florida?
There aren’t ticket prices posted for the 2026 Florida State Fair yet, but these were the prices for 2025:
Adult (13 to 54 years old)
Monday through Friday: $12
Friday through Sunday, President's Day: $16
Children ( 6 to 12 years old)
Monday through Friday: $6
Friday through Sunday, President's Day: $11
Senior Citizens (55+)
Monday through Friday: $11
To ride the fair rides, you either need ride credits or an armband. Armbands include everything except for a few specialty attractions, like the mechanical bull ride and bungee jump.
Ride credit prices are as follows: seven for $10, 25 for $30 and 50 for $50. Rides cost between three and seven credits each.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: State fair rankings: Florida places in USA TODAY's '10Best'
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