Alabama National Fair in Montgomery: 2026 fair is over

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. Facts come from the Alabama National Fair and its FAQ and safety page, special pricing page and history page. This page is updated each year at the same address.

The 2026 Alabama National Fair is over. It ran Thursday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 18, at the fairgrounds on Federal Drive. The fair’s site had not posted 2027 dates on Oct. 25; the details below are from the 2026 fair and show what to expect next fall.

The fair has midway rides, livestock shows, concerts, circus acts and pig races, and its proceeds go to children’s charities through the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery.

Updated Oct. 25: the 2026 fair has ended; this page will carry the 2027 dates when the fair posts them.

Know before you go

• When: 2026 fair ran Oct. 8-18. 2027 dates not posted yet.
• Where: 1555 Federal Drive. Livestock entrance at 1295 Coliseum Blvd.
• Tickets: Ticketmaster; gate deals on the special pricing page
• Parking: included with general admission
• Bags: clear only
• Fair office: 334-272-6831

Dates and daily schedule

The fair opened Thursday, Oct. 8, and closes Sunday, Oct. 18. The fair posts the full daily schedule of shows and events in its free mobile app, “Alabama National Fair,” instead of on its website, according to its daily schedule page.

The 2027 dates are not posted yet. In 2026, advance admission and advance ride wristband vouchers went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 1, the fair’s FAQ says.

Tickets and gate prices

Daily admission is sold through Ticketmaster, linked from the fair’s site. These prices apply every day, at the gate only, according to the special pricing page:

Last day, Sunday, Oct. 18: First Responders Appreciation Day. A first responder and three guests get in free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the gate only.

Earlier gate deals in 2026 included half-price opening night on Oct. 8, a school day on Oct. 12, a two-for-one date night on Oct. 13 and a $1 Dollar Day with a canned food donation on Oct. 15.

If you leave the fairgrounds, you need a new ticket to get back in. The fair makes no exceptions.

Parking and getting in

• Parking is included with a general admission ticket.
• Main address: 1555 Federal Drive. Livestock gate: 1295 Coliseum Blvd.
• Security: everyone walks through a metal detector or is screened with a hand wand, and bags are searched.

Rules: bags, children, pets and food

From the fair’s FAQ and safety page:

• Clear bags only. Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag. Diaper bags must follow the rule too. Medical supplies are exempt but are checked at the gate.
• Children: everyone 17 and under must be with a parent or guardian who is at least 21. Photo ID is required.
• Pets: not allowed, including emotional support animals. ADA service animals are welcome.
• No outside food or drinks, and no alcohol on the fairgrounds.
• Not allowed: weapons, including pocketknives; fireworks; drones; bikes, skateboards, skates and hoverboards. Items are taken and not returned.
• Dress code: shirts and shoes at all times. Clothing the fair or police consider offensive or gang-related is not allowed.

What there is to do

The fair lists circus shows, live concerts with regional and national acts, pig races, puppet and music shows, family rides such as the Cliff Hanger, the Wacky Worm roller coaster, the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Scrambler, and competitions from livestock shows to an art show, on its things to see and do page. Its food page lists the vendors’ menu items, from funnel cakes and corn dogs to smoked turkey legs.

The fair’s history

Montgomery had agricultural fairs as early as 1854, but they had disappeared from Central Alabama by 1930, the fair’s history page says. The modern fair began in 1954, when the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery formed the South Alabama Fair Association while Garrett Coliseum was being built. It became the South Alabama State Fair in 1969 and the Alabama National Fair in 1997.

The fair is a nonprofit, not a state agency. Kiwanis members run it as volunteers, and the proceeds fund grants to local children’s charities and youth programs.

Who to call

• Fair office: 334-272-6831. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with longer hours close to fair time.
• Website: alnationalfair.org

More fall plans: fall festivals and pumpkin patches and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Alabama National Fair in 2026?

The 2026 fair ran Thursday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 18, at the fairgrounds at 1555 Federal Drive in Montgomery, and is over. The fair had not posted 2027 dates when we checked on Oct. 25. The fair bills it as the 11 best days of fall.

How much is parking at the Alabama National Fair?

Parking is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket, according to the fair’s FAQ.

How much does it cost to get into the Alabama National Fair?

Children 4 and under are free every day and ages 5 to 12 pay $10 at the gate. Military and first responders get in free with ID. Adult tickets are sold through Ticketmaster.

Can I bring a bag to the Alabama National Fair?

Only a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag. Diaper bags must follow the same rule.

Are dogs allowed at the Alabama National Fair?

No. Pets, including emotional support animals, are not allowed on the fairgrounds. Service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act are permitted.