State Fair of Texas Opens Today With New Fried Foods and 200-Plus Options Under $10
The State Fair of Texas opened Friday, September 25, at Fair Park in Dallas, bringing back classic fair foods while introducing new creations for its 2026 run. The fair continues through Sunday, October 18, with food serving as a major part of the annual event.
This year’s food lineup includes familiar State Fair staples along with newer experimental offerings. According to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, more than 200 food and drink items are priced at $10 or less in 2026.
Classic Fair Foods and New Creations
Classic choices at the fair include Fletcher’s corny dogs, turkey legs, fried snacks, cotton candy and funnel cakes. The State Fair of Texas’ Every Day Values food listings also include items such as tacos, burgers, tamales, empanadas, pizza, Korean corn dogs, elote, matcha drinks, deviled eggs and desserts.
Several new food creations received recognition through the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards. The State Fair of Texas named Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace the winner of Best Taste; Savory, Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher the winner of Best Taste; Sweet, Tropical Coco Fresca by Fruteria Cano the winner of Best Taste; Sipper, and Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi the winner of Most Creative.
Big Tex Choice Award Winners
Burger Chop Tater Tacos combines chopped burger patty, onions, jalapeños, mozzarella, American cheese and tater tots formed into a taco shell. It is served with ranch slaw and garlic-parmesan buffalo sauce and received the Best Taste; Savory award at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards.
Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog uses milk-chocolate fudge dipped in Fletcher’s corny-dog batter, then fried and topped with yellow-vanilla icing. It is served with raspberry compote and won Best Taste; Sweet at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards.
Lower-Priced Food Options at the Fair
Affordability is also a key part of this year’s food story. The State Fair of Texas’ Every Day Values program highlights lower-priced options across food, drinks, merchandise, rides, games and activities rather than focusing only on food.
Food-related examples from the program include a $2 bottled water, $6 cotton candy and an $8 Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog. Each fair coupon is worth $1.
The official under-$10 listings also include other corny dog options, including Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog, jalapeño-and-cheese corny dog, bird dog, veggie corny dog, cheezy pup and chocolate corny dog. Other lower-priced offerings include foods from vendors serving pizza, tamales, chicken, barbecue, ice cream and fruit drinks.
The 2026 State Fair of Texas runs September 25 through October 18 at Fair Park in Dallas. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
