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What's new to eat at the State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its newest foods for this year's Great Minnesota Get-Together. Pioneer Press food reporter Jared Kaufman joins us to break down the new menu items, the biggest surprises, and which foods are generating the most buzz.
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota State Fair is getting national attention, earning the top spot on Yelp’s list of best state fairs in the U.S.
Minnesota State Fair tops Yelp ranking
What we know:
Yelp says it analyzed more than 2,500 reviews and found the Minnesota State Fair leads the nation for its iconic fair eats, beating out fairs in Wisconsin, Iowa and New York as the top ranked gatherings.
Whether grabbing a pronto pup or trying something new on a stick, the ranking says that the Minnesota State Fair has built a national reputation for turning fair food into a destination.
Dig deeper:
Fair officials say this year’s event will introduce the America Wheel, the world’s largest traveling observation wheel, along with new rides and special events.
The ranking named the following as the top fairs in the U.S.:
- Minnesota State Fair
- Wisconsin State Fair
- Iowa State Fair
- New York State Fair
- Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center
- State Fair of Texas
- The Big E (Massachusetts)
- Florida State Fairgrounds
- Alaska State Fair
- N.C. State Fair
Why you should care:
On July 9, fair organizers released the full list of new fair foods for 2026, featuring 36 official new foods and nine new food vendors.
On July 21, officials announced there will be 75 new specialty beers and drinks, plus 23 non-alcoholic beverages for this year’s fair.
What's next:
The 2026 fair runs from Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.