Aug. 27 – Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2026
10 Days 23 Hours 36 Mins
Art & Gardens at the Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is home to a vast number of artistic displays and gardens for fair guests to view during the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Fine Arts
The Minnesota State Fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition is the state’s largest juried art show. Winning artworks are displayed every day of the fair in the Fine Arts Center. The special exhibition, Studio: HERE, features a different studio artist at work each day of the fair. Be a Fine Arts Detective quiz rounds out the experience for children and adults, alike!
Learn more about our Fine Arts competition and the Fine Arts Center.
Joyful World Mural Park
Find imagination and joy in the large-scale paintings by Minnesota artists, each reflecting the world they want to live in. During the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, artists PHILOSX3, Discover Dope Creative (Myc Dazzle & Aurum Oro), Destiny Noel Bilges and Reggie LeFlore will add their visions to the Joyful World Mural Park collection, creating their pieces live on-site during the fair.
The total collection of 24 artworks includes pieces created for the park during the 2021 through 2024 State Fairs. Artists who have created murals for this collection include: Leslie Barlow, Danielle Clifford, Jennifer Davis, Jose Dominguez, Philipo Dyauli, Xena Goldman, Jordan Hamilton, Maiya Lea Hartman, Hibaaq Ibrahim, Tom Jay, Mia Vue Jennings, Kalaka, Noah Lawrence-Holder, Flahn Manly, Juliette Perine Myers, Geno Okok, Shade Pratt (Fola), Xee Reiter, Joy Spika, Kao Lee Thao, Suyao Tian, Thomasina Topbear, Genie Hien Tran and Wes Winship.
2026 Artists:
Philli Irvin, also known as PHILOSX3 (pronounced Fill-OHs-Three-Times), is a multidisciplinary social practice artist based in North Minneapolis, Minn. His work spans immersive installation, event production, 3D/visual art and illustration, often focused on participatory and community-centered experiences. He holds a B.A. in illustration from Columbia College Chicago (2019) and is a self-taught immersive installation and graphic designer. His first solo exhibition opened in June 2025 at Juxtaposition Arts. Irvin is the founder of Intro To Success (ITS FACTORY), a Black-led arts education initiative established in 2016 that supports Black and Brown creatives through hands-on learning and an annual festival. He also founded Stay In Touch (2025), a virtual network focused on peer support, resource sharing and capacity building among Black artists. philosx3.com / ig: @philosx3
Discover Dope Creative is a multidisciplinary creative studio rooted in strategy, storytelling and design. Artists Myc Dazzle and Aurum Oro write: "Guided by the belief that **story is infrastructure**, we partner with artists, organizations, businesses and communities to create work that connects people — to themselves, to one another and to the places they call home. Our practice lives at the intersection of culture, identity, place and systems, producing everything from brand strategy and visual identity to public art, interiors, digital media, education and community engagement. Whether designing a mural, shaping a neighborhood vision, building a creative campaign, or developing tools for learning and collaboration, we approach every project with the same question: **What stories shape the way we live, belong and imagine what’s possible?** We believe thoughtful design and meaningful storytelling don’t just communicate ideas — they build stronger communities, inspire action and create lasting impact." discoverdope.com
Destiny (Dez) Noel Bilges is a queer, multidisciplinary artist and educator of indigenous and settler heritage born and raised in Minneapolis, Minn. Their work includes a mix of prints, mixed media paintings, drawings, and collages that delve into themes of vulnerability, connection and community. Dez has a passion for exploring various visual disciplines, with a special affinity for paper, people and plants. Their commitment to both studio practice and community engagement drives their creative contributions to diverse projects, with a particular fondness for murals and public art. destinynoelbilges.com / ig: @dez.4.prez
Reggie LeFlore is a self-disciplined visual artist with over 14 years of experience creating murals and public art. Drawing from contemporary mural practices, he blends aerosol, stencils, paint markers and graphic design into works defined by intentional color, layered techniques and thoughtful subject matter - from small canvas pieces to large-scale murals. LeFlore maintains a commitment to sharing the diverse narratives that shape our society. Portraiture is his primary visual language, supported by elements of fashion, city life, rural landscapes and nature. These symbols of identity - personal, cultural and collective - allow each piece to reflect the lived experience of the individuals and communities he depicts. ral86.com / ig: @ral86
Produced in partnership with Forecast Public Art and supported by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Joyful World Mural Park is located south of the Grandstand, east of the Grandstand Ramp. View a map.
Giant Sing Along
Sing in a field of microphones karaoke-style! Visit the Giant Sing Along daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (8 p.m. on Labor Day). North of Lee Ave. between Underwood & Cooper streets.
Giant Sing Along is a public art project created by Daily tous les jours in co-production of the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Stop by for your chance to sing some hit tunes! New for 2026, the final hour at the Giant Sing Along each day will feature the music of Prince!
Art & Sculpture Guide
View this list of all the sculptures and art the fair has to offer. Download here (coming soon)
Gardens Guide
View a list of all the beautiful gardens the fair has to offer. Download here (coming soon)
Featured Design
The Minnesota State Fair began creating an annual exclusive featured design in 2024. The featured design for 2026 is a tribute to the extensive and varied array of State Fair favorites that guests look forward to every year. Interspersed within the abstract, playful and modern design are iconic fair images, including a donut, cookie, guitar, crop art, Ferris wheel, burger and much more. Architectural and horticultural elements such as a horse, bee, flower, pig and others are interwoven throughout. The contemporary color palette incorporates the green, blue and orange hues of a Minnesota summer.
The 2026 Featured Design is a digital illustration created by the State Fair’s creative team. It will be showcased on a variety of merchandise items for sale, including posters, T-shirts, magnets, postcards, tote bags, coffee mugs and pins. The items are sold at statefairwear.com and during the fair at State FairWear Gift Shops on the fairgrounds.
Films at the Fair
New in 2026, five nights of Minnesota-made short films and animation (presented by Square Lake Film & Music) will be located at the Pet Pavilions at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 28-29 and Sept. 4-6 only. Each evening showcases a different lineup of curated work by talented independent filmmakers across the state. Stay for a few films or settle in for the entire hour-long screening featuring a variety of genres and stories the whole family can enjoy. Participating filmmakers answer audience questions following the presentation, if time permits.
Commemorative Art
From 2004 through 2023, the State Fair commissioned an artist each year to create a piece that represents their interpretation of the State Fair. Check out gallery of past artwork. Posters and limited-edition signed prints are available for sale through the Minnesota State Fair Foundation (651-288-4327 or info@msffoundation.org). Posters and prints are subject to availability and some editions may no longer be available.