Days after tickets went on sale for the 2026 California State Fair, event organizers released the names of two music acts performing for this year’s concert series.R&B icon Babyface and disco/funk group KC & The Sunshine Band will take the stage as part of the Toyota Concert Series, according to news releases from Cal Expo.Babyface performs on July 17, and KC & The Sunshine Band will play on July 25, with both acts performing on the Main Stage. Concerts are free with a ticket purchase to the State Fair, but attendees can pay for reserved seating.California State Fair ticketsDay of pricingTickets are $12 for kids between the ages of 5 and 12, and tickets are $18 for those 13 and older. Seniors ages 62 and older can buy a ticket for $14.Advanced ticket purchasesTickets for children ages 5 to 12 are available for $10, while those 13 and older can get in for $16. Seniors ages 62 and older can purchase a ticket for $12. Children ages 4 and under can enter for free for both advanced purchases and day of entry.Click here for more ticket information.This year’s State Fair runs from July 17 to Aug. 2. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.Next year, the fair is expected to take place from Sept. 17 through Oct. 3 in an attempt to avoid the heat.Throughout much of its history, the State Fair typically began in late August. Starting in 2010, organizers moved up the fair’s dates to July to avoid conflicts with early school year starts in the hopes of boosting attendance.Meteorologist Kelly Curran says the average temperature highs for Sept. 17 to Oct. 3 range from 85-89 degrees. That compares to 94-95 degrees for July 17 to Aug. 2.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Days after tickets went on sale for the 2026 California State Fair, event organizers released the names of two music acts performing for this year’s concert series.

R&B icon Babyface and disco/funk group KC & The Sunshine Band will take the stage as part of the Toyota Concert Series, according to news releases from Cal Expo.

Babyface performs on July 17, and KC & The Sunshine Band will play on July 25, with both acts performing on the Main Stage. Concerts are free with a ticket purchase to the State Fair, but attendees can pay for reserved seating.

California State Fair tickets

Day of pricing

Tickets are $12 for kids between the ages of 5 and 12, and tickets are $18 for those 13 and older. Seniors ages 62 and older can buy a ticket for $14.

Advanced ticket purchases

Tickets for children ages 5 to 12 are available for $10, while those 13 and older can get in for $16. Seniors ages 62 and older can purchase a ticket for $12.

Children ages 4 and under can enter for free for both advanced purchases and day of entry.

Click here for more ticket information.

This year’s State Fair runs from July 17 to Aug. 2. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

Next year, the fair is expected to take place from Sept. 17 through Oct. 3 in an attempt to avoid the heat.

Throughout much of its history, the State Fair typically began in late August. Starting in 2010, organizers moved up the fair’s dates to July to avoid conflicts with early school year starts in the hopes of boosting attendance.

Meteorologist Kelly Curran says the average temperature highs for Sept. 17 to Oct. 3 range from 85-89 degrees. That compares to 94-95 degrees for July 17 to Aug. 2.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel