The New York State Fair is heating up winter with its first concert announcement for the 2026 lineup.
Sean Paul will perform at the NYS Fair’s Suburban Park stage on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. The concert is free to attend with fair admission.
Paul is a Grammy-winning Jamaican rapper and singer best known for dancehall-reggaeton hits like “Temperature,” “Get Busy,” “No Lie” (with Dua Lipa), “She Doesn’t Mind,” “Gimme the Light,” “Baby Boy” (with Beyonce), “Cheap Thrills” (with Sia), “Rockabye” (with Clean Bandit), “We Be Burnin’” and “Give It Up to Me.” He currently averages more than 53 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Fair officials teased the announcement Tuesday with a “concert clue” of a baby boy that appeared sick and running a fever, referencing the songs “Baby Boy” and “Temperature.” Fans who “like,” share and correctly guess answers on the NYS Fair’s official Facebook and Instagram pages can potentially win two free admission tickets and a parking pass.
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch into 2026 with the news that Sean Paul is coming to Suburban Park. His vibrant energy and global appeal make him one of the most exciting performers to see live,” said Fair Director Julie LaFave in a statement. “Sean Paul’s first-time Fair performance is sure to be a high-energy, unforgettable experience for fans and newcomers alike. We’re expecting a fantastic turnout for what promises to be a night of great music and thrilled to share that this is just the beginning — stay tuned for more exciting performer announcements to come!”
Sean Paul performs on stage during PNE Summer Nights Concerts at Pacific Coliseum on August 26, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)Getty Images
Paul is the first of 41 national recording acts that will be announced for this year’s lineup over the coming months.
The 2026 New York State Fair runs from Wednesday, Aug. 26, to Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7, at the NYS fairgrounds in Geddes, just outside of Syracuse.
Concerts take place on two main stages: Suburban Park and Chevy Court. Suburban Park will host the Fair’s largest concerts in the New York Experience area on the west end near Gate 10, in the back of the Midway and past the Expo Center. Chevy Court is located near Gate 1, next to the Center of Progress Building and by the Dairy Products Building. Both have limited seating available.
All Suburban Park shows will be held at 8 p.m. each evening, while Chevy Court will feature shows daily at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. There will also be two special additional shows at 9 p.m. on Friday, August 28 and Friday, September 4, at Chevy Court.
Last year’s lineup included a variety of artists performing rock, rap, country, pop and other genres. Jessie Murph, Shaggy and Lynyrd Skynyrd drew the biggest crowds of 2025 with more than 30,000 fans each.
No tickets are required for concerts. All are free with admission to the fair, which will cost $8 again this year — and free for seniors 65 and older and kids 12 and under.
NYS Fair 2026 concert schedule
Aug. 27, 8 p.m.: Sean Paul at Suburban Park