Sunny skies helped draw nearly 67,000 people to the opening day of the 2026 New York State Fair, more than double that of last year, fair organizers said.
Attendance on the fair’s first day totaled 66,898, the most people to enter the turnstiles on day one since 2023, when 71,701 people passed through. The number far outpaced last year, which got off to a damp start and attracted 32,736 fairgoers, and 2024, when 38,215 attendees visited. Wednesday’s attendance marked the second-highest opening day total since the fair was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Weather is such a big factor in attendance and we had a near-perfect opening day weather-wise,” said Katie Rey, fair spokesperson.
The State Fair on Wednesday held a ceremony to mark the opening of the 10,500 square-foot New York Future Farmers of America Building. Day one was also marked by live performances by the Commodores, Quiet Riot and The All-American Rejects. The Great American Drone Show concluded the evening.
Total attendance at last year’s 13-day State Fair came in at 925,989.
(Spectrum News 1/Emily Kenny)