New 2026 OC Fair tickets and deals revealed: What to know

With exactly three months to go until the OC Fair, organizers announced new presale ticket options and deals for the 2026 event on Friday.

The OC Fair will take over the OC Fair & Event Center in Orange County from July 17 to Aug. 16, Wednesday through Sunday (closed Monday-Tuesday).

Here are the highlights so you can start planning your OC Fair adventure:

• General Admission | $9 for kids ages 6-12 and seniors; $13-$15 for adults, depending on the day
• Smart Start Admission | This new $11 deal is valid for adult admission from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Purchases must be completed before July 16.
• Every Day Passport | This $60 pass is valid for unlimited visits throughout the fair’s run; it also comes with some two-for-one concert deals.
• Carnival Dream Pass | This new $46 deal is available for purchase through July 16 and includes 10 rides or carnival games; it must be purchased with an admission ticket.
• Weekday Unlimited Family Bundle | This new $150 bundle is available for purchase through May 31 and includes four admission tickets (including two kids tickets), two unlimited ride wristbands, and two $10 kids meals. The bundle can be used on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
• Family Dream Bundle | Also new this year, this $155 bundle is available for purchase through May 31 and includes admission for two adults and two kids, two Carnival Dream Passes with 10 rides and games, and two $10 kids meals.
• Kids Meals | New $10 kids meal combos are available at four KP’s locations throughout the fairgrounds this season.

In a press release, the OC Fair said it hopes the new ticket and bundle deals make the summer event “more flexible and affordable” for families.

The OC Fair is celebrating its 136^th year this summer. The fair’s theme is “Your Adventure Awaits,” which invites visitors to “embrace the American spirit of discovery.”

As always, the OC Fair will also feature a lineup of entertainment across areas like the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar, and the Action Sports Arena. Tickets for those shows include same-day fair admission.

Some acts headlining the OC Fair Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheatre this summer include:

• Midland with Nikki Lane on July 17
• Lauren Daigle on July 23
• Sugar Ray, The English Beat, and Smash Mouth on July 26
• Cypress Hill on July 29
• Trevor Noah on July 30
• Nelly and Too $hort on Aug. 2
• Colbie Caillat and Mitchell Tenpenny on Aug. 15
• Los Tucanes de Tijuana on Aug. 23

Meanwhile, The Hangar will feature bands throughout the OC Fair’s run that pay tribute to iconic artists like Fleetwood Mac, Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead, to name a few.

The fair’s Action Sports Arena will be hosting events like the OC Brew Hee Haw craft beer and music festival July 17 and July 18, and The Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Circus from July 22 to July 26.