We ranked the 2026 Ohio State Fair concerts

• The fair schedule also includes plenty of free live music performances.

10. Be Like Blippi. For the life of me, I can't understand why my kid and millions of others love this wacky adult who gets filmed playing alone at playgrounds. But they do, and this show will bring the house down.

• 6:30pm July 30. $34+.

9. Bailey Zimmerman. The rising country star released his debut studio album just three years ago, and is currently on his first arena tour.

• 7:30pm Aug. 7. $86+.

8. For King + Country. The Christian-pop duo brings plenty of energy to live shows.

• 7pm Aug. 3. $57+.

7. Alison Krauss & Union Station. They'll say it best when they say nothing at all.

• 7pm Aug. 1. $59+.

6. Sammy Kershaw. The country veteran will make the fairgrounds seem like an old-fashioned honky-tonk.

• 7:30pm Aug. 2. $28+.

5. Nelly. The Grammy Award-winning superstar is back.

• 7:30pm Aug. 4. $75+.

4. The S.O.S. Band/The Dazz Band. "Dazz Band may not be a Rock & Rock Hall of Fame level act," says Axios Cleveland's Troy Smith, "but the group's signature hit 'Let It Whip' is an essential, Northeast Ohio classic."

• 7:30pm July 31. $31+.

3. Gin Blossoms/Blues Traveler, with Spin Doctors. Blues Traveler alone makes me want to run around the fair and catch this one.

• 7pm Aug. 8. $59+.

2. Weird Al. The legendary parodist returns to the fairgrounds with accordion in tow.

• 7pm Aug. 5. $59+.

1. Styx, with Don Felder. What can I say, I'm a sucker for classic rock and power ballads.

• 7pm July 29. $67+.