The 2026 Los Angeles County Fair is open now at the Fairplex in Pomona, where organizers are pitching this year’s run as “Play Your Way” and filling the grounds with rides, food, animals and concerts through May 31.
The fair runs Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and tickets start at $18 online or $32 at the gate. Parking is cashless too, with single-day spaces starting at $22.50 online and $26 at the gate, while a parking season pass costs $86.50 and covers the rest of the fair from May 7 to May 31.
That price structure matters because the fair is not a quick stop. It covers more than 500 acres, draws families across multiple weekends and now stretches deep into the calendar with the concert series and special events layered on top of the regular midway. Season passes begin at $25 for a value pass that includes admission for the first two weeks, while a premium pass costs $59 and lasts for the full fair.
Visitors this year will find 70 rides, including two new ones called Sound Storm and Air Raid, along with 30 game booths. Carnival ride unlimited wristbands start at $55 online and include two free carnival game vouchers. The fair also keeps the longtime staples that regulars expect, from barnyard races and petting zoos to the World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
Food is one of the main draws, and the lineup mixes familiar fair staples with some less expected choices. Funnel cake and corn in a cup are on the menu, along with a sweet potato smoothie, fried mangonada, pickle pizza, spam wonton tacos and watermelon slices wrapped in fruit roll-up and topped with chamoy and tajin.
For families with younger children, there is a new pirate-themed play area near the Lagoon for children 10 and under. Also new this year is “The Cutest Dog Show on Earth,” in the lagoon area, where rescue pups show off tricks on fair days at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The fair’s concert series is set for Saturday and Sunday evenings, with eight shows scheduled from May 7 to May 31. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., and organizers say fairgoers should arrive at least three hours early to allow time for parking, entry and seating. Concert tickets are sold separately, but they include same-day admission to the fair.
Parking is split between the Yellow Lot at Gate 17 and the Blue Lot at Gate 9, with a tram available most days for people parked farther away who need a lift to the yellow entrance. Tickets for culinary classes, wine tastings and other special events are also available on the fair’s website.
The picture this year is simple: the fair is cashless, busy and built to keep people on the grounds longer. That makes planning ahead the difference between a smooth visit and a long day at the gate.
