Welcome to the 2026 Indiana State Fair Season
Thank you for your participation in the Indiana State Fair! We are eagerly planning for 2026 and hope you will join us August 7-23 as we celebrate this year’s theme, “Always a Hit! Presented by the Indianapolis Indians.”
As you prepare for the Indiana State Fair, we want to make you aware of a few important changes for 2026. Official Entry Books are now available. Click here to view them.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Indiana State Fair Entry Department at entry@indianastatefair.com or 317-927-7515. We look forward to seeing you at the Fair!
Mandatory 2026 Electronic W-9 Completion in Exhibitors Corner
As you prepare to register for the 2026 Indiana State Fair, please remember that all exhibitors are required to complete an electronic W‑9 within Exhibitors Corner at the time of entry. To ensure a smooth and timely registration process, please have all necessary information ready before you begin. A valid individual Social Security Number or an organization’s EIN must be entered correctly, or premiums will be forfeited. 4‑H entries must use the youth exhibitor’s Social Security Number, as federally required.
For security reasons, the system does not allow these fields to be bypassed or altered later, and the Entry Department cannot edit or correct this encrypted information on your behalf. Because of this, it is extremely important that exhibitors come fully prepared with accurate information when registering.
All taxpayer information entered is securely encrypted, making this process far safer than submitting handwritten W‑9 forms at barn offices or mailing them to the Entry Department. Thank you for helping us maintain a secure, efficient experience for all Indiana State Fair exhibitors.
ACH Premium Payments
Beginning in 2026, exhibitors now have the option to receive premium payments through ACH direct deposit. This new feature offers a faster, safer, and more reliable way to receive your premium funds. As with W‑9 information, banking information entered in Exhibitors Corner is fully encrypted, ensuring your personal and financial details remain protected.
To take advantage of ACH payments, please be prepared to enter your banking information accurately when registering. For security reasons, the Entry Department cannot access, edit, or correct any banking information once it has been submitted. It is essential that all information is entered correctly at the time of registration.
For our 4‑H members who do not yet have bank accounts, this is not a problem. Parents or guardians may enter their own account information to receive the youth’s premium funds. Similarly, exhibitors entering under farm names or family entities may enter any bank account of their choosing to receive their premium payment directly.
Please note: If a paper check must be re‑issued because it was originally written to a farm name and needs to be rewritten to an individual, a $40 service fee will now be applied. With ACH now available, this inconvenience can easily be avoided.
While ACH payments are optional for 2026, they will become the only method of premium payment beginning in 2027 and beyond. We encourage all exhibitors to begin using ACH now to experience its efficiency and convenience.
Thank you for helping us move toward a faster, safer, and more streamlined premium payment process at the Indiana State Fair.
Breed Minimum and Breed Class Minimums Clarification
There have been no changes to the Indiana State Fair Breed Minimum Policy for 2026, with one exception: Goats have now been added to the list of species required to meet Breed Minimums and Breed Class for breed recognition.
The following breeds are currently on Probation or designated for Exhibition Only for the 2026 Indiana State Fair:
4‑H Beef Breeds on Probation
Exhibition Only
- Chi Angus
- Gelbvich
- Santa Gertrudis
- Salers
4-H Sheep Breeds on Probation
- Texel
- Columbia
- Corriedale
Should you need additional clarification or guidance, please reach out to the Entry Department at entry@indianastatefair.com or the appropriate species superintendent. We appreciate your continued commitment to quality livestock exhibition at the Indiana State Fair.
Breed Class Minimum Requirements - AMMENDED
- Entry Book Rule #67. Once the check-in process is completed at the current Indiana State Fair, each recognized breed exhibiting in either the market show or the breeding show must have a minimum of three animals checked in, in order to be a recognized market animal breed or breeding animal breed. If minimum is not met, the breed becomes an unrecognized breed for the current Indiana State Fair and will be placed in the AOB Division by State Fair Staff.
- Entry Book Rule #68. AOB Division: The AOB Division will be offered in the Swine, Beef Cattle, and Sheep departments and shall be considered a recognized breed. The division will include:
- All other registered breeds with proof of registration from an established breed association which are not listed in the current department entry book
- Breeds that are classified by Indiana State Fair Classifiers which are not listed in the current department entry book
- Any breed that has not met the minimum three head requirement for the current Indiana State Fair per Rule 67
Regardless of the number of animals in the AOB class, premiums will be offered for the AOB division. Champions of the AOB division would be eligible for Grand or Supreme Drive.
*Rules will be updated in all entry books as soon as possible.
Mandatory Pen Cleaning Requirements for 4‑H Exhibitors
The Indiana State Fair is committed to providing a clean, safe, and efficient environment for animals, exhibitors, and guests. To keep our barns running smoothly within our tight 15-day show schedule, all 4H exhibitors are required to fully clean their pens before leaving the Fairgrounds. This expectation applies to every species and will be actively enforced.
4-H Exhibitor Pen & Tack Area Clean-Up Requirement
- All 4-H members are required to fully clean their animal pens and tack areas at the conclusion of each exhibition competed in.
Clean-Up Expectations
- All trash must be separated from bedding and placed in designated receptacles.
- Bedding must remain free of trash so it can be properly spread on Indiana fields by the contractor.
Species Requirements
- Sheep, Horses & Ponies, Llamas, Goats, and Swine
- Pens must be completely cleaned of all bedding and trash.
- Tack areas must be left clear of trash and debris.
- Beef, Dairy, Rabbits, and Poultry
- Due to how bedding is removed, exhibitors must ensure all tack and stall areas are completely free of trash and disposed of in appropriate receptacles.
Loss of Privilege
- Failure to clean pens and/or tack areas as outlined above will result in a loss of privilege to exhibit in that species at the Indiana State Fair the following year.
Check out process for clean pen verification will be released in July.
Swine Barn Grooming Pen Notice
Due to space, all animal preparation and grooming must be done in assigned pen. No grooming areas will be permitted outside of pens, including alleyways. No additional portable grooming pens will be permitted. Remember Water will be the only substance permitted for coat dressing at the 2026 Indiana State Fair 4-H Swine Show. No tents, canopies or grooming pens are permitted inside or outside the Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion.
This policy ensures that aisles remain clear, animals can move safely, and the barn stays accessible for exhibitors, staff, and emergency personnel. The Swine Barn operates on a tight schedule and additional structures placed in the aisles or shared spaces create safety hazards and slows down barn operations.
We ask exhibitors to plan ahead and bring only what is necessary for grooming inside their assigned pen. By working within the designated space provided, exhibitors help maintain a safe, orderly, and efficient environment for all.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep the Swine Barn running smoothly.
2026 Indiana State Fair Penning Auction
The Indiana State Fair Livestock Penning and Stalling Auction raises funds for the Indiana State Fair Youth Development Fund, which benefits the Celebration of Champions and other youth programs. Through this auction, exhibitors have the opportunity to purchase their place in the selection order for their pen or stall location.
Auction Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
Time: 8AM
Location:www.wlivestock.com