The 2026 San Diego County Fair sneak preview offered a glimpse of what’s in store for this year’s run, including a new theme, cultural events, and food items. Performers from the San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers put on a show, and officials highlighted the diversity of this year’s entertainment, exhibits, and food items.
Performers from the San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers put on a show Wednesday during the sneak preview at the 2026 San Diego County Fair . Officials with the San Diego County Fair offered a sneak peek on Wednesday of what’s in store for this year’s run, from June 10 through July 5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
This year’s fair has a new theme, ‘Once Upon a Fair,’ which will be featured in a walk-through exhibit near the fairgrounds entrance that celebrates stories and characters from beloved books. The fair’s own story began in September 1880, when San Diego farmers organized a two-day celebration with contests for the city’s best home-baked pie, best citrus fruit, and fastest horse.
The fair moved to the newly built Del Mar Fairgrounds in 1936, and today it generates a $328 million economic impact on the region. The fair has taken place every year since 1880 except during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among this year’s cultural events are an Asian & Pacific Islander Festival on June 13, Native American Heritage Day on June 14, a Juneteenth celebration on June 19, Out at the Fair day for the LGBTQ+ community on June 20, a K-Pop Festival on June 28, and a Black and Brown Festival Showcase Presented by Movement BE on July 5. Another focus of this year’s fair is affordability, with a variety of discounts offered on admission tickets, rides, games, food specials, and transportation.
To kick things off, admission tickets for all on opening day will be $5 before 5 p.m. Children 5 and under are always free, and youth ages 5-12 get in free on Fridays. This year’s fair will feature concerts at four venues and exhibits of artwork, woodworking, gardening, flowers, gems and minerals, hobbies, photography, and K-12 student projects. There will also be livestock competitions for children in 4-H, FFA, and Grange programs.
Among the new attractions this year is the Korean churro, a new addition for this year at the 2026 San Diego County Fair. Another favorite event for even more adventurous children is Mini Dwarf auto racing. Drivers compete in three brackets, from ages 6 to 14. Among the food items, many have Asian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern flavors.
This year marks the 30th anniversary for popular food vendor Chicken Charlie’s, run by San Diego resident Charlie Boghosian, who is famed for his deep-fried Oreos and Maui chicken pineapple bowl. He’s offering a deep-fried purple-hued ube funnel cake. But his proudest new creation is the crispy chicken shawarma wrap, inspired by the food he grew up eating in his native Damascus, Syria
San Diego County Fair 2026 Sneak Peek Once Upon A Fair Asian & Pacific Islander Festival Native American Heritage Day Juneteenth Celebration Out At The Fair Day K-Pop Festival Black And Brown Festival Showcase Presented By Korean Churro Mini Dwarf Auto Racing Chicken Charlie’S Ricky Kasinak Deep-Fried Oreos Crispy Chicken Shawarma Wrap
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