Guess Who Holds the Minnesota State Fair Attendance Record

The Minnesota State Fair is set to start its 2026 run later this week with another big lineup of great acts in the grandstand, but do you remember which artist holds the record for drawing the biggest crowd of all time?

While we're all familiar with the amazing food and beverages, entertainment is a big part of the Minnesota State Fair, too. According to its official website, the State Fair started offering entertainment in the grandstand way back in 1962. Dennis Day, Jane Russell, and Jimmy Dean were the headliners on the main stage back then.

The Minnesota State Fair Has Hosted Some Huge Grandstand Acts

Since that time, the State Fair has attracted some pretty big names. Classic country icons like Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, and Conway Twitty all played here back in the late 60s. In the 70s, Charlie Rich, Jerry Reed, Tanya Tucker, and the Brady Bunch kids were some of the big names on the main stage.

ALSO INTERESTING: The 11 Vendors Who Won't Be at the Minnesota State Fair in 2026

In the 80s, country stars Willie Nelson, Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, and the Oak Ridge Boys, along with pop stars like Kenny Loggins, The Jets, and the Bangles, were marquee performers here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

And, in the 90s, you had big country stars like Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, and Brooks & Dunn all sell tons of tickets along with pop stars like Huey Lewis & The News, as well as classic rockers like Neil Young.

Who Holds the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Crowd Record?

But can you guess which performer sold the MOST tickets in Minnesota State Fair history? My guess was Garth Brooks, who played here in the North Star State right when his popularity was taking off, back in '91 and '92. But, nope, it wasn't him. And it wasn't Tim McGraw, who played here in '97, or even Brooks & Dunn, who played the Fair several times at the peak of their popularity in the late 90s.

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So, which act had the biggest crowds in State Fair history? Well, that'd be... former 'The Voice' judge, Christina Aguilera, who, the site says, "broke the all-time record for the most tickets sold to a single Grandstand show in 2000, selling 22,117 tickets."

Curt St. John/Townsquare Media

Could any of these artists challenge that record? Likely not, because the seating area has since been changed, and there are now fewer available seats. (The grandstand now has seating for around 17,000, I'm told.) But here's the full line-up of performers for the grandstand stage at this year's Minnesota State Fair:

See the Full 2026 Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Lineup

• Thursday, Aug. 27 — Bonnie Raitt Live 2026 with special guest Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
• Friday, Aug. 28 — “Weird Al” Yankovic Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour with special guest Puddles Pity Party
• Saturday, Aug. 29 — Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Homecoming: A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound
• Sunday, Aug. 30 — Sierra Ferrell Heavy Petal Tour with special guest Tanya Tucker - The Current's Music On-A-Stick Show 2026
• Monday, Aug. 31 — Tommy James & The Shondells / Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone 
• Tuesday, Sept. 1 — Hairball with special guest Slave Raider – FREE SHOW
• Wednesday, Sept. 2 — AJR with special guests Quinn XCII and Avery Cochrane
• Thursday, Sept. 3 — Brad Paisley with special guests Jake Worthington and Laci Kaye Booth
• Friday, Sept. 4 — HARDY with special guest McCoy Moore
• Saturday, Sept. 5 — TLC / Salt-N-Pepa / En Vogue - It's Iconic
• Sunday, Sept. 6 — Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals
• Monday, Sept. 7 — CeCe Winans More Than This World Tour

Besides the entertainment in the Grandstand, there's always a TON of great FOOD ready for you to sink your teeth into at the Fair. Keep scrolling to check out all of the new offerings available this year-- and to see which vendors make the most money at the Fair too.