MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The 2026 Kansas State Fair has completed its Nex-Tech Grandstand entertainment schedule with the announcement of a new Rock Fest featuring three bands on the fair's final Saturday.
Kansas State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz announced Tuesday that From Ashes to New, Saliva, and Saving Abel will perform Saturday, Sept. 19, as part of the newly created Rock Fest.
"We are going to have a rock fest at the Kansas State Fair," Schulz said. "This is going to be three rock bands. Some are newer, up-and-coming rock bands, and then you've got some that have a little bit of tradition out there as well."
Schulz said fair officials had explored several options before finalizing the lineup.
"We were hearing quite a bit, 'When are you going to announce some good rock music?' We tried, we tried, we tried, and we think this is going to be a great lineup," he said.
Because the concert features multiple bands, the first performance will begin at 6:30 p.m., an hour earlier than the typical grandstand concert start time. Schulz also said organizers are still exploring the possibility of adding another act.
Tickets for Rock Fest will go on sale Thursday, July 2, one day earlier than usual because of the Independence Day holiday. Unlike previous grandstand shows, there will be no presale for this event.
Reserved grandstand seats are priced at $45, track party pit tickets are $55, standing-room-only VIP deck tickets are $75, and VIP tables for six are $415. Schulz noted all ticket prices include taxes and fair gate admission.
With the announcement, the 2026 grandstand entertainment schedule is now complete:
- Sept. 11: Trace Adkins
- Sept. 12: Be Big X the Plug with Stella Lefty
- Sept. 13: Jo Dee Messina
- Sept. 14: Demolition Derby
- Sept. 15: Hairball
- Sept. 16: Danny Gokey and Colton Dixon
- Sept. 17: Gabriel Iglesias ("Fluffy")
- Sept. 18: Russell Dickerson
- Sept. 19: Rock Fest featuring From Ashes to New, Saliva and Saving Abel
- Sept. 20: Disney DCOM Live.
Schulz said ticket sales for previously announced concerts have been strong, particularly for the opening night performance by Trace Adkins, which will also feature the fair's Hometown Heroes recognition ceremony. Nominations for the Hometown Heroes program remain open through Friday.
The fairgrounds are also undergoing several improvements ahead of the event, including renovations to the Bison Arena, repainting of the iconic giant slide in a red, white and blue theme to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, and other maintenance projects throughout the 275-acre fairgrounds.
Schulz said the fairgrounds remain busy year-round, hosting livestock shows, weddings, community events and other activities in addition to the annual fair. He also noted the fair is continuing to hire seasonal employees, including ticket takers, ticket sellers and grandstand staff, as well as several full-time maintenance positions.