Small businesses behind Fair’s success

By Taylor Pulfer

The State Fair of Texas (Fair) announced that the 2026 food and beverage concessionaire application and the 2026 commercial exhibits application are now available online. The annual Fair comprises a vast collection of small businesses — more than 90 concessionaires, and nearly 200 exhibitors come together to celebrate all things Texan by offering quality products for fairgoers. At the Most Texan Place on Earth, the Fair take pride in having something for everyone, and they are always looking to diversify and expand by adding new businesses to the annual lineup. Small, unique businesses with previous experience serving the massesis what the Fair is looking for. Applications are currently open at BigTex.com. 

The State Fair of Texas is known worldwide for its tasty and innovative food concoctions. In addition to being deep-fried culinary geniuses, the concessionaires also make gourmet regional, national and even international dishes with a Texas twist. 

The Fair is looking for top-notch vendors who can bring new and unique foods to the State Fair. Applicants must have large event experience — after all, the Fair has been known to serve more than 2.5 million people in only 24 days! Organizers encourage all qualified small businesses to apply for consideration at BigTex.com/ConcessionsApp through March 31. 

Once a business is selected as a State Fair of Texas concessionaire, they are welcomed into a family unlike any other. In addition to support from the food and beverage department at the Fair, long-time veteran concessionaires and those with just a few Fairs under their belt alike are there to support brand-new businesses with advice, feedback and friendship throughout the journey. After a vendor has successfully completed two State Fairs, if they are invited back for the next Fair, they are eligible for the highly coveted Big Tex Choice Awards food competition. While new vendors are not eligible for the Big Tex Choice Awards in their inaugural year as concessionaires, they are eligible to be featured in the State Fair’s “new foods” communications. 

“Being a new vendor at the State Fair of Texas was a game-changing opportunity for our small, family-owned vegan business,” said Jovan Cole, co-owner of Vegan Vibrationz. “The exposure, support and platform the Fair provides allowed us to reach thousands of new guests and show that innovative, plant-based food truly belongs on a stage this big. We’re incredibly grateful for the experience and encouragement given to small businesses like ours.” 

Home to approximately 400,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor commercial exhibit space, the State Fair of Texas is the perfect destination to increase a business’ product sales and awareness, generate sales leads, drive in-store traffic and interact with thousands of potential customers. 

The State Fair of Texas is looking for exceptional businesses that can add an appealing new product or service to the roster for 2026. Alongside the uniqueness of the product or service and the appearance of the display, new applicants are selected based on the availability of space, which can fill up quickly, so although the application for new exhibitors is open until September 1, organizers encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible at BigTex.com/Exhibitors. 

Whether a Texan, born and bred, or a Texan at heart, the Fair welcomes applications to become a food and beverage vendor or commercial exhibitor at the State Fair of Texas. 

It’s small businesses that allow the Fair to be one of the greatest events and attractions in the country and help the state celebrate all things Texan. 

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