The Nebraska State Fair invites you and your band to perform at the 2026 Nebraska State Fair! If you are interested, please complete the below registration form by July 25th, 2026. We will assign groups their date and time on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an email confirming your performance. If you do not receive a confirmation email within two weeks of submitting your registration, please contact us to ensure that we received it. We will send out information packets in July/August. This packet will include final instructions, wristbands for entry, a map of the route and bus area, and your scheduled performance time. Please be advised that if inclement weather occurs, marching band performances will continue as scheduled. Perform at your own discretion, as we do not provide indoor performance locations for the marching band program. 

The Nebraska State Fair provides a stipend to each group that participates in the Marching Band Exhibition. Stipends, based on mileage to Grand Island, are provided to help alleviate some travel expenses. 

We will continue to utilize the marching band route from the 2025 fair. This route is approximately 0.5 miles long and features three optional performance stops. These stops are noted on the map provided on the registration form below. A more detailed map will be included in your information packet. 

• The Nebraska State Fair’s gates will open at 9 am each day. Marching Band performance days and times are noted on the registration form. Performances will start each day at 9:30 am (excluding Opening Day). 

• The Nebraska State Fair Celebration Parades will take place at 2 pm on weekends, 6 pm on Opening Friday, and 1 pm on Labor Day. If your band would like to walk in the parade on your attendance day, please make a note of it on your registration. Note that celebration parades will not take place on weekdays other than those noted above. 

• Bands are welcome to march the parade route on another date, as well. Please make a note of this on your registration, and we will be in touch to schedule. 

If you have questions or require further information, please contact our Events Manager at 308.382.1685, or lfoushee@statefair.org.