Texans, it’s time to showcase your talent and creativity. The 2026 State Fair of Texas Arts & Crafts and Cooking Contest Guides are now available for download at BigTex.com/CreativeArts. A time-honored tradition for more than 140 years, the State Fair’s Creative Arts competitions invite Texans of all ages to compete in more than 870 arts and crafts categories and 20 cooking contests. Whether you’re whipping up a winning recipe or crafting a handmade masterpiece, there’s a contest for everyone – including kids.
With more than 870 categories across 13 different pre-Fair contests, amateurs and professionals of all ages are presented with endless opportunities to have their innovative entries under the spotlight. The 2026 Arts & Crafts Contests include:
- Canning
- Craft Creations
- Needlework
- Dolls
- Fine Art
- Glue-a-Shoe
- Hobby Collections
- Holiday Corner
- Photography
- Scale Models
- Sculpture
- Sewing & Quilting
- Yarn
Key dates to remember: Online registration opens May 6, the deadline to submit entry forms and fees is Monday, July 27, and hand-delivered entries will be accepted at the Creative Arts Building in Fair Park on July 31, August 1, and August 2. Contestants may also submit their entries by mail by July 27. Entries will be judged in the weeks following, and contestants will be notified once results are finalized. Entries awarded a ribbon will be displayed during the 2026 State Fair of Texas.
In addition to crafting, grab your kitchen utensils and put your culinary skills to the test in Battle for the Blue Ribbons – the one and only State Fair spring cooking competition consisting of four of the Fair’s most popular Creative Arts Cooking Contests: Cakes, Youth Cooking, Pies, and Cookies, taking place on April 25 and 26, and May 2 and 3, 2026. Amateur home cooks of all ages may enter for the chance to be awarded first, second, third, or honorable mention.
Blue-ribbon winners from the cake, pie, and cookie contests will earn the opportunity to compete in their respective categories at the exclusive Best of Show-Down in the Competition Kitchen during the 2026 State Fair of Texas on September 27. One contestant from each category will be awarded a Best of Show ribbon and advance to a final head-to-head battle for the Best of Show-Down grand prize. First, second, and third place winners from the youth cooking competition will be awarded complimentary admission tickets to come back and enjoy the Fair. For more information about this specific competition and to register, please visit BigTex.com/Battle.
And that’s not all – the State Fair of Texas is thrilled to announce the return of the Fair-time Creative Arts Cooking Contests. The 2026 Cooking Contests include:
- Bread
- Best of Show-Down (invitation only)
- Honey, the Magic Ingredient
- Beekeepers Honey
- Speedy Dishes
- Retro Revival
- Tex Mex
- Chicken or the Egg
- Charcuterie Board
- Fair Concoctions
- Soup or Salad
- Farm to Fork
- International
- Ice Cream Cook Off
- Cooking with Cheese
- Candy
The 2026 State Fair of Texas Cooking Contest Guide and the Cooking Contest Calendar are now available, with online registration opening on May 6.
Creative Arts encourages participants to use the online registration system for all contests. The portal allows families to create a household account and register multiple contestants, including youth participants. While paper forms are available in the contest guides, online registration ensures contestants receive timely reminders, updates, and judging results.
For complete details on all Creative Arts competitions, download the 2026 State Fair of Texas Arts & Crafts and Cooking Contest Guides now at BigTex.com/CreativeArts. In addition, sign up for the Creative Arts newsletter to keep up with all things Creative Arts. With various contests to choose from, the whole family can spend time together crafting and whipping up delectable treats. Get ready to register your creative entries on May 6 and start planning your trip to visit the Creative Arts building at the Most Texan Place on Earth® during the 2026 State Fair of Texas, opening Friday, September 25, and running through Sunday, October 18.