Johnson County Fair Iowa City, IA

Fair Schedule

Check out all the events and fun scheduled at the 2026 fair!

People in formal dresses on a decorated stage, one holding a microphone, with gold and white balloons.

Fair Queen Pageant


Foundaton tractor/truck pull

Senior Citizen’s Day

  • Saturday, July 25

    9:00 AM Expo Center Dog Show-(Obedience, Rally, & Agility)

    10:00 AM-7:00 PM Building C & A Commercial Exhibits open 

    10:00 AM Building A Dynamic Music Studios Performance

    8:00-10:00 AM Back of Building B & D Pallet Entries accepted

    11:00 AM Main Concourse Games-to include Chicken Toss & Hay Bale Toss

    12:00 PM Back of Building B & D Pallet Contest Judging

    12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Main Concourse South Beer Garden Open

    12:00 PM Building D Bingo

    1:00 PM Building A Bill Riley Talent Show

    2:00-6:00 PM TBD Crash n Bash RC Racing

    2:00-6:00 PM Main Concourse Barrel Train

    2:00-2:30 PM South Arena Livestock Judging registration

    2:00 PM Heritage Barn Farm Bureau Tops & Bottoms-Kids activity

    2:30-3:00 PM South Arena Livestock Judging Skillathon

    3:00-5:30 PM South Arena Livestock Judging Contests & Awards

    4:00 PM Building A Queen Contest

    5:00 PM   Pie Eating Contest

    6:00-11:00 PM Beer Garden-North Concourse North Beer Garden Open

    6:30 PM Track Foundation Tractor Pull

    9:30 PM North Concourse Glow Foam Party

    9:30 PM North Concourse Fireworks (Approximate time, show will follow Foundation Tractor Pull)

Dirt track fairground with spectators on the left and a crowd on the grassy hillside bleachers.

Dirt Drag Races
( track )
Ag Day

  • Sunday, July 26

    8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Building C & A, Commercial Exhibits Open

    8:30 AM, Building A, Non-Denominational Church Service

    9:00 AM, Horse Arena, Horse Show (Halter & Performance, Showmanship)

    10:00 AM, Expo Center, Meat Goat Show

    10:00 AM, Main Concourse, Corgi Races

    11:00 AM, Building D, Pie Contest Registration

    11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Building B, Educational Presentations

    11:30 AM, Expo Center, Clover Kid Meat Goat Show

    11:30 AM, Building A, Clover Kid Pet Show, followed by 4-H Pet Show

    12:00 PM, Building D, Bingo

    12:00 – 6:00 PM, Main Concourse, Barrel Train

    12:00 – 4:00 PM, Main Concourse South, Beer Garden Open

    1:00 PM, Main Concourse, Pie Judging

    1:00 PM, Expo Center, Sheep Show

    1:00 – 3:00 PM, Heritage Barn, Farm Bureau Membership Appreciation

    2:00 PM, Building C, Storytime w/ Public Libraries of Johnson County

    2:00 PM, Building A, Clothing Event Style Show

    3:00 PM, Expo Center, Clover Kid Sheep Show

    3:00 PM, Building D, Pedal Pull Registration

    3:30 – 8:00 PM, North Concourse, Carnival

    4:00 PM, Building D, Pedal Tractor Pull

    4:00 – 6:00 PM, Expo Center, Friendship Show

    4:30 PM, Main Concourse by Building D, Pallet Auction

    5:00 PM, Building A, Share The Fun

    5:30 PM, Main Concourse by Building D, Pie Auction

    6:00 – 11:00 PM, Beer Garden – North Concourse, North Beer Garden Open

    6:30 PM, Track, Dirt Drags

    7:00 PM, Expo Center, Ag Olympics

Teen in green shirt petting a brown cow at a livestock barn.

ECIPA Truck & Tractor Pull
( Track )
Veteran’s Day

  • Monday, July 27

    8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Building C & A Commercial Exhibits Open

    8:00 AM Expo Center Dairy Cattle Show

    8:00 AM Barn 1 Poultry Barn

    9:00 AM Horse Arena Horse Show-Trail & Game

    9:30 AM Expo Center Dairy Goat Show

    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Main Concourse Barrel Train

    11:00 AM Heritage Barn Farm Bureau- Life Bracelets kids activity

    11:30 AM Expo Center Clover Kid Dairy Goat Show 

    12:00 PM Building D Bingo

    12:30-2:00 PM Expo Center Runner Duck & Turkey Show

    1:30-4:30 PM Building B Working Exhibits

    4:00 PM Expo Center Swine Show

    2:00-6:00 PM Main Concourse Barrel Train

    5:30-9:30 PM.       Carnival

    5:30       Corn on the cob eating contest

    6:00-7:00 PM Main Concourse Rooster Crowing Contest

    6:00-11:00 PM Beer Garden-North Concourse North Beer Garden Open

    7:00 PM Track ECI Tractor Pull

    10:00 PM Track Fireworks (Approximate time, show will follow ECI Tractor Pull)


Handler leads a white pig in a livestock show ring with spectators watching nearby.


Kid’s Day

  • Tuesday, July 28

    Time Location Event

    8:00 AM-7:00 PM Building C & A Commercial Exhibits Open

    8:00 AM Expo Center Beef Show

    9:00 AM-3:00 PM Main Concourse Barrel Train

    9:00-11:00 AM East of Building B Pony Rides

    9:00-12:00 PM Building A Educational Presentations

    9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Main Concourse Barnyard Discoveries

    10:00 AM Bunny Breezeway Rabbit Showmanship

    11:00 AM Storytime with Public Libraries of Johnson County (Building C)

    11:00 AM-1:00 PM North Concourse Carnival

    1:00 PM Bunny Breezeway Rabbit Show

    2:00 PM Expo Center Bucket Bottle Show

    2:00 PM Storytime with Public Libraries of Johnson County (Building C)

    3:00 PM Expo Center Clover Kid Bucket Bottle Show

    4:00-6:00 PM Barrel Train Barrel Train

    5:30-9:30 PM North Concourse Carnival

    6:00 Main Concourse Line Dancing 

    6:00-11:00 PM North Beer Garden North Beer Garden Open

    6:30 PM Track Side by Side Pulls


Child standing with a brown goat in a barn

Wrap-up!

  • Wednesday, July 29


    9:00 AM –Supreme Showmanship, Expo Center

    9:00 AM - Duck Dash Conclusion, Main Concourse

    10:30 AM - 4-H Awards Ceremony, Building C.

    12:00 PM - 4-H Exhibit Release, Building B.

People running through a muddy obstacle course outdoors, with tents and spectators nearby.

Livestock Auction

  • Thursday, July 30

    8:00 a.m. Livestock Auction, Expo Center



People sorting items at a community event inside a barn-like room with tables and boxes

Fair Schedule

Boy standing beside a brown calf on a sunny farm, with barns and a blue sky in the background

4-h & FFA Entry

Person stands on a stage facing a dark crowd with bright phone lights in the audience.

Open competitions