Illinois State Fair | Illinois 4-H | UIUC

Congratulations to our 2025 State Fair Delegates! View results here.

We'll see you August 14 -16, 2026!

Daily Schedule at the Orr Building

• 8:00 – 9:00 AM Project Drop off at the Orr Building
• 9:00 – 3:30 PM Project Judging Interviews until 3:30 PM
• 3:30 PM Final Projects Release (and throughout the day through our app if they are available earlier)
• 4:30 PM All Projects Must Be Picked Up

Click here for a map of the Orr Building.

2026 County Exhibit Days for reference

• Friday, August 14: Christian, Clark, Clay, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jasper, Jersey, Johnson, Kane, Kendall, Livingston, Logan, Macoupin, Massac, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Ogle, Perry, Pulaski-Alexander, Randolph, Sangamon, Union, Williamson, Woodford
• Saturday, August 15: Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Edwards, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Jefferson, Kankakee, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, McDonough, McHenry, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Pope-Hardin, Richland, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Will
• Sunday, August 16: Boone,Bureau, Carroll, Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Ford, Fulton, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Macon, Marshall-Putnam, Mason, Mercer, Moultrie-Douglas, Peoria, Piatt, Rock Island, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermilion, Whiteside, Winnebago

Parking at the Fair

Families may buy parking passes at the fairgrounds or park at private lots around the fairgrounds.

Map of the Illinois State Fairgrounds

Need directions? DOWNLOAD A MAP of the fairgrounds.

Exhibit Guidelines

Click the link to view and/or download the 2026 General Rules and Exhibit Guidelines for the State Fair.

If you have questions about copyright, please view the Copyright Guidelines document. Reminder it is illegal for youth to use an image or brand that someone else owns as part of their 4-H project exhibit without the permission of the copyright/trademark holder. Copyrighted or trademarked designs includes things like team logos, school logos, and/or characters from television, movies such as Disney characters, Iron Man, etc.

Chartered 4-H clubs and enrolled 4-H members are authorized to use the 4-H Name and Emblem in exhibits you create for personal use and as a part of 4-H sponsored events. This includes 4-H decorated cookies, a 4-H clover scrapbook cover, etc. Use of a general green clover or clover shape is not protected, but use of or recreation of the official 4-H emblem does not allow for any creative rendering, change in color, shape, etc. Please view our Clover Resources for acceptable use of the clover as a part of your exhibit.

Please note that any use of the 4-H name and emblem intended as gifts or for sale require permission from your local county. Please contact them for information on the permission process.

4-H Now App

The State Fair Illinois 4-H General Project Show has gone mobile! View the schedule, maps, exhibitor info, and more. Find the 4-H Now app in the iOS and Google Play App Stores or visit https://grandstandsites.com/gs?c=Illinois_4-H. Or view the App Download Instructions for more information.

First-time Fairgoer Brochure

First time exhibiting at State Fair? Download a copy of our First-time Fairgoer Brochure (en Español también)

Search

for more information on what to expect! Learn more about Conference Judging Information for the 4-H Family Course. You will be asked to login, but just choose "login as a guest."

Volunteer at State Fair

Learn more about the process with the Judges Orientation. You will be asked to login, but just choose "login as a guest."

Ribbons & Awards

•Every exhibitor receives a PARTICIPATION RIBBON & EXHIBITOR BUTTON.

•Top score in each class receives CHAMPION MEDAL and receives 2X value premium money.

•Second highest score in each class receives RESERVE CHAMPION MEDAL and receives 1X value premium money.

•Exhibitors who present inspirational, innovative, or unique exhibits receive the INSPIRE AWARDS. (This is not 3rd place.)

•Champion and reserve champion projects are not eligible for Inspire Awards.