Nebraska State Fair board says advance ticket sales up about 4,500 as entertainment and vendor lineups expand

Karli Bartz, Entertainment & Events Director, said at the May 15 Nebraska State Fair Board meeting that advance concert ticket sales are about 4,500 higher than at the same point last year, saying sales were "blowing last year's sales out of the water." Bartz identified Phil Wickham as the current top seller and Shinedown as the second‑best seller.

Bartz told the board the fair will feature more than 600 hours of free entertainment across the grounds, a program that includes strolling acts and free stage attractions such as tigers, acrobats, dogs, pigs, robots, strolling piano, eco‑magic and close‑up magic. Staff reported more than 60 different Nebraska bands will perform, 50 school marching bands are slated to attend and 73 class registrations currently total 5,370 students and teachers registered.

Keaton Irwin, Sales Director, said vendor recruitment is strong and previewed new food vendors for 2026, including Wandering Lobster (seafood items), Skew It (food on a stick) and Freund Family Foods (value $5 menu items), and noted an expansion in gluten‑free meal options. Irwin said roughly 80–90% of vendors come via returning vendor recommendations, with some vendors traveling from states as far as Arizona, California, Montana and Florida.

Bartz also said the box office will move to an in‑house credentialing system that prints barcode name badges rather than outsourcing that function, a change intended to give staff more control over individualized access. Board members were asked to submit ticket and credential requests promptly so staff can fulfill them ahead of the fair.