Fairgoers ride a carnival attraction during the California State Fair this past summer in Sacramento. Fair officials announced the event will move to fall dates beginning in 2027. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The California State Fair will shift from its traditional summer schedule to a fall timeframe beginning in 2027, fair officials announced.

The change is intended to address increasingly extreme summer temperatures in the Sacramento region and improve conditions for fairgoers, staff and vendors. The 2027 fair is scheduled to run from Sept. 17 through Oct. 3.

Officials said the 2026 California State Fair, set for July 17 through Aug. 2, will be the final fair held during the summer months.

According to fair leadership, the decision follows several years of evaluation and planning, including consideration of public safety, attendance patterns and operational impacts related to prolonged heat. Many other state fairs across the country already operate during fall months.

Fair organizers said the schedule change is a long-term shift and part of broader efforts to adapt the event to changing climate conditions while preserving its traditions.