The Arizona State Fair has begun rolling out the initial slate of performers for its 2026 Coliseum Concert Series, confirming two headliners who will appear at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in October. The first announcements name Tempe’s own Gin Blossoms and country star Russell Dickerson as the opening acts of what organizers say will be a broader lineup released in the weeks ahead.
The Gin Blossoms, the Grammy-nominated alt-rock band that rose to prominence in the 1990s, are scheduled to take the Coliseum stage on Friday, Oct. 2, with the performance set to begin at 7 p.m. The group is billed as a hometown act, reflecting their ties to the Valley, and will perform without an opening act. Their appearance is one of the earliest in what is expected to be a busy concert calendar during the fair’s run.
Russell Dickerson, the country singer-songwriter known for multi-platinum singles such as "Yours" and "Blue Tacoma," will headline a Coliseum show later in the month. Dickerson’s set is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, also starting at 7 p.m., and like the Gin Blossoms’ date, is listed as a solo bill with no support act announced. Both concerts will take place inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the long-standing concert venue that forms part of the state fair campus.
Organizers have laid out ticketing plans for the first two shows. Public tickets are slated to go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m., while members of the fair’s Fair Fandom program will have access to a pre-sale beginning the previous day, Thursday at 10 a.m. Fair Fandom members will be sent an early-access password that allows them to purchase tickets before the general public. The pre-sale option is being presented as a way for fans to secure seats ahead of the broader release.
A notable detail for theatergoers is that admission to the Arizona State Fair itself is included with every Coliseum concert ticket. That inclusion means ticketholders will be able to enter the fairgrounds and enjoy attractions and food prior to or following the concerts without needing a separate fair admission pass. The fair’s promotional materials highlight the usual mix of carnival rides, concessions and on-site exhibits that accompany the event’s entertainment schedule, pointing out that concert attendees can take advantage of those fair features as part of their visit.
These two bookings represent the first wave of the Coliseum Concert Series announcements; fair officials have indicated additional performers will be revealed in the coming weeks. For fans hoping to buy tickets early, registration for the Fair Fandom pre-sale and specific pre-sale links for each concert have been made available through the fair’s ticketing system. The early-access approach is intended to give members an opportunity to secure tickets before public availability, although the general sale will follow shortly thereafter.
With the initial headliners set, the Arizona State Fair is beginning to map out the entertainment schedule that will accompany its traditional assortment of midway attractions and exhibits. Concertgoers planning to attend either the Gin Blossoms or Russell Dickerson shows should note the dates and start times—Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 17, respectively, each at 7 p.m.—and consider the Fair Fandom pre-sale window for advance purchase. More Coliseum Concert Series artists will be announced by fair organizers in the weeks ahead as the full season is finalized.