A Fair Favorite Returns BIGGER and BETTER!
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The Best Concert Value of the Summer Returns Featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees and Legendary Classic Rock, Hip Hop and Gospel Artists
August 7-23, 2026 (Closed Mondays)
[Above images L to R: The Beach Boys, Busta Rhymes, Gene Simmons, Don McLean, Tasha Cobbs Leonard)
Download Above High Resolution Images HERE
INDIANAPOLIS (June 3, 2026) – Today, the Indiana State Fair unveiled the first full wave of its 2026 list of scheduled concerts as a part of the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage schedule, August 7-23 (Fair is closed on Mondays). The Hoosier Lottery Free Stage has become a summertime staple for concert goers and music lovers. The lineup each year consists of some of music’s most legendary and diverse acts and this year is no exception. All shows at the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage are free with paid fair admission and seating is first-come, first-served. All shows start at 7:30 p.m., unless noted otherwise. Discount tickets can be purchased for the 2026 Indiana State Fair today at indianastatefair.com/.
The first wave of concerts just unveiled today for the 2026 Hoosier Lottery Free Stage at the Indiana State Fair include:
- The Beach Boys – Friday, August 7 – opening day
- Busta Rhymes – Thursday, August 13
- Gene Simmons – Thursday, August 20
- Don McLean – Saturday, August 22
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Sunday, August 23
High resolution artist images are available by request or by visiting the State Fair media center photo gallery at www.IndianaStateFair.com.
“The Indiana State Fair is a beloved summer tradition that has been bringing people together for 169 years,” said Anna Whelchel, Chief Marketing Officer of the Indiana State Fair. “The Hoosier Lottery Free Stage lineup adds to the unforgettable entertainment, memories and traditions that make the Fair a highlight of summer.”
As Champions of Play and title sponsor of the Free Stage, the Hoosier Lottery is inviting fairgoers 18 or older to take a swing at summer fun with myLOTTERY. Six winners will receive six State Fair tickets, a parking pass, $250 in Fair Bucks, six box seats to a 2026 Indianapolis Indians home game at Victory Field, and a Hoosier Lottery Prize Pack. Enter by signing up to become a free myLOTTERY member or confirming your existing account at HoosierLottery.com/StateFair by July 2, 2026. Promotional odds are dependent upon the number of entries received.
“The Hoosier Lottery is proud to be back in the starting lineup as sponsor of the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage at the Indiana State Fair,” said Sarah M. Taylor, Executive Director of the Hoosier Lottery. “This year’s ‘Always a Hit’ theme is a home run, celebrating baseball, Indiana’s summer spirit and our nation’s 250th anniversary. As longtime partners with the Indiana State Fair and the Indianapolis Indians, we know how baseball brings people together, and we’re excited to help fairgoers enjoy great entertainment, great value and great memories at one of Indiana’s favorite summer traditions.”
There is a limited amount of reserved viewing area tickets available now for the concerts. The 2026 Indiana State Fair is scheduled to open on Friday, August 7 and runs through August 23, when you can enjoy The Greatest 15 Days of Summer at this iconic Hoosier tradition. For more information, please visit indianastatefair.com/ or follow the Indiana State Fair on Facebook, Instagram and X. The Indiana State Fair will be highlighted by its 2026 theme “Always A Hit,” presented by the Indianapolis Indians.
2026 Artist Bios:
The Beach Boys
Since the band’s co-founder, lead-singer and chief lyricist Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit,“Surfin’” (1961), dozens of the bands chart toppers have become eternal anthems of American youth: “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Kokomo.”
The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. The Rock And Roll Hall of Famers where also honored at the 2001 Grammy Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love, who, along with musical director Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago, John Wedemeyer and Chris Cron continue the legacy of the iconic band.
Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes (Trevor George Smith Jr.), born May 20, 1972, is an iconic American rapper, producer, and actor renowned for his rapid-fire delivery, intricate rhyme schemes, and high-energy style. Rising in the early 1990s with Leaders of the New School, he launched a successful solo career in 1996, earning 12 Grammy nominations.
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an international rock icon and co-founder of KISS, the RIAA’s #1 gold record award-winning group of all time. Beyond his legendary stage persona, Simmons is a formidable serial entrepreneur who revolutionized the intersection of music and commerce. Under his leadership, KISS became a global merchandising powerhouse with over 5,000 licensed products, generating more revenue from trademark deals than any other band in music history.
His career is defined by historic accolades and high-level advocacy. He is a 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Kennedy Center Honors. As an integral partner with SoundExchange, Simmons has become a leading voice in Washington, D.C., recently testifying before the Senate to champion the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). His efforts are central to closing the “radio loophole” and ensuring all recording artists receive fair compensation for terrestrial airplay.
Simmons’ diverse business portfolio includes the international restaurant chain Rock & Brews, the MoneyBag spirits line, and a career as a New York Times bestselling author. A dedicated philanthropist, he has raised millions for veterans and children’s health, recently receiving the 2025 World Smile Award from Operation Smile. Whether leading global business ventures or touring with the Gene Simmons Band, he remains a definitive force in entertainment and industry.
Don McLean
As tragic as the backstory behind the song “American Pie” is with the much too early death of the new rock’n’roll-hope Buddy Holly, the track is also magnificent and legendary. And “American Pie” still goes to heart as soon as originator Don McLean plays this classic at his concerts. Still, it’s worth remembering that the 76-year-old composer has written and sung numerous other melodic and harmonic successes in his decades-long career with “Vincent (Starry Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air,” “And I Love You So,” and “Cryin’,” all of which will be heard and reveled in along with newer pieces on the upcoming tour.
The eight-and-a-half-minute ballad “American Pie” has been making history since its release in 1971. Alongside songs by other icons such as Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Woody Guthrie, and Aretha Franklin, McLean’s composition was also voted “Song of the 20th Century.”” Handwritten lyrics to the song were auctioned off for more than $1.2 million in 2015, and the composition was added to the Library Of Congress National Recording Registry two years later. Here, you’ll only find a few selected evergreens, such as “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”” So much for the cultural significance of Don McLean and his 1971 stroke of genius!”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
In less than a decade, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter Tasha Cobbs Leonard has become one of the most iconic artists in gospel music history. Winner of the Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Artist for the past two years, her latest radio single, “You Know My Name (Live),” recently climbed to #1, while her career-launching hit, “Break Every Chain,” was recently certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).