Last updated October 14, 2026 · By Magnolia Megan
For a lot of people, the food is the whole point of the NC State Fair. In 2026 there are more than 80 new food items, plus the classics people line up for every October. Below are the new foods we are most excited to try, the vendors worth finding, and a few tips for eating well without wasting your money or your afternoon in line.
We start with the treats we have loved on our own visits in 2024 and 2025, then get into this year's new foods from the fair's official 2026 list.
Eat smarter at the fair
- Use the official Food and Ride Finder map to find any vendor.
- Eat at off times, like late morning or mid afternoon, to skip the longest lines.
- Bring water and snacks from home (allowed), and spend on the treats you really want.
- Bring cash. Vendors take cash, and there are ATMs inside.
Our favorites from past fairs
These are the treats we go back for, photographed on our 2024 and 2025 visits. We checked each vendor against the official 2026 vendor map, so you know what to expect this year.
Peachey's Baking Co.: the donuts
A warm glazed donut on a cool fair night is hard to beat, and watching them come off the line is half the fun. Peachey's is back in 2026, on Lot K in the Dorton Arena and Hillsborough Street area near Gate 1, serving donuts and pretzels.
Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken: the mini pancakes
Hot Chix is one of our must stops: fluffy mini pancakes made to order and piled with toppings. They are back in 2026 on Lot L, with two new items: Thanks A'Latte Mini Pancakes (espresso chips, sweet milk cream, and a salted caramel, mocha, or vanilla drizzle) and Mac'd and Loaded, a bread cone filled with mac and cheese and fried chicken. Their menu also lists Caramel Apple, Cotton Candy, and Pumpkin Spice mini pancakes, plus stuffed mini pancakes.
Cinnamon Salon: the cinnamon roll
Soft, warm, and covered in frosting. We could not find Cinnamon Salon on the official 2026 vendor map when we checked on Oct. 13, so look it up in the Food and Ride Finder before you go.
Neomande: the stretchy ice cream
This ice cream stretches when you pull it up with a spoon, which makes it as fun to watch as it is to eat. Neomande was also not on the official 2026 map when we checked, so confirm in the Food and Ride Finder.
New foods for 2026 we want to try
Sweet
| New for 2026 | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Caramel Biscoff Mozzarella KDog | Goldenkdog |
| Biscoff 'Nana Puddin' | Tropical Delights |
| Nashville Hot Peach Sundae | Another Food Truck |
| Cookie Butter Cheesecake Donut | Fluffy's Hand Cut Donuts |
| Queen of Hearts Chocolate Cherry Gourmet Funnel Cake | Gobblin Gourmet |
| Strawberry Cheesecake Churro Nachos | Mike Nice Empanadas |
| Tiramisu Pizza Cone | Kona Pizza |
| Blooming Deep Fried Caramel Apples | The Candi Queen |
| Cider Donut Delight | Bright Branch Farms |
| Banana Pudding Flights | Angel Cakes |
| Chimney Cake Feast | Magdalena's Chimney Cakes |
| Deep Fried Kunafa Crunch | Urban Olive Med |
Savory
| New for 2026 | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Pork Belly Burnt Ends | Fat Boys BBQ |
| Carolina Yam n Ham Biscuit | Granny's Country Kitchen |
| Birria Egg Rolls with Consome Soup | Tacos Neza |
| Hot Honey and Pimento Cheese Fried Pickle Chips | Chester's Gators and Taters |
| Pimento Cheese Bombs | The Cheese Curd Shack |
| NY Style Pizza Hot Honey Fried Chicken | Barb Wilson Enterprises II |
| Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich | Bulkogi Korean BBQ |
| Jerk Lobster Roll | Cool Runnings Jamaican |
| NC Poke Bowl | Waypoint Oyster Bar |
| Fried Oxtail | Lee's Kitchen |
| Kreyol Oxtail Empanada | Kreyol Flavor |
| Jalapeno Popper Pizza | Rudy's |
| Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks | Dr. Vegetable |
| Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cheese Curds | Davis Concessions |
Drinks
| New for 2026 | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Dewey's Dirty Sodas | Dewey's Dirty Soda |
| Campfire S'mores Dirty Soda | Quench |
| Dirty Monkey Slush | Moose Joose Slush |
The fair's full new food list also includes Cheerwine Fried Corn Ribs, Swamp Fries, Pickle Cheesecake, a Dubai Burger, Frozen Horchata Slush, Liquid Cotton Candy, and Princess Peach Lemonade. See the complete list on the fair's What's New in 2026 page.
Classic North Carolina fair favorites
The new foods get the headlines, but the classics are why many people come back every year: funnel cakes, fried dough, fresh lemonade, roasted corn, barbecue, and a hot donut on a cool night. A few returning vendors worth finding:
- Peachey's Baking Co. for donuts and pretzels.
- Goldenkdog for Korean style corn dogs, including this year's new Caramel Biscoff Mozzarella KDog.
- Tropical Delights for smoothies and fruit, plus the new Biscoff 'Nana Puddin'.
Look up where each one is parked this year in the official Food and Ride Finder.
How to avoid the longest food lines
- Eat early or late. Lines build around noon and dinner, especially on weekends. A mid morning snack or a 3 p.m. lunch is much calmer.
- Go on a weekday. Weekdays are noticeably less crowded than Saturdays.
- Split up. If you are with a group, send one person to each line and meet at a table.
- Map it first. Star your must haves in the Food and Ride Finder before you go so you are not wandering hungry.
How to budget for fair food
Fair food adds up fast. Decide on your must try list before you go, share big portions, and bring your own water and snacks so you only pay for the treats you are excited about. Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed, so packing a few basics for kids can save a lot. The fair is not cashless, so bring cash for quicker lines. For more ways to save, see our money saving guide.
Planning the rest of your day? Our 2026 NC State Fair guide covers tickets, hours, and parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many new foods are at the 2026 NC State Fair?
More than 80 new food items, according to the fair.
Can you bring your own food to the NC State Fair?
Yes. Outside food, snacks, and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed. Glass, alcohol, and hard sided, oversized, or rolling coolers are not.
How do I find a specific food vendor at the fair?
Use the official 2026 Food and Ride Finder map at ncmhtd.com/foodandridefinder.
Do NC State Fair food vendors take cash?
Yes. The fair is not cashless, and there are ATMs on the grounds.
When is the best time to eat at the NC State Fair?
Late morning or mid afternoon on a weekday, when lines are shortest.
Our 2026 NC State Fair series
