Fair Food Face Off

FIRST ROUND:
ENTRIES DUE AUGUST 15 @11:59pm!

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY:

Is it unique and different? Is it something that hasn’t been offered at our fair before? Is it something not easily found at a local restaurant? Does it incorporate current food trends or an ethnic style ‘fusion’?

APPEARANCE:

Is it “Instagrammable”? Does it look mouth-watering? Jaw-dropping?

Category Definition: How does it rank in the specific category above?

PHOTO-BASED JUDGING:

This round will determine the semifinalists, who will be featured on the Fair’s website, app and social media platforms. Judges will ensure minimum standards are met for appearance, innovation and creativity. Judges will assess how well the item aligns with its selected category. The judges reserve the right to reassign entries to different categories if they feel an item is better suited elsewhere.

FOOD ITEMS MOVING ON TO THE SECOND ROUND WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18!

SECOND ROUND:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

But ultimately, it comes down to TASTE, right? Taste: Favor–that combination of smell, taste, temperature and texture that creates a party in your mouth.

FINALIST SELECTION:

Concessionaires will drop-off their item to a closed judging room, where a panel of judges will sample and judge all semi-finalist entries on the opening day of the Fair. A total of 18 finalists—three in each class—will be announced by 11:59pm on Thursday, October 1 and will be featured on Fair social channels and website.

FINALISTS WILL BE ANOUNCED BY 11:59pm OPENING DAY OF THE FAIR!

THE FAIR FOOD FACE
OFF FINALE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

3:00PM • Backyard Stage

The final round of judging will take place on Sunday, October 4, from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM at the Backyard Stage, in front of the public.

The Fair Food Face Off finalists will be evaluated and crowned at the big finale, a live event held in the heart of the Arizona State Fair.

Three local celebrity judges will taste the finalist entries and determine a winner for each category and subcategory. The judges will then select an overall Best of Show winner. Finalists must prepare 1 full-size portion of their entry for photography and appearance judging, and 27 sample-sized versions of their items:

3 for the main judges on stage

24 for the People’s Choice judges

In the event of a tie, the People’s Choice scores will serve as the tie-breaker.

A SAVORY and SWEET winner in each category — THEME, FAIR CLASSIC REIMAGINED and ARIZONA ORIGINAL will be awarded — and from those, a WINNER will be crowned the Best of Show!

1. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm, August 15, 2026.
2. All entries must be new food items or existing menu items with a creative new twist.
3. Each food stand may enter one item per category and class (maximum of six entries per stand).
4. Duplicate stands with identical menus will count as one stand and must submit a single entry per category and subcategory.
5. All entries must be submitted with an original high-quality photo, as the first round of judging is based solely on the submitted images and how well the item represents the chosen category.
6. Items that advance to Round 2 must be available for purchase by Fair attendees for the duration of the 2026 Arizona State Fair, from October 1 through November 1, 2026.
7. By entering the competition, you agree to participate in all related promotions and partnerships affiliated with the Fair Food Face Off including:

• Media Morning: All semi-finalists must showcase their food items at the Media Morning event on the opening day of the Fair, Thursday, October 1 beginning at 5:00AM. Vendors are not required to appear on camera, but participation is encouraged.
• Foodie Fridays Promotion: Any item selected as a Finalist must be offered at 50% off on Foodie Fridays from 12:00pm-6:00pm during the 2026 Arizona State Fair. All Finalists will receive a display sign to place at their food stand promoting the Foodie Friday promotion and recognizing them as a Fair Food Face Off Finalist.

• Foodie Fridays: Every Friday from 12pm-6pm all 18 finalists will offer their items at half price. This promotion will be heavily promoted. All finalists stands will receive special recognition in promotional materials and signage.
• Pre-Fair Media Coverage: Highest scoring foods will be featured in a press release distributed to local and national media outlets.
• Featured on the Food Map: The finalists will be highlighted on a Fair Food Face Off featured area on the Foodie Friday Map as well as an icon highlighting the finalists on the general Fair Food Map!
• Social Media: Highest scoring foods in each category will be featured on the fair’s social media outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more.
• Website: Highest scoring foods will be featured on azstatefair.com

• App: Highest scoring foods will be featured on the Arizona State Fair App.
• Invited Influencer Coverage: Social media “foodie” influencers will be invited to experience each of the winning foods, in exchange for covering the most exciting foods the 2026 Fair has to offer.
• Video Boards & Signage: Let’s get guests mouth’s watering while they walk around the Fair! Highest-scoring foods in each category will be featured on the digital video boards and/or on signage around the fairgrounds.
• …AND MORE! Media collaborations are still in the works, and we couldn’t be more excited. We want this event to be something YOU and our Fair Food Fans look forward to each and every year. Let’s really knock it out of the park!