Finalists Announced – Vote Now on the 2026 Kansas State Fair T-Shirt Contest!

The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation is hosting the third annual t-shirt design contest for the 2026 Kansas State Fair. Online voting will take place on Facebook until May 31, 2026.

It has been wonderful to see the creativity and passion for the Kansas State Fair through more than 50 incredible entries into the third annual Kansas State Fair T-Shirt Contest! We thank each and every person who entered this contest for sharing their ideas and love of the Fair.

The top designs in both the youth and adult division have been chosen by the selection committee to go into the final round of public voting, taking place on the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation’s Facebook page. The designs that receives the most votes in each category wins! Votes will be accepted via Facebook “like” until May 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The winners will be announced in the June First Friday E-Update on June 5, 2026. There will be one winner from the adult division and one winner from the youth division.

Go to Facebook to see which designs made it to the finals and cast your vote now!

Vote Now on Facebook!

The winning design from the adult division will be produced and sold as a t-shirt at the Official Kansas State Fair Merchandise Booth. The top 3 vote recipients in each division will receive a special Kansas State Fair prize package provided by the Foundation. 

New this year, the winning design from the youth division will also be produced and sold at the Official Kansas State Fair Merchandise Booth on the Foundation’s choice of merchandise. Like last year, the top 3 winning designs will also receive a special Kansas State Fair prize package provided by the Foundation.

Participation in this contest supports improvements to the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Funds from the t-shirt sales will go towards projects to improve our historic Kansas State Fairgrounds.

First Friday E-Updates are going to be THE place to stay up to date on all contest details. Sign up for our email list here!

Sign up for E-Updates!

Prizes

Adult Division

Not only will the 1st Place winner get their design sold at the Official Kansas State Fair Merchandise Booth, but the top 3 winners will receive a special Kansas State Fair prize!

Adult 1st Place Winner Receives

  • Your winning design is produced to sell at the 2025 Kansas State Fair 
  • 4 T-shirts with the winning design
  • 1 Kansas State Fair Family Package
    • Includes: 4 gate passes, 2 punch cards (good for the Train, Big Slide, Sky Ride, or Old Mill), 1 ride sheet, and $20 in food coupons
  • 4 tickets to the Grandstand concert of your choice (unless the preferred concert is sold out at the time the winner is announced)
  • $50 food gift certificate for the Foundation’s 1861 Club on the Fairgrounds (good during 2026 Kansas State Fair only)

Adult 2nd Place Receives

  • 1 Kansas State Fair Family Package
    • Includes: 4 gate passes, 2 punch cards (good for the Train, Big Slide, Sky Ride, or Old Mill), 1 ride sheet, and $20 in food coupons
  • 2 tickets to the Grandstand concert of your choice (unless the preferred concert is sold out at the time the winner is announced)
  • $40 food gift certificate for the Foundation’s 1861 Club on the Fairgrounds (good during 2026 Kansas State Fair only)

Adult 3rd Place Receives

  • 4 gate admission passes
  • $30 food gift certificate for the Foundation’s 1861 Club on the Fairgrounds (good during 2026 Kansas State Fair only)

Youth Division

Not only will the 1st Place youth winner get their design sold at the Official Kansas State Fair Merchandise Booth, but the top 3 winners will receive a special Kansas State Fair prize!

Youth 1st Place Winner Receives

  • Kansas State Fair Merchandise Package – $50 Value
  • 1 Kansas State Fair Family Package
    • Includes: 4 gate passes, 2 punch cards (good for the Train, Big Slide, Sky Ride, or Old Mill), 1 ride sheet, and $20 in food coupons
  • $50 food gift certificate for the Foundation’s 1861 Club on the Fairgrounds (good during 2026 Kansas State Fair only)

Youth 2nd Place Receives

  • 1 Kansas State Fair Family Package
    • Includes: 4 gate passes, 2 punch cards (good for the Train, Big Slide, Sky Ride, or Old Mill), 1 ride sheet, and $20 in food coupons
  • $40 food gift certificate for the Foundation’s 1861 Club on the Fairgrounds (good during 2026 Kansas State Fair only)

Youth 3rd Place Receives

  • 4 gate admission passes
  • $30 food gift certificate for the Foundation’s 1861 Club on the Fairgrounds (good during 2026 Kansas State Fair only)

This contest is an excellent opportunity to get involved and support the Kansas State Fair, as all of the funds from each sale goes towards renovation projects to improve our historic Kansas State Fairgrounds. If you want to help pick the winning design, make sure to vote on Facebook by MAY 31! 

Vote on Facebook from by May 31!

Vote Now on Facebook!

How to Vote

Navigate to the Foundation’s Facebook page to find the Voting post pinned to the top of the page. From there, add a “like” to the photo of the design you want to WIN!

If you have any questions, email info@ksfgf.org or call 620-615-7388.

Updated Timeline

Mar 6, 2026 – Original Contest announcement in March First Friday E-Update

Mar 29, 2026 – Original Design Submission Deadline

Apr 3, 2026 – EXTENDED DEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENT

Apr 26, 2026 – Extended Entry Deadline

May 1, 2026 – Facebook voting on the top 10 designs (5 adult division and 5 youth division) opens in the May First Friday E-Update

May 31, 2026 – Facebook Voting closes at 11:59pm — any votes placed after this date will not be counted

June 5, 2026 – Winners announced in the June First Friday E-Update

Guidelines

Submission Details

  • Entries should be submitted via email to the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation at info@ksfgf.org
  • The EXTENDED entry deadline is APRIL 26, 2026.
  • The entry should be accompanied by your name and contact information including mailing address, phone number and email (including supervising adults’ contact information for youth division entries).

Design Details

  • The design must contain the year “2026” and the words “Kansas State Fair” and represent an aspect of the Kansas State Fair, its facilities or traditions.
    • This year is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and the 35th anniversary of the Little Red Schoolhouse on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Designs are not required to relate to these topics.
  • The design may be drawn, printed or digital. Electronic submissions and vector artwork (.AI, .PDF, or .EPS files) are preferred. Image files must be saved to 300 dpi and be high resolution in .JPG, .PNG or .PSD format. Please convert all text to outline. If your design is selected, you will be required to provide the original design in a high-resolution format that is compatible with Photoshop, Illustrator or other professional design program or agree to have your design recreated in a usable format. If photographing a drawing please be sure to take the photo straight on with good lighting (no shadows over artwork) and no to minimal background.
  • Final design dimensions should not exceed 12” x 12”.
  • The color of the final shirt will be determined by the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation.

Judging Details

  • Designs will be judged on the following:
    • Concept/originality
    • Striking and memorable
    • Visibility – eye-catching and visible from a reasonable distance
    • Complete – must be ready for print
    • Feasibility – must be easy to reproduce on a t-shirt
  • Please note that the Foundation reserves the right to adjust the winning design.

Rules

  • All entries must be original creations that have never been published and do not contain any profanity, trademarks, logos, restricted or copyrighted works of any other person or business.
    • AI rules: AI may be used to supplement a design, however, designs must be primarily created by humans. No more than approximately 10% of the design may be AI generated. Entrants must disclose the use of AI in their design process, detailing in what capacity and which areas of the design it was used. The judging criteria will consider originality, artistic expression, and adherence to the contest theme. Failure to adhere to this rule may lead to disqualification at the discretion of the judges.
  • The winning design will remain the property of the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation and will not be returned to you nor will you receive any compensation for said design other than the aforementioned prize package. The Foundation may use the winning design at any time after the contest. The winning contestant may display their design in a portfolio or personal collection, but may not sell or reproduce the design for any other purpose once submitted to the contest.
  • By submitting an entry and including your name, address and contact information, you are acknowledging your acceptance and understanding of the complete contest rules including that the winning design is the property of the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation.
  • UPDATED As of March 31, 2026: Up to 3 entries may be submitted by an individual, but they must be submitted as separate entries If more than 3 entries are received from a participant, only the first three submissions will be considered for judging. Entries received before the date of this rule are exempt.
  • A panel of judges selected by the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation will choose the top 5 design submissions which will then be put to a public vote.
  • The Foundation reserves the right to end this contest at any time, effective on the date of the termination notice and is under no obligation to give advance notice of the termination.
  • This contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws.
  • Current Kansas State Fair or Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation full-time staff, board members or their spouses are not allowed to participate.
  • At the sole discretion of the Foundation, disqualification, forfeiture and the selection of an alternate winner may result from any of the following:
    • Winner’s failure to respond to notification within seven (7) business days after its transmission;
    • The return of an email notification as undeliverable after three (3) attempts;
    • Winner’s failure to provide original design files; failure to submit a completely original design; failure to adhere to the full rules; or failure to execute and return a release form.

About the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation

The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation (KFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Founded in 2003, KFF’s mission is to further the renovation, construction, preservation and beautification of the Kansas State Fairgrounds with a vision of inspiring excellence and understanding of Kansas agriculture, industry and culture through the Kansas State Fair, activities, educational programs and opportunities. The Foundation exists to enrich the unforgettable memories and traditions people experience only at the Kansas State Fair and at the 500+ events on the Fairgrounds year-round.

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