INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana State Fair unveiled the second 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 concertgoers 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 for the 2026 Indiana State Fair can be purchased today at 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.”
Concerts unveiled so far for the 2026 Hoosier Lottery Free Stage at the Indiana State Fair include:
- The Beach Boys – Friday, August 7 – opening day
- TUSK – The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute – Saturday, August 8
- Josiah Queen – Sunday, August 9
- Busta Rhymes – Thursday, August 13
- Grand Funk Railroad – Friday, August 14
- Trace Adkins – Sunday, August 16
- Happy Together – Wednesday, August 19
- Gene Simmons – Thursday, August 20
- Don McLean – Saturday, August 22
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Sunday, August 23
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 number 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 were 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, continues the legacy of the iconic band.
TUSK – The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute
TUSK has been crisscrossing the country since 2008 as The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Five pro musicians turned into masters of their trade through decades of individual music study, live performance, creative risk, and devotion to the art. TUSK features note-perfect renditions of both solo and full-band songs, with each member specializing in one of the core members of Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood). They possess an electric stage presence that can only come from well over a decade of touring together. Truly the best at what they do, TUSK is unmatched in their tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time.
Josiah Queen
Josiah Queen has quickly become one of the most impactful voices in Christian music, blending raw authenticity with deeply resonant melodies. With over 1.3 billion combined global streams, his music continues to inspire a wide-reaching and rapidly growing audience. Following the breakout success of “The Prodigal” (200M+ streams), Josiah’s single “Dusty Bibles” became a defining moment in his career, becoming his first Billboard Hot 100 hit and certified Gold in under six months from release. The song also climbed to the top tier of streaming performance, landing in the Top 3 Christian/Gospel Streaming Songs in the U.S., charting on the Spotify Viral 50 in over 15 countries, and reaching the Shazam Top 200 in multiple territories.
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.
Grand Funk Railroad
Affectionately known as The American Band, Grand Funk Railroad continues to pack venues across the country, connecting generations of fans with their unmistakable mix of hard-driving rock, soulful vocals, and anthemic hits.
Founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, and writer/singer of the iconic “We’re an American Band”) and Mel Schacher (bass, the thunder behind the groove) are joined by guitar slinger and veteran of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band Mark Chatfield; and the ever-versatile Tim Cashion (affectionately known as “Dr. Tim”), who – in the past – has hit the road with Robert Palmer and Bob Seger, on keys. Their influence can still be heard in the DNA of rock icons like Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Foreigner, and Journey. Grand Funk’s music endures not only on the airwaves—thanks to mega-hits like We’re an American Band, I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home, The Loco-Motion, and Some Kind of Wonderful—but also on big screens and TV campaigns. From Disney’s The Country Bears to General Motors commercials and blockbuster films like Radio and Sahara, their songs remain a cultural touchstone. With more than 25 million albums sold, 19 charting singles, 8 Top 40 hits, and two No. 1 smashes, Grand Funk has earned 7 gold and 10 platinum certifications—including 2022 platinum awards for both We’re an American Band and Some Kind of Wonderful. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering Grand Funk for the first time, there’s no better time to experience one of rock’s most enduring bands.
Trace Adkins
Over the course of his three-decade reign in Country music, Trace Adkins has emerged as a full-fledged icon whose reach spans far beyond the genre’s borders. A multi-award-winning singer and actor who’s scored 40 hit singles on Country radio, the Louisiana native is now nearing the 30th anniversary of his trailblazing debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud—a 1996 LP that delivered his No. 1 “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “Every Light In The House” (a Top 5 entry on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart). With 12 million albums sold to date, the superstar entertainer recently followed his featured spot on Blake Shelton’s Friends & Heroes Tour with his own What Color’s Your Wild Tour (a hot-ticket headline run named for his hard-driving anthem released in early 2025) and is currently on his 30th Anniversary headline run in 2026. A true American legend whose powerhouse catalog includes 14 studio albums, Adkins continues to embody the fiery spirit of traditional Country while moving the genre forward with his ever-evolving sound.
Happy Together
The Happy Together Tour 2026 consists of eight acts: The Association, The Troggs, Chicago Lead Singer 1985-2016 Jason Scheff, Gary Puckett, The Fortunes, Rone Dante of The Archies and The Turtles, The Vogues, and The Cowsills. These artists had their biggest hits in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s and brought timeless sounds and songs of that time period. These bands combined have multiple No. 1 hits, making this tour an iconic homage to an era of music that has influenced many of today’s artists. The tour has consisted of several different bands and artists throughout the nearly 40 years it has been running.
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 the heart as soon as the 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).
