One of the hottest new stars in country music has just announced a 2026 show in the Land of Lincoln.

2026 Illinois State Fair Grandstand Performer Announced

The Illinois State Fair has confirmed one of its most exciting acts for 2026, and she's one of country music's next superstars.

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Ella Langley will perform on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the historic State Fair Grandstands, which promises another star-studded summer in Springfield, Illinois.

A Record-Setting Climb to Country Stardom

The rise of Ella Langley has been meteoric over the past couple of years, including having a 3x Platinum single, "You Look Like You Love Me" with Riley Green, which she followed up with her second Number 1 hit, "Weren't For the Wind."

Langley is one of the rare female artists to top the Country Airplay Chart with her first two singles, according to the press release.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Ella Langley to the Illinois State Fair. She’s one of the most exciting rising stars in country music, and her performance is sure to be a highlight for fairgoers this summer. -Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II

Award Wins, Hit Singles, and Sold-Out Shows

With 8 nominations and five wins at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM), Ella Langley was dominant, along with three victories out of six nominations at the 2025 CMA Awards.

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Her latest single, "Choosin' Texas," became her highest-charting debut and secured one of the decade's biggest radio add weeks for a solo female artist.

Ella Langley’s energy and talent make her an incredible addition to our Grandstand lineup. Our fairgoers are going to be thrilled to see her take the stage in Springfield. -Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark

She recently wrapped up a completely sold-out tour capped by two headline nights at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

Tickets and Fair Dates

Tickets for Ella Langley at the Illinois State Fair will go on sale this Saturday, December 7, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster, starting at $59, with a $30 Pre-Show Party upgrade option.

The 2026 Illinois State Fair runs August 13 through 23 in Springfield, Illinois.

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Check Out the Best-Selling Album From the Year You Graduated High School

Do you remember the top album from the year you graduated high school? Stacker analyzed Billboard data to determine just that, looking at the best-selling album from every year going all the way back to 1956. Sales data is included only from 1992 onward when Nielsen's SoundScan began gathering computerized figures.

Going in chronological order from 1956 to 2020, we present the best-selling album from the year you graduated high school.

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