2026 Fairbanks Got Talent Contest
ALL ENTRY APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, July 23rd, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Contest Dates/TimesLocation: Big Top
Preliminary: August 2, 3-6:00 PM
Mandatory meeting for all contestants at 2:00 pm at the Contest Cabin
Finals: August 9, 4-6:00 PM
Mandatory meeting for all contestants at 3:00 pm at the Contest Cabin
Event Overview
The preliminary event will take place on Sunday, August 2 from 3–6:00 PM at the Big Top Event Tent. The Finals will take place on Sunday, August 9th, 2026 from 4-6:00 PM at the Big Top Event Tent.
Fairbanks Got Talent Terms
- 25 (twenty-five) preliminary applicants will be accepted.
- All preliminary applications must be received no later than Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 at 11:59 P.M.
- Preliminary applications are accepted in the order that they are received, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- 8 (eight) contestants with talent other than singing – i.e. dance, acrobatics, magician, etc. will be accepted at MAXIMUM. Inclusive of the 25 (twenty-five) total.
- 10 (ten) finalists will be accepted for the finals on August 9th, 2026.
- All finalists will be provided with Tanana Valley State Fair admission for the day of the finals.
Prizes
Two prizes will be awarded for Tanana Valley State Fair’s Fairbanks Got Talent Show.
Grand Prize: $700
Runner-Up: $500
**Both prize winners will be eligible to compete in the Alaska’s Got Talent Finals on Monday, September 7th, 2026 2-4:00 PM, at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. Hotels in Palmer or Anchorage may be provided if TVSFA is able to get them donated ahead of time.
Contestant Information
After receiving the completed entry form with stage plot, Tanana Valley State Fair personnel will contact you regarding your time slot in the preliminary competition which will take place Sunday, August 2nd at 3 PM in the Big Top Event Tent. All participants in the preliminary competition are responsible for their own parking and Fair admission. Ten final contestants from the Tanana Valley State Fair preliminary competition will compete at the FINALS competition on Sunday, August 9th at 4:00 PM at the Big Top Event Tent.
Rules of the Contest
- All acts must be under 5 minutes. Those going over will be signaled to stop and asked to leave the stage.
- All set up and take down must remain under 3 minutes cumulatively.
- All contestants must present themselves in a professional way, and with reasonable talent. The organizers of the contest have the right to remove anyone from the competition, and their decisions are final.
- No animal acts or dangerous acts will be permitted. Tanana Valley State Fair management reserves the right to determine what acts may be dangerous.
- The Tanana Valley State Fair is a family-friendly environment, no explicit content/lyrics are allowed. Contest organizers make the final decision on what is considered inappropriate for the setting and audience, and their decisions are final.
- Any entry that is uncooperative, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, uses profanity, or displays any actions perceived unacceptable by the Tanana Valley State Fair Event Staff, or the competition judges, will be disqualified from the competition and removed from the venue.
- Each contestant is required to provide the props, (instrumental accompaniment, tracks, props, etc.) for the talent they will be performing, or they may perform unaided.
- Singers:
- Songs that have prerecorded accompaniment must have instrumental accompanying tracks ONLY (no vocals). Instrumental tracks may be submitted in the following forms only: standard CD or digital player. Phones should be able to connect to a 3.5 mm audio jack, or entrants will bring their own dongle.
- Entrants should also have a designated person to activate the sound, if needed. The only sound equipment provided by the Tanana Valley State Fair will be microphones, monitors, and main PA.
- Any equipment such as instruments, amplifiers, etc., is the responsibility of the participants. Set-up time limited to 3 minutes.
- Please see attached sheet for Fairbanks Got Talent: Judges Scoring Information
2026 Fairbanks Got Talent
Judges Scoring Information
Winners will be selected by a panel of qualified judges based on the following criteria:
TALENT 50% ON A SCALE OF 1-50
STAGE PRESENCE 20% ON A SCALE OF 1-20
CHOICE SELECTION 10% ON A SCALE OF 1-10
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE 10% ON A SCALE OF 1-10
AUDIENCE REACTION 10% ON A SCALE OF 1-10
The highest overall score wins. Tie scores will be reviewed, and final placement determined by a judge’s panel discussion. All Fairbanks Got Talent judges’ decisions are final.