2026 Grandstand Entertainment

The South Dakota State Fair is excited to announce the return of the Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash at the 2026 SD State Fair. Fans can experience two thrilling nights of bucking bulls on Channel Seeds Opening Day, Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3. Both nights are scheduled to begin at 8 P.M. CT.

Tuff Hedeman, a four-time world champion bull rider, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, and one of the most recognizable cowboys in the world, is coming back to the State Fair with 24 of the top cowboys for his annual Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour. Each evening features two hours of adrenaline-pumping action played out in a sudden-death-style tournament. The bull riding starts with Tuff’s “Bounty Bull” night on Wednesday and continues Thursday night in a tournament-style event and “Shoot Out” round where the bulk of the prize money, championship title, and custom prizes are awarded.

The Red Wilk Construction American Hero Award will also be presented during the event. Since 2013, Red and his family have honored more than 100 Veterans across South Dakota.

The multi-Platinum-selling band comprised of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Joe King, guitarist Dave Welsh, and drummer Ben Wysocki, rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a soul-searching alt-rock sound that was both expansive and intimate.

Over the course of their career, The Fray have earned four GRAMMY Award nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, multiple Billboard Top 10 hits, and a devoted global fanbase. Their breakout single, “How to Save a Life,” is RIAA Diamond-certified, spent 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a defining anthem through its association with ABC’s Emmy-winning series Grey’s Anatomy.

After a wildly successful 2025 tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band’s 5X platinum selling debut How to Save a Life, and its hit songs like “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “Looks After You,” and the juggernaut RIAA Diamond-certified title track, The Fray are eager to return to the road in 2026 in support of A Light That Waits.

X Ambassadors are a multi-platinum trio formed by brothers Sam Nelson Harris (vocals, guitar, saxophone, bass) and Casey Harris (piano, keys) while the pair were in high school in Ithaca, New York. Later joined by Adam Levin (drums) upon moving to Brooklyn, the trio have gone on to dominate the alternative charts over the last decade. Forming in 2009, the band exploded with the success of their debut album, VHS (2015). The platinum certified album provides an intimate look into the childhood of Sam and Casey, and features massive hit singles “Unsteady” and “Renegades,” which have over 1.3 billion streams on Spotify combined and led the band to a three-year world tour. The band’s latest release, Townie came out on April 5th (2024) —an album that marks a compelling new chapter for the band as they return to their upstate New York roots. Across 12 deeply personal tracks, the group crafts an intricate portrait of their hometown’s most mundane aspects and the community that shaped them.

Bursting onto the scene a few short years ago, country vocal powerhouse Nate Smith has accumulated over 2 billion career streams, scored three multi-week No. 1 records (“Whiskey on You,” “World on Fire” and “Bulletproof”), garnered multiple gold and platinum records, sold-out shows across the US and received numerous nominations for best new artist from the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, CMT Awards, iHeart Radio Awards and so many more. Most recently, Smith received the award for ACM New Male Artist of the Year, Billboard’s Rookie of the Year and Amazon’s Breakthrough Country Artist for 2024. Smith’s sophomore album, California Gold, was just released and debuted Top 15 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart.

With an uncanny power to mold the God’s-honest-truth into casual, clever hooks – plus a disarming charm that can’t be faked – singer-songwriter McCoy Moore makes the kind of country that never tries too hard but always hits just right. Moving to Nashville at 19, Moore spent the ensuing years honing a craft defined by sharp country hooks and warm, welcoming relatability, already earning cuts by Shane Profitt, Roman Alexander, Bryce Mauldin and more. His own artist career began with the release of his first single, “Something To You” in early 2025 to then signing a record deal with Sony Music Nashville. Moore recently released his debut, self-titled EP featuring seven tracks that are the perfect introduction to him and his music. The emerging entertainer recently wrapped up an opening run with Kip Moore, as well as Chase Rice this past fall.

Jake Owen is a country music mainstay with a career boasting a collection of gold and platinum records, 10 No.1 singles, and more than 2.5 Billion U.S. on-demand streams.

The ACM award winner is signatured by his laid-back style and hit recordings such as “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Beachin’,” “Anywhere With You,” “Alone With You” and “The One That Got Away." The acclaimed recording artist, headlining entertainer, and actor has released nine albums, headlined tours globally, and appeared in the movie Our Friend (2019).

Chosen as an "Artist to Watch" by Country Now, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot and Country Evolution, Walker Montgomery knows a thing or two about family tradition, but is also striving to build his own legacy. The son of 90’s superstar John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery was raised away from the spotlight in Nicholasville, Kentucky, but moved to Nashville and is carving a path all his own on today’s country scene. Walker made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2024 and his pedigree is matched only by his passion for real country music, and he’s already put his classically-inspired, honey-bourbon vocal to use on a self-penned debut hit (“Simple Town, ”over 7.3 Million Spotify streams). His romantic power-ballad, “She Don’t Know,” has garnered over 20 million streams worldwide, in addition to his other story - building singles from his independently released EP’s RUST and WORK TO DO. Walker’s version of “I Love the Way You Love Me” has garnered more than 45 MILLION views on TikTok.

Action will round out the South Dakota State Fair as the Thunder at the Fair Truck and Tractor Pull, sponsored by American Bank & Trust, is set for the Fair’s final day.

Fans can expect an exciting afternoon as the 2026 Case IH Thunder in the Dirt Outlaw Pulling Series returns. The series will feature five national classes: Super Farm Tractors, Light Pro Stock Tractors, Light Super Stocks, NA 2WD, and Light Limited Mod Tractors. Competitors from across the Midwest will go head to head for top honors and championship points.