Aug. 21 – Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2025
103 Days 1 Hours 48 Mins
Every night during the State Fair at 6 p.m., crowds converge at the Bandshell Stage to witness an event almost as legendary as corndogs and cotton candy. The annual Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest semifinals draw hundreds of fair guests who grab a seat to enjoy singers, dancers, instrumentalists, cloggers and every type of performer in between as they compete for the right to be named Minnesota’s top talent. Nightly first-place winners compete in the Amateur Talent Contest Finals, held in the Grandstand on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. This final round of competition features the 26 remaining contestants competing for more than $20,000 in cash awards!
Do you love the amateur talent contest and want more opportunities to cheer on the brave contestants? Auditions are free to watch and open to the public (see dates and times below). Bring a picnic to make an evening of it, or stop by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation Snack Shack for a treat!
Auditions for the 2025 Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest begin Monday, July 21 and will run through Sunday, July 27 at the Bandshell. Monday through Friday will begin at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday auditions begin at 11 a.m. From the acts that audition during that week, 30 preteen division acts, 42 teen division acts and 48 open division acts will advance to the semifinals during the State Fair. All acts who audition will receive a letter in the mail to let them know whether or not they are a semifinalist. Please allow approximately one week from the completion of all auditions to receive your letter.
Registration is now open for 2025 MSF Amateur Talent Contest auditions. Register online now or mail in your completed entry form and fee to get scheduled for your in-person audition. All registrations must be completed by Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 4 p.m. to secure an audition spot.
Interested in auditioning for the MSF Amateur Talent Contest in the future? To be added to next year’s mailing list, please email msfent@mnstatefair.org with your name and address included.
County fairs throughout Minnesota are invited to send winners of their amateur talent contests to the State Fair competition. Semifinals are held the first nine evenings of the State Fair on the Family Fair Stage at Baldwin Park with the nightly first-place winners progressing to the MSF County Fair Talent Contest Finals, which take place on Saturday, Aug. 30. The first- and second-place finals winners in each division continue on in the competition by representing their counties in the MSF Amateur Talent Contest Finals on Sunday, Aug. 31 in the Grandstand.
For further information, please email msfent@mnstatefair.org.
Links will become active as information is available.
Amateur Talent Contest:
Registration deadline is Wednesday, July 23 at 4 p.m.
County Fair Talent Contest:
