The 2026 New Foods Event

Bring your appetite! In this special Iowa State Fair Podcast, Maxwell and Amy take you inside one of the most anticipated events leading up to the Fair—the 2026 Top 11 New Foods Competition. From savory breakfast creations and gourmet comfort food to decadent desserts, you'll hear the stories behind the culinary creativity that keeps fairgoers coming back year after year. Drawing from a record field of more than 80 new food entries, this year's finalists celebrate innovation, Iowa agriculture, and the America 250 theme in delicious fashion. The episode features conversations with Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association representative Kenadi Moore, who introduces the Strawberry Bliss while highlighting Iowa's specialty crop industry, and returning fan favorite Winn Nguyen of Winn & Sarah's Kitchen, who shares the inspiration behind the All-American Scrambled Egg Roll as his family chases a remarkable third consecutive New Foods title. Maxwell and Amy also catch up with familiar Iowa media personalities, including Eric Hanson (KCCI-TV 8), Megan Ruether (WHO 13), and Rob Newton and Mercedes Rich (Life 107.1), who reveal their favorite new foods, memorable State Fair experiences, and why Iowa's biggest celebration is about so much more than what's on the menu. Finally, Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons previews the Fair's exciting new attractions, discusses why food remains the number-one reason visitors attend, and explains how the 2026 America 250 celebration will create a "fair within the fair."