This is the second year for the pageant to be held in January, instead of during the state fair in August. This allows contestants much more time to prepare for the event following their crowning the previous summer.

Holding the pageant in January allows coordinators to take advantage of the State Fairgrounds’ more available facility schedule that time of year – namely, opening pageant preliminary judging to the public for the first time and housing contestants on the Fairgrounds! 

Lastly, the Indiana Association of Fairs also conducts its annual convention in January. INAF is a statewide organization dedicated to promoting the growth and well-being of all Indiana fairs and festivals with educational and networking opportunities. Holding the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant that weekend encourages county representatives in Indianapolis for the INAF Convention to also support their county queen in the pageant while attending.

Contestants: The Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant contestants are representatives of their own county fair Queen Pageants. Approximately 87 county queens will gather in Indianapolis in January to compete for the title of Miss Indiana State Fair 2016. 

Pageant Judging: Each contestant participates in three preliminary judging categories – Interview, Professional Wear and Formal Wear. The three-minute interviews are private and not open to the public. Preliminary judging of Professional Wear and Formal Wear will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday, Jan. 9, and is open to the public.

During the Queen Pageant finals on Sunday, the Top Ten Finalists will be announced and judged again in Professional Wear and Formal Wear, a category that also includes an on-stage question to answer.  Preliminary Interview scores are kept the same.  From this second round of judging, Miss Indiana State Fair and her four court members will be determined.  Miss Congeniality is also announced, as voted by the contestants.

The new Queen will reign for the next twelve months, promoting the Indiana State Fair the following June-July throughout the state prior to the 17-day Fair in August.