It’s no surprise pork was the winner in the 2026 Iowa State Fair People’s Choice Best New Food Contest. Many foods featuring pork have been top finishers since the contest started in 2013 and this year was no exception.
Porky Parm Gnocchi, served up by Destination Grille, features gluten-free potato gnocchi and Graziano sausage tossed in a house-made AE cream parmesan sauce with a pesto drizzle, shaved parmesan, fresh parsley and topped with an America 250th year flag and a souvenir piggy pal. The new food item cost $14.
Of the 15,954 votes for the People’s Choice Best New Food this year, Porky Parm Gnocchi received 44.9% of the votes. The All-American Scrambled Egg Roll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen placed second with 36.5% of the votes, and the Ultimate Minneapple Pie from the Minneapple Pie stand was third with 18.5%.
The past winners include:
• 2025: Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll
• 2024: Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll
• 2023: Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese
• 2022: The Finisher
• 2021: Chicken Egg Salad with Fry Bread
• 2019: Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap
• 2018: Apple Eggroll
• 2017: Pork Almighty
• 2016: Not Your Mamma’s Taco
• 2015: Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb
• 2014: Funnel Cake on a Stick
• 2013: Shrimp Corn Dog
In addition, the Best New Drink awards were announced with a TIE between The Depot’s Sour Batch Buddies Watermelon and JR’s Cotton Rocket Cooler as the Best New Drink (with alcohol) and the Best New Drink (alcohol free) was awarded to The Depot for The Fizz Depot’s Stars, Stripes & S’mores. The Best New Drink Awards are voted on by fairgoers on the Iowa State Fair App. There were 1,279 votes placed overall for the New Drinks.
The Minneapple Pie stand was awarded the Best of Show for their location.
The Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food was awarded to Beattie’s Melon Patch for their Watermelon Cup.
The Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair is Iowa’s greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement.
