(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Music legend Babyface brings his smooth, melodic R&B sound to the 2026 California State Fair on opening night, Friday, July 17 as part of the Toyota Concert Series on the Sky River Casino Stage.
Babyface is a 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. Most recently Babyface won his 13th GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song for “Snooze” by SZA. He is the only producer to win the ‘Producer of the Year’ category four times, three times of which was in consecutive years (1995-1997); a record he holds to this day. He is also co-founder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and P!nk.
Over the past five decades, he released three consecutive multi-platinum albums: Tender Lover (1989), featuring the #1 “Tender Lover”; For the Cool in You (1993), which included “Never Keeping Secrets” and “When Can I See You”; and The Day (1996) featuring “Every Time I Close My Eyes.”
Babyface has written and produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Mary J Blige, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, NSYNC, Chaka Khan, Faith Evans, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, and countless others. He has contributed to over 800 million records sold and over a billion records streamed. He has produced and written 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number 1 R&B hits, and 16 number 1 pop hits.
“We want to get everyone excited about the concert series and kick things off in a big way with Babyface," said Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo and State Fair. "By bringing a top-level entertainer of his caliber to perform on opening night really sets the tone of what’s to come for the entire Fair."
Concerts are free with admission. Fans who want to sit close to the stage can purchase reserved seating. Ticket presales for newsletter subscribers begin Monday, March 9, followed by general sales opening Tuesday, March 10 at www.CAStateFair.com.
The California State Fair runs from July 17 to August 2. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.
