The Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair returns for its 30th year on Saturday, August 7, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fair Park, offering free dental screenings alongside vision exams, immunizations, haircuts, and school supplies. The event typically serves more than 10,000 Dallas ISD students and families each year, and registration closes July 26, 2026 at MayorsBacktoSchoolFair.com, with priority given to households at or below the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Key facts
- 30th annual fair: Saturday, August 7, 2026, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Automobile Building and Centennial Hall, Fair Park, Dallas. Source: City of Dallas Mayor's Office, July 2026.
- The fair typically serves more than 10,000 Dallas students and families a year. Source: City of Dallas Mayor's Office and NBC 5 DFW, July 2026.
- More than 100 vendors provide free services, from school supplies to dental and vision screenings. Source: City of Dallas Mayor's Office, July 2026.
- Registration closes July 26, 2026, at MayorsBacktoSchoolFair.com. Source: City of Dallas Mayor's Office, July 2026.
- About half of children ages 6 to 9 (50 percent) have had a cavity in a baby or permanent tooth, and children from lower income households are more than twice as likely to have an untreated cavity (25 percent) as children from higher income households (10 percent). Source: CDC, Oral Health Surveillance Report, 2024.
When and where is the Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair?
The fair runs Saturday, August 7, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fair Park in Dallas, inside the Automobile Building and Centennial Hall. The City of Dallas Mayor's Office is hosting the event for the 30th consecutive year, working with the All Stars Project of Dallas and the Junior League of Dallas, with Walmart and Sam's Club listed as title sponsors. Coverage from NBC 5 DFW confirms the same date, time, and location.
What free dental and health services will be offered?
Families who register can get their children screened for cavities and other dental problems at no cost, alongside vision exams, immunizations, and haircuts, before heading back to class. According to the City of Dallas Mayor's Office, more than 100 vendors set up at the fair each year to provide these services along with free school supplies and other essentials. The dental and vision screening stations are aimed at catching problems early, before they turn into missed school days or emergency room visits later in the year.
Who is eligible and how do families register?
The fair is open to Dallas residents and to families with children enrolled in Dallas ISD schools, from Pre-K through 12th grade. Priority is given to households at or below the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Registration is required in advance, based on residency, school enrollment, and household income, and closes July 26, 2026 at MayorsBacktoSchoolFair.com. There is no walk-up registration at the door, so families who want the free dental screening need to sign up before the deadline.
How does the Dallas fair compare to other back-to-school dental events this summer?
The Dallas fair is one of several free back-to-school dental events Smile Listing has tracked this summer, alongside fairs in Little Rock, Arkansas and West Sacramento, California. A side-by-side look at what each offers:
| Event | City | Date | Free Dental Services | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair | Dallas, TX | August 7, 2026 | Dental screenings | Required by July 26, 2026 |
| Little Rock School District Health Fair | Little Rock, AR | August 1, 2026 | Dental screenings | Walk-up, free |
| West Sacramento Back to School Fair | West Sacramento, CA | July 25, 2026 | Exams, sealants, fluoride varnish | Walk-up, free |
The Dallas event stands out for its scale, with more than 10,000 students and families attending annually, and for requiring advance registration rather than allowing walk-ups, which organizers use to plan vendor staffing and supply levels.
Why do free dental screenings matter before the school year starts?
Tooth decay remains one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States. About half of children ages 6 to 9 have had a cavity in a baby or permanent tooth, and children from lower income households are more than twice as likely to have an untreated cavity as children from higher income households, according to the CDC's Oral Health Surveillance Report. Free screening events like the Dallas fair are designed to catch problems early, before a toothache turns into a missed school day or, in more serious cases, an emergency room visit.
Mayor Eric L. Johnson said the fair is a priority for the city each year. "The Mayor's Back to School Fair is one of the most important events we do each year because it delivers real results for Dallas families," Johnson said in the city's announcement of the 2026 event. Antoine Joyce-Roach of the All Stars Project of Dallas, one of the event's longtime community partners, said the fair "has brought Dallas together around young people and families" for three decades.
Where can Dallas-area families find a dentist after the fair?
The fair's dental screenings are a starting point, not a substitute for ongoing care. Families in the Dallas area looking to establish regular checkups can find local options such as Highlands Family Dentistry in Dallas, listed on Smile Listing, which sees children and families for routine exams and cleanings year round.
FAQ
Do families need to register in advance to attend?
Yes. Unlike some of the other back-to-school fairs Smile Listing has covered this summer, the Dallas event requires advance registration, which closes July 26, 2026, at MayorsBacktoSchoolFair.com. There is no walk-up registration at the gate.
Is the fair open to any Dallas child, or only Dallas ISD students?
The fair is open to Dallas residents and to children enrolled in Dallas ISD schools, from Pre-K through 12th grade, with priority given to households at or below the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
What happens if a dental screening finds a problem?
The City of Dallas Mayor's Office and its media partners have not published details on a specific referral process for the 2026 fair. Screening events of this kind are generally designed to flag decay or other issues early so families can follow up with a dentist, such as a local pediatric or family dental practice.
Is there a cost to attend?
No. The fair, including the dental screenings, vision exams, immunizations, and school supplies, is free to registered families, according to the City of Dallas Mayor's Office.
Updated July 2026.
