Dallas Native Designs Big Tex's New Boots for 2026 State Fair

The size 96 boots that welcome millions through the gates of Fair Park each September will wear a distinctly personal imprint this fall—one sketched from memory by a woman who grew up close enough to the fairgrounds to consider the midway a backyard. Aaliyah McNeal, a 31-year-old Dallas native now living in Suwanee, Georgia, has been named the winner of the 2026 Big Tex Boot Design Contest, selected from a field of nearly 450 entries submitted by artists from coast to coast. "Key Texas symbols come together to create the embellishments at the heart of my design," McNeal said in the State Fair's announcement. "From a distance, sweeping patterns mimic the rich textures of genuine leather, accented by pops of red and blue in honor of the Texas flag."

McNeal's design layers longhorns, bluebonnets, pecan trees, prickly pears, and the 212-foot Texas Star Ferris Wheel into a composition that reads as both state iconography and personal homage. A panel of judges from the State Fair and Lucchese Bootmaker narrowed the pool to five finalists, evaluating creativity, Texas pride, and suitability for Big Tex's famously oversized frame. "We are thrilled to work with Aaliyah McNeal and Lucchese on these boots for Big Tex that celebrate so many beloved symbols of the Lone Star State and the timeless cowboy spirit," said Jennifer Schuder, the fair's Senior Vice President of Customer Engagement.

McNeal will now collaborate with Lucchese to finalize the design before the boots are unveiled at the fair's September 25 opening. "Aaliyah McNeal's concept reflects symbols that generations of Texans recognize and respect," said Doug Kindy, President of Lucchese. "We're proud to partner with the State Fair of Texas to transform her vision into a handcrafted pair of boots."

The fair runs through October 18, and the design can be previewed at BigTex.com/DesignMyBoots.