BigXthaPlug Iowa State Fair plans have taken an unexpected turn after the rapper was arrested in Texas less than a day before his scheduled Grandstand performance in Des Moines. BigXthaPlug, whose real name is Xavier Landum, was booked into Collin County Jail on Friday, August 21, facing charges that include driving while intoxicated, marijuana possession and unlawful firearm possession. The arrest occurred shortly before his scheduled Saturday night appearance at the Iowa State Fair.
The Iowa State Fair had scheduled BigXthaPlug to headline the Grandstand on Saturday, August 22, at 8 p.m. Central Time. XOLEX is listed as the special guest. The official Fair event page continues to show the performance with ticket prices ranging from $29.40 to $69.40, including facility fees.
The arrest has created immediate uncertainty around the concert because it happened less than 24 hours before the performance. As of the latest available updates, the Iowa State Fair had been contacted about the situation, while current event and ticket listings continued to show BigXthaPlug scheduled for the August 22 performance.
BigXthaPlug Arrested Before Iowa State Fair Performance
Xavier Landum was arrested in Allen, Texas, on Friday night, August 21, according to local reporting. The rapper performs under the name BigXthaPlug and was booked into the Collin County Jail.
The reported charges are driving while intoxicated, marijuana possession and illegal firearm possession. The arrest took place in Texas shortly before Landum was due to travel or otherwise prepare for his Iowa State Fair appearance.
The timing makes the situation especially significant for fans who already purchased tickets. The concert is scheduled for the final weekend of the 2026 Iowa State Fair, and BigXthaPlug was announced as one of the Grandstand headliners earlier this year.
Local reporting said the Iowa State Fair had been contacted to determine how the arrest would affect the scheduled concert. At the latest verified update, there had been no official announcement confirming a cancellation or replacement for the BigXthaPlug show.
That means fans should distinguish between the confirmed arrest and the separate question of whether the performance will take place. The arrest is a reported current event. The concert status remains tied to official Fair announcements.
Is BigXthaPlug Still Performing at the Iowa State Fair?
The latest official Iowa State Fair event listing continues to identify BigXthaPlug as the Saturday, August 22 Grandstand performer. It lists the show for 8 p.m. and names XOLEX as the special guest.
Current Ticketmaster listings also continue to show BigXthaPlug at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines at 8 p.m. on August 22. The listing remained active after news of the Texas arrest emerged.
However, the available information does not establish that the rapper has been released, that he has traveled to Iowa, or that he has appeared at the Fair. Those details have not been verified in the current reporting available.
For that reason, fans should not treat a ticket listing alone as confirmation that the artist will take the stage. Ticketing systems can continue to display an event while organizers assess last-minute circumstances.
The confirmed situation is that the Fair still lists the show, while the artist was arrested the previous night.
What Time Is the BigXthaPlug Iowa State Fair Concert?
The scheduled concert time is 8 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
The Iowa State Fair’s official event page lists BigXthaPlug with XOLEX at the Grandstand beginning at 8 p.m.
The Des Moines Partnership’s current entertainment listing also identifies the performance for 8 p.m. with a ticket range of $29.40 to $69.40.
The event is part of the Iowa Lottery Grandstand Concert Series at the Iowa State Fair. BigXthaPlug was added to the 2026 schedule as a Saturday night headliner.
The Fair announced the booking on March 31, when it described BigXthaPlug as a breakout Texas rapper known for Southern hip-hop. At the time, officials announced an August 22 performance at 8 p.m. with tickets priced at $29.40 to $69.40.
Who Is BigXthaPlug?
BigXthaPlug is the professional name of Dallas rapper Xavier Landum. His music has established him as a prominent contemporary Southern hip-hop artist.
The Iowa State Fair selected him for the 2026 Grandstand lineup as part of its effort to include a range of music styles across the concert schedule. His booking followed the addition of rock band Staind earlier in the same announcement.
BigXthaPlug has built his audience through songs including “Texas,” “Mmhmm” and “Levels.” The Iowa State Fair previously highlighted his platinum-certified releases when announcing the concert.
His 2024 album Take Care also reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200, adding a significant chart achievement to his career profile.
The Iowa State Fair performance was scheduled as his debut at the Fair. The booking gave him a prominent Saturday night slot during one of the busiest periods of the annual event.
BigXthaPlug Concert Ticket Prices
The official Iowa State Fair lists BigXthaPlug tickets at $29.40 to $69.40. Those prices include facility fees charged on tickets. Additional Etix service fees can apply to online and phone orders.
Ticket prices vary based on seating location within the Grandstand.
The Iowa State Fair treats concert admission separately from general Fair admission. Buying a Grandstand ticket does not automatically provide admission to the Fairgrounds.
This distinction is important for concertgoers who planned to spend the day at the Fair before attending the performance. A separate Fair admission ticket may be required.
The official event listing remains the most relevant source for the advertised ticket price and scheduled performance.
XOLEX Is Listed as Special Guest
XOLEX is the officially announced special guest for the BigXthaPlug performance.
The Iowa State Fair’s event listing specifically identifies the lineup as BigXthaPlug with special guest XOLEX.
The same pairing appears in the Iowa Lottery’s 2026 concert promotion materials, which list BigXthaPlug with XOLEX for Saturday, August 22.
No additional performers have been officially listed for the BigXthaPlug Grandstand show.
Because the artist’s arrest occurred immediately before the scheduled performance, the lineup remains an important point for fans watching for official updates. Any change to the advertised lineup would need confirmation from the Fair or another official event source.
Where Is the Concert Being Held?
The BigXthaPlug concert is scheduled for the Iowa State Fair Grandstand in Des Moines.
The Iowa State Fairgrounds are located at 3000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50317. Current ticketing information identifies the same venue and address for the August 22 event.
The Grandstand serves as the main concert venue for the Iowa State Fair’s headline performances.
Saturday’s concert follows Alabama with Exile on Friday, August 21. The 2026 Grandstand schedule then concludes with Josiah Queen and Ben Fuller on Sunday, August 23.
BigXthaPlug therefore occupies the Saturday night slot during the Fair’s closing weekend.
What Happened Before the BigXthaPlug Show?
The arrest came at a particularly sensitive point in the Iowa State Fair’s 2026 concert schedule.
BigXthaPlug had been publicly scheduled for months. The Fair announced his booking in March, and tickets went on sale in April. The event remained part of the Grandstand lineup as the Fair approached its final weekend.
The situation now differs from the circumstances surrounding the show’s original announcement.
The reported arrest happened Friday night in Texas. Local reporting identified DWI, marijuana possession and unlawful firearm possession charges.
The timing is less than one day before the scheduled performance.
The Fair has already experienced a separate last-minute Grandstand change during the 2026 event. Rod Stewart canceled his scheduled opening-weekend performance for medical reasons, and John Waite was booked as his replacement.
That previous change demonstrates that Grandstand programming can change close to showtime. However, the circumstances surrounding the Rod Stewart cancellation were different from the current BigXthaPlug situation.
What Fans Should Watch for on August 22
Fans with tickets should focus on official event updates rather than assuming that the concert will proceed or be canceled based solely on social media discussions.
The currently verified information includes:
- BigXthaPlug was arrested in Texas on August 21.
- His reported charges include DWI, marijuana possession and unlawful firearm possession.
- The Iowa State Fair lists him for Saturday, August 22.
- The scheduled start time is 8 p.m. CT.
- XOLEX is listed as the special guest.
- Official ticket prices are $29.40 to $69.40.
- The concert is scheduled for the Iowa State Fair Grandstand in Des Moines.
- Current ticket listings continue to display the event.
These points separate confirmed information from details that have not yet been established.
No reliable update in the latest available reporting confirms that BigXthaPlug has performed, arrived in Des Moines, or been replaced.
BigXthaPlug Iowa State Fair Concert Status
The most important update for fans is that the scheduled performance remains listed by the Iowa State Fair despite the artist’s arrest.
The official Fair event page continues to show BigXthaPlug at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, with XOLEX.
Ticketmaster also continues to list the Des Moines concert for 8 p.m.
At the same time, the arrest is a significant new development that could affect the event. Local reporting has confirmed the booking and the charges, while the Fair has been asked about the impact on Saturday night’s show.
Until the Iowa State Fair issues a confirmed change, the advertised event remains BigXthaPlug with XOLEX at 8 p.m.
Fans should therefore check the latest official Fair information before traveling to the Grandstand, especially given the extremely short time between the arrest and the scheduled performance.
Why the Latest Update Matters
BigXthaPlug’s scheduled Iowa appearance was one of the major hip-hop events on the 2026 Iowa State Fair calendar.
The Fair’s Grandstand lineup covers several genres, but BigXthaPlug represents one of the schedule’s major contemporary rap bookings. His Saturday night slot was designed to bring Southern hip-hop to the Grandstand during the final weekend.
The arrest now puts the concert under immediate attention.
For ticket holders, the most important information is not the earlier promotional material but the current status of the event. At the latest verified update, the Fair’s official listing still shows the performance, while reporting confirms the arrest.
That combination makes official updates particularly important for anyone planning to attend.
Stay with the latest confirmed updates on BigXthaPlug’s Iowa State Fair performance as Saturday night’s concert status develops.