Dates announced for City of Chicago’s 2026 festival season
Summer in Chicago wouldn’t be complete without an outdoor concert at Millennium Park, a basket of Harold’s Chicken at the Taste of Chicago and the wealth of other arts and culture programming that marks the city’s festival season, which kicks off in May.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the full lineup Tuesday. Visitors and residents will be able to enjoy music, dance, food and more with over a dozen events and street festivals taking place throughout the summer.
“Chicago’s festival season is a celebration of who we are as a city. We are creative, diverse, welcoming and full of life,” Johnson said in a statement. “From free music and dance to legendary food and cultural festivals, this season reflects our commitment to joy, access and opportunity for all.”
Festival season culminates with several holiday events, including the New Year’s Eve Celebration to close out the year. Here’s the full 2026 schedule.
May through October: Chicago Farmers Markets (citywide; Division Street Market opening May 16; Daley Plaza Market opening May 21); ChicagoFarmersMarkets.us
May through October: Maxwell Street Market (Second Sundays only, Maxwell Street between South Halsted Street and South Union Avenue); MaxwellStreetMarket.us
May 23: Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Parade (Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. at 11 a.m. Parade, State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street at noon); Chicago.gov/DCASE
May 16-Sept. 5: Millennium Park Summer Workouts (Saturdays on the Great Lawn); MillenniumPark.org
June 4-7: Chicago Blues Festival (Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St., and Millennium Park); MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoBluesFestival.us
June 15-Aug. 6: Millennium Park Summer Music Series (Nine concerts at Jay Pritzker Pavilion on most Mondays and Thursdays); MillenniumPark.org
July 1-Aug. 19: Millennium Park Summer Film Series (Tuesdays at Jay Pritzker Pavilion); MillenniumPark.org
July 8-12: Taste of Chicago (Grant Park); TasteofChicago.us
July 24-25: Chicago Gospel Music Festival (Jay Pritzker Pavilion); ChicagoGospelMusicFestival.us
July and August: Chicago SummerDance (Citywide, including pop-ups and Spirit of Music Garden); ChicagoSummerDance.org
Aug. 15-16: Chicago Air and Water Show (North Avenue Beach); ChicagoAirandWaterShow.us
Aug. 27-30: Chicago House Music Festival and Conference (Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park); ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.org
Sept. 3-6: Chicago Jazz Festival (Citywide, including the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park); MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoJazzFestival.us
Sept. 25-Oct. 4: World Music Festival Chicago (Citywide); WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org
Oct. 24: Chicago Made Music Showcase Finale (Chicago Cultural Center); ChicagoMade.us
Nov. 20: City of Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony (Millennium Park, near the corner of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street); Chicago.gov/Holiday
Nov. 20-22: Holiday Market (Millennium Park, Chase Promenade North); Chicago.gov/Holiday
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Holiday Sing-Along (Cloud Gate aka The Bean); Chicago.gov/Holiday
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration; Chicago.gov/NYE
For more information, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE.