Festivals & special events, Free & cheap
Chicago Air and Water Show
Aug. 15 – 16, 2026 Free admission • Chicago lakefront The Chicago Air and Water Show has been an iconic Chicago event since 1959. The…
Festivals & special events
Discover the best of the city’s fests.
Festivals & special events
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference
Aug. 27 – 30, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond The Chicago House Music Festival is an annual celebration of Chicago house music…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Jazz Festival
Sept. 3 – 6, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals, the Chicago Jazz Festival boasts an incredibly…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
World Music Festival Chicago
Sept. 25 – Oct. 4, 2026 Free admission • Multiple locations The 26th annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from across…
Festivals & special events, Food & drink
Taste of Chicago
July 8 – 12, 2026 Free admission • Grant Park and citywide The 46th annual Taste of Chicago is bringing some of the city’s most…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
July 24 – 25, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park Gospel music has deep roots in Chicago. The Chicago Gospel Music Festival, one of the…
Festivals & special events, Music, Parks & outdoors
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Select Mondays and Thursdays June 15 – Aug. 6, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park The Millennium Park Summer Music Series offers free outdoor concerts…
Entertainment, Festivals & special events, Parks & outdoors
Millennium Park Summer Film Series
Tuesdays, July 1 – Aug. 19, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park Every summer in Chicago, visitors and locals flock to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
June 4 – 7, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s…
Festivals & special events, LGBTQ+
Chicago Pride: Your guide to Chicago Pride Parade, Pride Fest, and more
Chicago really knows how to party for Pride. Each June, the city is brimming with LGBTQ+ celebrations and events, including over-the-top street fests, exhilarating concerts,…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Grant Park Music Festival
June 10 – Aug. 15, 2026 Free admission • Millennium Park Experience a Chicago summer tradition like no other. A local staple for more than…
Festivals & special events
Chicago festival and event guide 2026
Every season is festival season in Chicago. Each month brings a packed line-up of special events celebrating food, music, culture, art, history, and beyond. Choose…
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