Sept. 24 – 27, 2026
Millennium Park
Welcome to Chicago Gourmet, one of the country’s most distinguished food festivals. Each year, Chicago Gourmet celebrates the city’s diverse dining scene with a dynamic lineup of epicurean events that showcase the city’s top chefs, food, and drinks.
Get Chicago Gourmet 2026 tickets
This year, Chicago Gourmet puts a spotlight on more than 100 distinguished chefs from Chicago and beyond, including Lee Anne Wong, Chris Shepherd, Stephanie Izard, Erick Williams, Joe Flamm, and Rick Bayless.
Chicago Gourmet 2026 highlights
The upscale culinary celebration includes:
- A gourmet brunch event with down-home flair
- A competition for the city’s best gourmet burger
- A celebration of Mexican cuisine, featuring premium tequilas
- The festival’s signature elevated tasting event at the Harris Theater Rooftop
This year also marks the return of live chef demos, a high-energy fan favorite event, at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
Chicago Gourmet 2026 events
Chicago Gourmet 2026 schedule
Grand Cru
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Location: Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park
Hosts: Stephanie Izard and Lee Anne Wong; Sarah Grueneberg and Chris Shepherd
Tickets
Grand Cru is the signature event at Chicago Gourmet.
The exclusive tasting experience features the nation’s leading wine experts, top mixologists, and acclaimed chefs at the Harris Theater Rooftop.
Guests will be able to sample the world’s finest wines, taste award-winning cuisines, and mix and mingle with some of the city’s most well-known chefs.
Live chef demos
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Location: Millennium Park
Tickets
Chicago Gourmet’s signature chef demos are back at Millennium Park’s stunning Pritzker Pavilion. Guests can add a demo ticket to any Grand Cru ticket to attend these high-energy live events.
This year’s lineup includes:
- Stephanie Izard and Lee Anne Wong
- Rick Bayless and Diana Dávila
- Tony Mantuano, Takashi Yagihashi and John Hogan
- Art Smith and Fleetwood Covington
- Sarah Grueneberg and Chris Shepherd
Tacos & Tequila
Date: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026
Location: Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park
Hosts: Rick Bayless, Marcos Carbajal, and Diana Dávila
Tickets
Kick off the festival weekend with Tacos & Tequila, a showcase of gourmet tacos and agave spirits.
This lively event features authentic Mexican cuisine, premium tequilas and mezcals, a DJ, mariachi, traditional Mexican folk dancers, and more.
Hamburger Hop
Date: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Location: Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park
Hosts: Joe Flamm and Jeff Mauro
Tickets
The highly anticipated Hamburger Hop is a perennial fan favorite.
Guests will be able to taste creative burger variations from an array of top Chicago chefs, then cast their vote for their favorite. Two winners are crowned — the judges’ favorite and the people’s choice.
Rise & Shine Gourmet
Date: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026
Location: Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park
Hosts: Erick Williams and Art Smith
Tickets
Start your Sunday off right with a gourmet brunch. Rise & Shine Gourmet will feature Southern-style brunch dishes with a spread of sweet and savory items, plus cocktails and chef interactions.
About Chicago Gourmet
Held in Millennium Park each September, Chicago Gourmet is one of the nation’s premier culinary experiences. Since 2008, the epicurean event has showcased Chicago as an international dining destination by shining a spotlight on the city’s best chefs, sommeliers, and wine-, spirit-, and beer-makers, alongside talent from around the country.
The packed weekend schedule truly offers something for everyone, from upscale tastings to morning brunch to late-night soirées. Chicago Gourmet programming benefits the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, dedicated to investing in youth and the workforce in the restaurant industry.
Chicago Gourmet tickets
Chicago Gourmet 2026 tickets are now on sale for all events! Get yours today and get ready to dig in.
