July 8 – 12, 2026
Free admission • Grant Park 

The 46th annual Taste of Chicago is bringing some of the city’s most iconic bites to lakefront Grant Park.

The annual free-admission food and music extravaganza will take over the downtown park with dozens of Chicago’s favorite food vendors, representing the astounding diversity of Chicago’s acclaimed culinary scene.

Attendees can also enjoy live music performances from top national acts, community dance lessons, family-friendly activities, interactive pop-ups, and so much more.

When is Taste of Chicago 2026?

This year’s Taste of Chicago returns to its classic peak summer dates. The festival in Grant Park will be held from Wednesday, July 8 to Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Taste of Chicago food festival in Grant Park
Taste of Chicago; photoy by Patrick L. Pyszka

Taste of Chicago 2026 restaurants

Each year, dozens of local food vendors dish out their best bites for thousands of Taste of Chicago attendees.

The lineup represents classic Chicago dishes — like Chicago-style hot dogs, deep dish pizza, and cheesecake — alongside a true melting pot of international influences tied to the city’s history as a global metropolis.

This year’s  list of restaurants includes a mix of long-time participants and restaurants joining the festival for the first time. Check out some of the Chicago restaurants at Taste of Chicago 2026:

  • African Food Palace
  • Beat Kitchen Cantina
  • Churro Factory
  • Connie’s Pizza
  • Franco’s Ristorante
  • Harold’s Chicken
  • Khmai
  • Lexington Betty Smoke House
  • The Original Rainbow Cone
  • Seoul Taco
  • The Tamale Guy
  • Soul Veg City
  • Molly’s Cupcakes
  • Lou Malnati’s

The Taste of Chicago vendors also include more than a dozen local food trucks, an expanded Snack Shack, plus a designated beer hall and cocktail lounge featuring a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage offerings.

Explore more: Mark your calendar for these can’t-miss Chicago food festivals.

Taste of Chicago 2026 concerts

Alongside a mouth-watering selection of local restaurants, the Taste of Chicago also includes a star-studded lineup of national and international artists at free nightly concerts in Grant Park.

Dance the night away at the Main Stage, featuring a slate of award-winning artists. Or check out the Goose Island Stage for a showcase of local and up-and-coming artists.

Check out this year’s free headliners at Taste of Chicago:

  • Beach Bunny, indie rock pop favorites
  • Common, Chicago hip-hop icon
  • Babyface, Legendary R&B singer, songwriter, and producer
  • Julieta Venegas, international Mexican Latin pop-rock sensation
  • Original Koffee, Grammy-winning Reggae singer-songwriter

Other performers include Friko, Funkadesi, Recoechi + Kaicrewsade, Opal Staples & Isaiah Sharkey and Opal Staples & Isaiah Sharkey. Check out the full concert schedule.

More things to do at Taste of Chicago

Along with dozens of local food vendors, a few popular Taste of Chicago events typically include:

  • Chicago SummerDance: Celebrate summer and Chicago’s vibrant dance community with live music and dancing from Chicago SummerDance. Each day will cover a variety of dance styles, including salsa, flamenco, footwork, bachata, Afrobeats, hip hop, line dancing, K-pop, house, and more.
  • Family-friendly activities: The festival’s kid-friendly area will feature games and activities for all ages, including interactive art and inflatables.
  • Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration: Eli’s Cheesecake hosts the annual Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration, carrying on the longstanding tradition of cutting a ceremonial 1,000-pound Eli’s Cheesecake. Attendees will receive a free piece of cake following the ceremony.

A family at Taste of Chicago food festival

About Taste of Chicago

Taste of Chicago has been a foodie staple for more than 40 years. The first Taste of Chicago was held on a single day on the Fourth of July in 1980, taking up three city blocks on North Michigan Avenue. Today, the event has grown into one of the largest free-admission food festivals in the world.

Each year, the Taste of Chicago brings dozens of the city’s best restaurants, chefs, and food trucks to downtown Grant Park. The line-up represents the full depth and breadth of the city’s legendary dining scene, from classic Chicago spots to international options to trending newcomers.

At the festival, attendees can stroll the rows of booths and choose from everything from single bites to full meals from each vendor. Most restaurants offer sample-size portions, allowing food-lovers to try a wide variety of different cuisines.

The event also includes free nightly concerts, known for attracting big names; plenty of beer, wine, and cocktail options; interactive activities; giveaways; kid-friendly things to do, and more.

Getting to Taste of Chicago

Street closures: The following streets will be closed during Taste of Chicago:

  • Columbus from Monroe to Balbo
  • Jackson from Michigan to Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive
  • Ida B. Wells from Michigan to Columbus

Public transportation: The Taste of Chicago is accessible via bus or train. Visit www.transitchicago.com to plan your trip.

Parking: Park right near the action with Millennium Garages. Keep in mind there will be street closures and increased traffic in the area.

Biking: Bike parking is available on the perimeter of Grant and Millennium Parks.