Chicago’s summer festival season may be winding down, but there’s still another stand-out event on the city’s cultural calendar — Chicago Live! at Navy Pier.
The Midwest’s largest free performing arts showcase is set to take over lakefront Navy Pier on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025.
Check out this year’s headliners and start planning your visit to Chicago Live!
Chicago Live! 2025
About Chicago Live!
Back for its fifth edition, this year’s Chicago Live! festival will feature more than 100 local groups performing in back-to-back performances across five stages — all surrounded by the stunning skyline views you can only find at iconic Navy Pier. The fest is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors to the lakefront pier.
The multi-disciplinary festival is a vibrant representation of the city’s rich and diverse artistic spirit. The packed line-up includes a huge variety of Chicago-grown talent, including dance troupes, orchestras, theatre companies, DJs, and more.
Performances will unfold Pier-wide, spanning five stages, ensuring non-stop entertainment all weekend long. Even better, all events and performances are free and open to the public.
Chicago Live! was founded in 2021 to reconnect audiences with Chicago’s performing arts community. In just five years, the festival has more than doubled in size, making it a true testament to the resilience of Chicago’s performing arts community.
Chicago Live! 2025 lineup
This year, the centerpiece of the Navy Pier festival will be the world premiere of five original works, from new musical compositions to dance performances from an array of acclaimed local groups:
- Giordano Dance Chicago
- Aerial Dance Chicago
- Victor Garcia, Trumpet
- Momenta Dance Company
- Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra
Also new this year, the 2025 festival will take to the water, with several performances being held on Lake Michigan aboard Shoreline Sightseeing cruises.
And the can’t-miss acts don’t stop there. The full Chicago Live! lineup represents the depth and diversity of Chicago’s performing arts scene, with over 100 groups that span genres and encompass emerging talents and established stars. The 2025 schedule includes an array of new artists and organizations making their Chicago Live! debut.
Don’t miss your chance to enjoy free performances from beloved local groups and individuals like Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Second City, Old Town School of Folk Music, Lookingglass Theatre Company, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, The Chicago Philharmonic, and more.
Check out all the groups and artists performing at Chicago Live! this year:
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Check back soon for the full 2025 schedule for Chicago Live!
In the meantime, start planning your visit to Navy Pier.
