Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Music
The 26th Anniversary Englewood Jazz Festival
- Location
- Hamilton Park and Cultural Center
- 513 W 72nd St
Chicago,+ Google Map
The 26th Annual Englewood Jazz Festival, presented by Live the Spirit Residency, returns to Chicago’s historic Hamilton Park on September 18–20, 2025, marking a powerful milestone in American music: the 60th Anniversary of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).
Founded in 1999 by saxophonist and composer Ernest Dawkins, the Englewood Jazz Festival has become a vital platform for creative expression and cultural unity on Chicago’s South Side. This year’s festival pays tribute to the AACM, a globally influential collective born in Chicago that has shaped avant-garde jazz and experimental music for six decades.
Dawkins says: “The AACM has always stood for innovation, integrity, and the fearless pursuit of sound as a force for change,” says Dawkins. “As we celebrate 60 years of its legacy, we honor not just the music, but the movement.”
The weekend will feature performances by AACM legends and next-generation artists. Events take place indoors on Sep 18-19 and outdoors on September 20 rain or shine, moving indoors in case of inclement weather. Some seating is provided, but attendees are advised to bring their own chairs, blankets, picnics, and an appetite for the kind of music that uplifts and transforms the human spirit! Further information is available at englewoodjazzfestival.org or by calling (773) 789-4227.
Chicago Theatre Week is a program of the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago.