Chicago's 2026 Festival and Event Calendar Unveiled
The City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has released the schedule for the city's 2026 festivals and events. The lineup begins with Memorial Day weekend and extends through the holiday season.
The Taste of Chicago will return to Grant Park, and the Chicago Blues Festival is slated to inaugurate the summer music festivals in Millennium Park. The current announcement does not specify separate neighborhood events for Taste of Chicago, a departure from recent years.
Kenya Merritt, DCASE acting commissioner, commented on the significance of these events, noting their role as economic drivers and expressions of Chicago's cultural identity.
Specific programming and headliners for the events will be announced at a later date.
Event Schedule Highlights:
- Chicago Farmers Markets: May through October. Division Street Farmers Market opens May 16, Daley Plaza Farmers Market opens May 21.
- Maxwell Street Market: Sundays, May through October (1330 S. Halsted St.).
- Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade: May 23.
- Millennium Park Summer Workouts: Saturdays, May 16 to September 5.
- Chicago Blues Festival: June 4-7, in Millennium Park with an opening night at the Ramova Theatre.
- Millennium Park Summer Music Series: Most Mondays and Thursdays, June 15 to August 6, at Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
- Millennium Park Summer Film Series: Tuesdays, July 1 to August 19, at Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
- Taste of Chicago: July 8-12, in Grant Park.
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival: July 24-25, at Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
- Chicago SummerDance: July and August, including Night Out in the Parks and Spirit of Music Garden events.
- Chicago Air and Water Show: August 14-16, at North Avenue Beach.
- Chicago House Music Festival and Conference: August 27-30, at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park.
- Chicago Jazz Festival: September 3-6, at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park.
- World Music Festival Chicago: September 25 to October 4, citywide.
- Holiday Events in Millennium Park: Includes City of Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov. 20), Holiday Market (Nov. 20-22), and Holiday Sing Along (Fridays, Dec. 4, 11, 18).
- New Year's Eve Celebration: December 31.