Dates announced for City of Chicago’s 2026 festival season

Chicagoans are in for a treat this summer as the city's festival season kicks off in May and runs through October. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, along with Mayor Brandon Johnson, have announced an exciting lineup of over a dozen events and street festivals that promise to deliver on music, dance, food, and more.

According to Johnson, Chicago's festival season is all about celebrating the city's unique spirit - creative, diverse, welcoming, and full of life. "We're committed to joy, access, and opportunity for all," he said. "From free outdoor concerts to legendary food festivals, this season has something for everyone."

The summer schedule gets underway with the Chicago Farmers Markets, which will take place at markets across the city, starting May 16 and running through October. The Maxwell Street Market will also host a weekly market on Second Sundays only.

In late May, Memorial Day will be celebrated with a wreath-laying ceremony and parade in Daley Plaza. Meanwhile, residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor workouts at Millennium Park's Summer Workouts every Saturday from May 16 to September 5.

The summer music scene heats up with the Chicago Blues Festival on June 4-7, featuring performances at both Ramova Theatre and Millennium Park. The Millennium Park Summer Music Series will run nine concerts throughout July and August at Jay Pritzker Pavilion on most Mondays and Thursdays.

The Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park in mid-July, promising to be a culinary experience unlike any other. Other highlights include the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Chicago SummerDance, the Air and Water Show, and the House Music Festival Conference.

As summer draws to a close, the city will celebrate with a range of holiday events, including tree lighting ceremonies, holiday markets, and a New Year's Eve Celebration at Millennium Park on December 31. For more information on the full festival schedule, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE.
 
omg i'm so stoked for chicago's festival season this year!! 🤩 they're having like so many cool events and markets throughout the city - can't wait to check out the taste of chicago and the blues festival 🎶🍴 and the summer workouts at millennium park sound like a great way to get some exercise while enjoying the views 😊 gotta make sure to bring my reusable cup to all the food festivals too 🤗
 
Meh, all these festivals sound like they're just trying to cram too much into one season... I mean, over a dozen events? It feels like we'll be running from one thing to another all summer long. Can't they just pick a few and go with it? And what's with the "unique spirit" of Chicago being celebrated so heavily? Is it really that unique or is it just the same old stuff we've been seeing for years? 🤔
 
omg u guys i'm literally so stoked for chicago's festival season this year 🤩 i've been to like all the events before and they're always lit 🎉 but what really gets me is how diverse and inclusive everything is. from free outdoor concerts at maxwell street market to the taste of chicago, it's all about celebrating our city's unique spirit 🌈 and that's something we can all get behind 💖 i'm also low-key super excited for the summer workouts at millennium park - who else needs a good workout in the sun ☀️ let's just say i've been feeling pretty sluggish lately 😴 and need something to shake me out of my summer funk 💪 anyway, can't wait to see what the rest of the festival season has in store 🎉
 
OMG u guys!!! 🤩 I'm SO hyped for this summer in ChiTown! 🌞 The festival season is gonna be lit with so many amazing events! 🎉 I'm a big fan of food festivals and The Taste of Chicago is gonna be the highlight of my summer 🍴👏. And can we talk about the music? 🎵 The Chicago Blues Festival and Summer Music Series are gonna be epic! 🤩 Millennium Park is gonna be buzzing all summer long 💃🏽. I'm also loving the idea of free outdoor concerts and workout classes 🌳💪. What's not to love about this city?! 😊 Can't wait for May 16th when the Chicago Farmers Markets kick off 🎉
 
omg u guys this sounds like so much fun!!! 🤩 i love that chicago is all about celebrating its unique spirit, like celebrating creativity and diversity, that's what summer vibes are made of 😎 can't wait to check out the farmers markets, taste of chicago, and summer workouts at millennium park 🏋️‍♀️ gotta get my foodie fix at the maxwell street market too 🍔🌮
 
Back
Top