Chicago festivals 2026: See list of summer events in city, suburbs

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 12:22PM CT
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Looking for things to do in Chicago this summer? Here are some free and paid events happening across the city.



June



-Chicago Blues Festival at the Ramova Theatre and Millennium Park will be held from Thursday, June 4 to Sunday the 7th.

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast



-Milwaukee's three-weekend festival Summerfest begins June 16 and ends on July 4th.



-Millennium Park Summer Music Series at Jay Pritzker Pavilion begins on June 15. The nine concerts will be held most Mondays and Thursdays.

-Millennium Park Summer Film Series at Jay Pritzker Pavilion begin June 30 and are held every Tuesday through August 18.

July



-Taste of Chicago at Grant Park will be held on Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12.



-Windy City Smokeout returns for the 13th year outside the United Center from July 8-12. Click here to see the full lineup.



-Chicago Gospel Music Festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion will be on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25.

-Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park from July 30 through August 2. Click here to see the full lineup.

Lollapalooza organizers released the 2026 dates for the Chicago festival Tuesday.



August



-Ravinia Music Festival returns August 1 through Sept. 19. Click here to see the full lineup.



-Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach will be held the weekend of August 15.

Tae-Gyun Kim



-Chicago House Music Festival and Conference at the Cultural Center and Millennium Park will be held Thursday, August 27 through Sunday the 30th.

September



-Chicago Jazz Festivalwill be held Thursday September 3 through Sunday the 6.



- Organizers announced El Grito Chicago will be back in Grant Park on the weekend of Sept. 12.

Chicago's El Grito festival to return after hiatus due to fears of immigration enforcement


-Riot Fest will take place on the weekend of Sept. 18 in Douglass Park.

To learn more about events organized by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, click here.

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