Pitchfork Music Festival will not return to Chicago next year

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A long-running music festival in Chicago is going silent after nearly two decades.

Pitchfork Music Festival announced that it is not returning to the city next year after a 19-year run in Union Park.

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What brought music, culture, and arts in Union Park each year since 2006 is becoming mute for the time being.

Organizers said in a statement, in part, "This decision was not made lightly... We are deeply grateful to the City of Chicago for being our Festival's home for nearly two decades, to the artists who graced our stages with unforgettable performances, and to the fans who brought unmatched energy year after year."

Jennifer Fitzgibbon is one of those die-hard fans who has attended the festival for the last five years.

"I think it's a great community event. I love the fact that they bring other people here to the neighborhood," Fitzgibbon said. "We're known to be a city with music here, and if we start to not have festivals, I think it would make people think about, why do we live in the city if we can't have and cultivate diverse culture and talent coming in."

The decision came after the festival's parent company and media giant, Condé Nast, which also owns GQ and Vogue, announced staff layoffs earlier this year.

Alderman Walter Burnett, who represents the 27th Ward, told ABC7 he spoke with organizers Monday afternoon. He said the festival's departure was not due to any concerns with the city, instead citing a lack of sponsorships, insurance costs and the festival struggling to compete with other summer music events.

"It's more than disappointing. It's kind of aggravating," said Edward Hoagland, who lives near Union Park. "I don't know if something else is stepping in to fill in with it or not. I suppose that would be something that we would look forward to, as well."

Festival organizers have not said if they will continue to host the event in Chicago after next year.

Burnett said he is working with the city to make sure the event does not leave.

The lineup for summer 2024 included artists Alanis Morissette, Carly Rae Jepsen, 100 Gecs, Jai Paul and Black Pumas.

Pitchfork Music Festival's full statement:

To our Chicago Festival community:

As the music festival landscape continues to evolve rapidly, we have made the difficult decision not to host Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago in 2025.

This decision was not made lightly. For 19 years, Pitchfork Music Festival has been a celebration of music, art, and community-a space where memories were made, voices were amplified, and the shared love of music brought us all together.

The Festival, while aligned with the taste of the Pitchfork editorial team, has always been a collaborative effort, taking on a life of its own as a vital pillar of the Chicago arts scene.

We are deeply grateful to the City of Chicago for being our Festival's home for nearly two decades, to the artists who graced our stages with unforgettable performances, and to the fans who brought unmatched energy year after year.

Thank you to At Pluto and the rest of the hardworking Festival team whose dedication and creativity were the backbone of every event, and to the broader community whose spirit and support made the Festival a truly unique experience.

And thank you to Mike Reed for founding the Festival and for your inspiring vision.

Pitchfork will continue to produce events in 2025 and beyond. We look forward to continuing to create spaces where music, culture, and community intersect in uplifting ways-and we hope to see you there.