Mark Your Calendars For Chicago’s Festival Lineup This Summer

It's been a brutal winter so far in Illinois, but there's plenty to look forward to as the weather warms and festival season starts in Chicago.

The 2026 Festival Schedule Has Been Released For Chicago

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was going to downtown Chicago for some of its amazing festivals. The couple that I really enjoyed attending were the Taste of Chicago and the Chicago Blues Festival. If you've never been, I highly suggest checking them out. I'm happy that the taste is back to its normal time of the year now that the NASCAR race is gone.

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According to Chicago Suntimes...

Summer in Chicago wouldn’t be complete without an outdoor concert at Millennium Park, a basket of Harold’s Chicken at the Taste of Chicago and the wealth of other arts and culture programming that marks the city’s festival season, which kicks off in May.

 

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Here's the schedule of the major festivals in Chicago this year...

• May through October: Chicago Farmers Markets

• May through October: Maxwell Street Market

• May 23: Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Parade

• May 16-Sept. 5: Millennium Park Summer Workouts

• June 4-7: Chicago Blues Festival

• June 15-Aug. 6: Millennium Park Summer Music Series

• July 1-Aug. 19: Millennium Park Summer Film Series

• July 8-12: Taste of Chicago

• July 24-25: Chicago Gospel Music Festival

• July and August: Chicago SummerDance

• Aug. 15-16: Chicago Air and Water Show

• Aug. 27-30: Chicago House Music Festival and Conference

• Sept. 3-6: Chicago Jazz Festival

• Sept. 25-Oct. 4: World Music Festival Chicago

• Oct. 24: Chicago Made Music Showcase Finale

• Nov. 20: City of Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony

• Nov. 20-22: Holiday Market

• Dec. 4, 11, 18: Holiday Sing-Along

• Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration