Taste of Chicago is coming back to Grant Park and Blues Fest will kick off the summer music festivals in Millennium Park, according to an announcement Tuesday from the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The announcement set the schedule for Chicago’s 2026 lineup of festivals and events, beginning with Memorial Day weekend and continuing through celebrations for the holiday season — also including the Chicago Air and Water Show, the Summer Film Series and the Chicago Farmers Markets. The initial announcement did not specify separate neighborhood events for Taste of Chicago, as in recent years.
“Chicago’s festivals and events are more than entertainment. They are engines for our creative economy and powerful expressions of our city’s cultural identity,” said DCASE acting commissioner Kenya Merritt said in part in a statement.
Programming and headliners for all events are yet to come.
Chicago Farmers Markets including Daley Plaza: May through October; Division Street Farmers Market opens May 16, and Daley Plaza Farmers Market opens May 21; ChicagoFarmersMarkets.us
Maxwell Street Market (1330 S. Halsted St.): On Sundays May through October; MaxwellStreetMarket.us
Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade: May 23; Chicago.gov/DCASE
Millennium Park Summer Workouts on the Great Lawn: On Saturdays from May 16 to Sept. 5; MillenniumPark.org
Chicago Blues Festival in Millennium Park with opening night at the Ramova Theatre: June 4-7; ChicagoBluesFestival.us
Millennium Park Summer Music Series with nine concerts at Jay Pritzker Pavilion: Most Mondays and Thursdays from June 15 to August 6; MillenniumPark.org
Millennium Park Summer Film Series at Jay Pritzker Pavilion: Tuesdays from July 1 to August 19; MillenniumPark.org
Taste of Chicago in Grant Park: July 8-12; TasteofChicago.us
Chicago Gospel Music Festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion: July 24-25; ChicagoGospelMusicFestival.us
Chicago SummerDance including Night Out in the Parks events and Spirit of Music Garden: July and August; ChicagoSummerDance.org
Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach: August 14-16; ChicagoAirandWaterShow.us
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park: August 27-30; ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.org
Chicago Jazz Festival at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park: Sept. 3-6; ChicagoJazzFestival.us
World Music Festival Chicago citywide: Sept. 25 to Oct. 4; WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org
Holiday events in Millennium Park including City of Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov. 20); Holiday Market (Nov. 20-22) and Holiday Sing Along (on Fridays, Dec. 4, 11, 18); Chicago.gov/Holiday
New Year’s Eve Celebration: Dec. 31; Chicago.gov/NYE
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
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