Every major Chicago concert venue, one place to get tickets — Thalia Hall, Aragon Ballroom, House of Blues, The Chicago Theatre, Allstate Arena, Wintrust Arena, NOW Arena, and United Center.
A restored 1890s opera house turned music hall — one of Chicago's most atmospheric rooms to see a show, with a packed touring schedule across just about every genre.
A 1920s Spanish-Moorish ballroom that's hosted touring rock and metal acts for decades — the ornate ceiling alone is worth the trip, general-admission floor and all.
A multilevel room with general-admission floor, balconies, and reserved seating depending on the show — one of the more reliable mid-size touring stops downtown.
The marquee on State Street is one of the most recognizable sights downtown — comedy, music, and touring acts under a genuinely ornate 1921 theater ceiling.
The suburban arena that handles the bigger touring acts Chicago's downtown venues can't fit — also home to the Chicago Wolves and a rotating circuit of family shows.
A newer arena near McCormick Place that mixes concerts with DePaul basketball and other live events — a genuine alternative when the bigger downtown rooms are booked.
A northwest-suburban arena that pulls in touring acts who skip the city proper — worth checking if you're out that way, or if a show you want isn't playing downtown.
Chicago's biggest indoor venue, better known as home to the Bulls and Blackhawks — but it hosts the city's largest touring concerts too, when it's not game night.
Size and setting vary a lot across these eight rooms — worth knowing before you assume one venue is like another.
Thalia Hall and House of Blues both run a few thousand capacity or less — the closest you'll get to the artist at a major-label show in Chicago.
Aragon Ballroom and The Chicago Theatre both date to the 1920s and carry real architectural character alongside the show itself.
Allstate Arena, Wintrust Arena, and NOW Arena all handle bigger touring acts than the clubs can fit, without the downtown United Center price tag.
United Center is Chicago's largest indoor venue — reserved for the biggest stadium-level tours and, most nights, the Bulls or Blackhawks.
Real Ticketmaster links to the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox, and Blackhawks.
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The full Music & Nightlife calendar — every show we've confirmed at these venues and more, browsable by date.
Real Ticketmaster links to every Chicago pro team, same place, same pattern.
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