Arts & Culture Events in Chicago

89 real events — independently sourced, no listings dumps.

Waitress

James M. Nederlander TheatreTue Oct 13 – Sun Oct 18, 2026Check broadwayinchicago.com for pricing

FLEUROTICA

Garfield Park ConservatoryThu Oct 15, 2026Not yet listed

Museum After Hours: Secrets and Specimens

Field MuseumFri Oct 23, 2026Not yet listed — check fieldmuseum.org

Omar

Lyric Opera HouseFri Oct 23, Sun Oct 25 & Wed Oct 28, 2026Not listed — check lyricopera.org

Family Field Nights: Boo with SUE

Field MuseumOct 30, 2026Not listed

'Aquí en Chicago' Final Day Celebration

Chicago History MuseumSun Nov 8, 2026Included with general admission

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson: Astronomy Bizarre

Auditorium TheatreTue Nov 10, 2026From $72

Andrew Bird & the CSO

Symphony Center (Orchestra Hall)Fri Nov 13 & Sat Nov 14, 2026From $109

Sol Invictus (Compagnie Hervé Koubi)

Harris TheaterSat Nov 14, 2026From $57

Reimagining Chicago: Brick by Brick Gallery Tour

Harold Washington Library CenterSat Nov 14, 2026Free

George Lopez

The Chicago TheatreSat Nov 21, 2026From $48

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

Cadillac Palace TheatreTue Nov 24 – Sun Nov 29, 2026Check broadwayinchicago.com for pricing

Mrs. Doubtfire

James M. Nederlander TheatreTue Nov 24 – Sun Nov 29, 2026Check broadwayinchicago.com for pricing

Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna

Symphony Center (Orchestra Hall)Sat Nov 28, 2026From $29

Disney's Encanto in Concert Live to Film

Lyric Opera HouseSat Nov 28 & Sun Nov 29, 2026Not listed — check lyricopera.org

Naughty or Nice at MSI

Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryThu Dec 10, 2026$35 ($28 members), 21+

Elf in Concert

Symphony CenterFri Dec 11 – Sun Dec 13, 2026From $79

Apollo's Fire: Handel's Messiah

St. James CathedralTue Dec 15, 2026 (also Dec 16 in Evanston, Dec 17 in Naperville)Not listed

Handel's Messiah (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

Symphony Center (Orchestra Hall)Thu Dec 17 – Sat Dec 19, 2026Not listed

Merry, Merry Chicago! (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

Symphony CenterSat Dec 19 – Wed Dec 23, 2026From $55

All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower PlaceTue–Thu Jan 26–28, 2027Not yet listed

Dancing with the Stars: Live! (2027 Tour)

Allstate ArenaFri Feb 19, 2027 (just announced; time TBA)Not listed — general on-sale opens Oct 13, 2026

Hérodiade: An Opera in Concert

Lyric Opera HouseFeb 23–28, 2027From $114

EXPO CHICAGO

Navy Pier (Festival Hall)Thu–Sun April 8–11, 2027Not listed — check expochicago.com

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Auditorium TheatreThu April 22 – Sun April 25, 2027From $44

C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo)

McCormick PlaceFri–Sun Apr 30 – May 2, 2027Single-day from $50; 3-day from $137

62nd Chicago International Film Festival

Multiple venues; HQ at 212 W Van Buren StOct 14–25, 2026Not listed (early-bird passes)

A Christmas Carol

Goodman Theatre (Albert Theatre)Nov 13 – Dec 31, 2026From $25

Adirondack Chair Circle

Steppenwolf Theatre (Ensemble Theater)Oct 22 – Dec 6, 2026Not listed

After the Age of Dinosaurs

Field MuseumThrough Jan 3, 2027$43 adult / $34 Chicago resident (All-Access Pass); members free

All the World (World Premiere)

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (Northlight Theatre)Nov 11 – Dec 20, 2026Not found in available sources; check Northlight directly

Anne Frank The Exhibition

Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryThrough early 2027$19 adult/$15 child, plus museum admission ($10 Flex Pass option; free entry ended Sept 2026)

Ariadne auf Naxos

Lyric Opera HouseMarch 11–26, 2027From $68

Beatriz González: In Series and Full Color

Art Institute of ChicagoNov 15, 2026 – March 1, 2027$32 non-resident / $20 resident; members free

Black Harvest Film Festival

Gene Siskel Film CenterFri Nov 6 – Sun Nov 15, 2026Around $13 general admission (2025 rate — confirm 2026 pricing)

Blue Man Group: A New Holiday Surprise

CIBC TheatreTue Nov 24 – Sun Dec 13, 2026$39–$120

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Drury Lane TheatreThrough Oct 18, 2026Not listed

Chicago Fashion Week

Venues citywideThu Oct 8 – Sun Oct 18, 2026Varies by event — many free or low-cost

Chicago Humanities Festival — Fall 2026

Venues citywideSept 14 – Nov 7, 2026Varies by event — many free, ticketed talks typically $10–$40

Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival

Fine Arts Building, Chicago Children's Theatre & other stagesExpected late Jan – early Feb 2027 (2027 dates not yet announced — 2026 ran Jan 21–Feb 1)Varies by event

Chicago Latino Film Festival

Landmark Century Centre CinemaApr 15–26, 2027$17 general; $12 Mon–Tue; $15 student/senior/member

Chicago Theatre Week

Venues citywideExpected early–mid Feb 2027 (2026 ran Feb 5–15 — 2027 dates not yet announced)$15–$30 per ticket

Come From Away

Marriott TheatreThrough Oct 18, 2026Not listed

Dead Girl's Quinceañera

Goodman Theatre, Owen TheatreSept 26 – Nov 1, 2026Not listed

Don Giovanni (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

Civic Opera HouseOct 10 – Nov 1, 2026From $77

Don Pasquale

Lyric Opera HouseNov 12–27, 2026From $68

Ellen B.

Steppenwolf Theatre (Ensemble Theatre)Apr 1 – May 9, 2027Not yet listed — check steppenwolf.org

Embroidered Traditions from Morocco to Afghanistan

Art Institute of ChicagoThrough Jan 25, 2027 (running since May 2026)$32 non-resident / $20 resident; members free

Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History

Driehaus MuseumOct 8, 2026 – April 18, 2027$23 adult / $18 senior / $13 student; children 12 & under free

Escape to Margaritaville

Music Theater Works, North Shore Center for the Performing ArtsOct 9 – Nov 1, 2026Not listed

FEAST! (Goodman Theatre)

Goodman TheatreFeb 27 – March 28, 2027Not listed — check goodmantheatre.org

Guys and Dolls

Lyric Opera HouseJune 4–20, 2027From $71

Heartbreakers (Chicago Shakespeare Theater)

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Upstairs Studio)Tue May 4 – Sun June 6, 2027Not listed — check chicagoshakes.com

Illinoise

Chicago Shakespeare TheaterTue Feb 9 – Sun March 14, 2027Not listed — check chicagoshakes.com

Impressive Textiles: Printing on Fabric

Newberry LibraryDec 10, 2026 – April 3, 2027Free

Inner Worlds: Visions from the Hirshhorn Collection

Wrightwood 659Sept 25 – Dec 19, 2026Not listed (advance reservation required)

Jekyll & Hyde

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower PlaceSept 8 – Nov 8, 2026Check broadwayinchicago.com for pricing

Jersey Boys

CIBC TheatreTue Nov 10 – Sun Nov 22, 2026From $70

Jill Mulleady: The Passenger

Art Institute of ChicagoSept 19, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027Included with general admission

John Proctor is the Villain

Goodman Theatre (Albert Theatre)Jan 23 – Feb 21, 2027Not listed — check goodmantheatre.org

Karimah Ashadu: Machine Boys

Art Institute of ChicagoSept 11 – Nov 1, 2026 (per one third-party listing; Art Institute hadn't published its own closing date as of this writing — confirm before a special trip)Included with general admission

Lee Miller: Fearless

Art Institute of ChicagoAug 29 – Dec 7, 2026$32 non-resident / $20 resident; members free

Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism

Art Institute of ChicagoSept 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027$32 non-resident / $20 resident; members free

Maybe Happy Ending

CIBC TheatreJan 5–17, 2027From $113 (resale); $49 day-of rush available

Metal, Paper, Ink: Early Printing from Jikji to Gutenberg

Newberry LibraryMarch 11 – June 26, 2027Free

Oh, Mary!

CIBC TheatreJan 19 – Feb 7, 2027Not listed — check Broadway in Chicago

Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance

DuSable Black History Museum and Education CenterThrough early 2027$14.50 non-resident / $12.50 Chicago resident (free Wednesdays & first Friday monthly)

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon (Fulldome Show)

Adler Planetarium (Grainger Sky Theater)Year-long run, began Jan 1, 2026$20 (plus museum admission)

Play On!

Chicago Shakespeare TheaterSept 11 – Oct 18, 2026Not listed

Pokémon Fossil Museum (Field Museum)

Field MuseumMay 22, 2026 – April 11, 2027$18/$13 weekdays, $20/$14 weekends (adult/child)

Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers

Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoNov 7, 2026 – April 25, 2027$22 adult / $14 student-senior; children free

Say It with Pictures: Photography, Black Chicago and the Great Migration

Newberry LibraryJune 10 – Sept 18, 2027Free

Serial Killer: The Exhibition

Cinespace Chicago Film StudiosOngoing through Jan 24, 2027 (opened Sept 5, 2026; closed Mon & Tue)Not listed — check Fever for current pricing

Slow Dance

Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSept 12, 2026 – March 14, 2027$22 adult / $14 student-senior; children free

Susannah

Lyric Opera HouseApril 11–23, 2027From $68

The Artistry of Plastic Surgery

International Museum of Surgical ScienceJuly 31, 2026 – March 31, 2027$25 adult / $18 senior-student-military

The Book of Mormon

Cadillac Palace TheatreOct 23 – Nov 1, 2026From $148

The Comeuppance (Steppenwolf Theatre)

Steppenwolf Theatre (Downstairs Theater)Feb 4 – March 21, 2027Typically $42–75 (Steppenwolf's usual range)

The Lion King

Cadillac Palace TheatreThu June 3 – Sat July 31, 2027From $218 (varies widely by date)

The Night Fawn

Steppenwolf Theatre (Downstairs Theater)May 27 – July 3, 2027Not yet listed — check steppenwolf.org

The Nutcracker (Joffrey Ballet)

Lyric Opera HouseDec 4 – 27, 2026$50–$171

The XIXth (The Nineteenth)

Goodman TheatreApril 17 – May 16, 2027Not listed — check goodmantheatre.org

Threads of a Nation

Chicago History MuseumOct 24, 2026 – July 17, 2027$19 adult / $17 senior; children 6-12 free

Tony Cokes: On Boredom

Art Institute of ChicagoOct 3, 2026 – Mar 14, 2027Included with general admission

Topdog/Underdog

Steppenwolf TheatreSept 17 – Nov 1, 2026Not listed

Utamaro: Elements of Beauty

Art Institute of ChicagoSept 23 – Dec 21, 2026Included with general admission

Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos

National Museum of Mexican ArtSept 25 – Nov 29, 2026Free

Zurbarán: Divine Light

Art Institute of ChicagoFeb 28 – June 20, 2027$32 non-resident / $20 resident; members free

teamLab: Everything Exists in Infinite Continuity

Smart Museum of ArtSept 22, 2026 – Feb 21, 2027Free