Seasonal guides, festivals, award seasons, and other recurring Chicago theatre events coverage.
If you’re looking for the best plays in Chicago right now, along with musicals, Broadway tours, opera and comedy, this is the place to start. For each show you get where it’s playing, the dates, a short description and a link to the official ticket page. Shows are grouped by type, and the Loop, neighborhood … Read more
The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival runs October 14–25, 2026. Find dates, venues, tickets, film highlights and practical tips for attending.
Chicago is home to world-class museums, and you don’t always have to pay full admission to visit them. Throughout the year, museums across the city offer free days and evenings for Illinois residents, while several Chicago museums are free for everyone year-round. This guide covers free museum days in Chicago for 2026, including the Art … Read more
Chicago’s annual World Music Festival runs from Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. During the festival, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is offering free concerts at venues from downtown to Humboldt Park, Lincoln Square, Beverly, and elsewhere — an invitation to hear the city through other … Read more
Chicago’s holiday season is full of classic Christmas tales, family musicals, ballet and other festive stage productions at theaters around the city and suburbs. This guide reviews notable holiday programs announced for 2026, ranging from long-running Chicago traditions to limited-engagement touring productions. Updated for the 2026 holiday season. Dates and productions can change, so check … Read more
The 58th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity theaters were announced Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Harris Theater. The program was directed by Ray Frewen and music directed by Michael Mahler and co-hosted by Michelle Duffy and James Earl Jones II. 72 productions became Jeff of the 85 opening nites judged from July 1, 2025 … Read more
The 58th Equity Jeff Award nominations cover the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 Equity season. Nominees will be honored at a ceremony on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Harris Theater. See the full list of 58th Equity Jeff Awards winners, our Jeff Awards guide, and the official nominees at jeffawards.org/equity-nominees. For an earlier season, … Read more
Updated for the 2026 holiday season. Looking for more seasonal performances? See our Chicago Holiday Shows & Musicals guide for Christmas theatre, family shows and other holiday productions around Chicago. Chicago and the surrounding suburbs offer a wide range of Nutcracker performances each holiday season, from major professional productions to shorter family versions, community traditions … Read more
The Joseph Jefferson Awards, commonly known as the Jeff Awards, recognize excellence in Chicago-area theatre. Established in 1968, the awards evaluate eligible professional productions through separate Equity and Non-Equity programs and recognize achievements by productions, performers, directors, designers and other theatre artists. This page is an evergreen guide to how the Jeff Awards work. For … Read more
The Chicago Critics Film Festival returns April 30–May 6, 2027. Find dates, venue updates, tickets, lineup information and tips for attending Chicago’s critic-curated film festival.