Chicago Blues Festival 2026 Announces Exciting Artist Lineup

One of the best musical festivals of the summer in Illinois has recently released its 2026 lineup, and the fans are super excited to have the experience coming up later this year.

The Chicago Blues Fest Announced Its 2026 Concert Lineup

One of my favorite music festivals of all time is the Chicago Blues Festival. I started going to that event when I was just a teenager. Something about being outside on the lakefront and listening to good music just makes a really cool experience. If you've never been, I highly suggest checking it out.

According to Choose Chicago...

Each year, more than 500,000 blues fans gather in Chicago’s Millennium Park and venues across the city for multiple days of performances — all free and open to the public — featuring some of the genre’s most revered musicians, along with up-and-coming and local talent.

Thierry Roy

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Here is the lineup for the 2026 Chicago Blues Fest...

Thursday, June 4th Opening Night

Ramova Theatre (Bridgeport)

7:15-8:30pm John Primer Tribute to Theresa’s Lounge

8:45-10:15pm Willie Clayton

Friday, June 5th Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:30-3:45pm Emcee Intro Remarks, National Anthem, & Lift Every Voice

3:45-4:45pm Marquise Knox

5-6pm C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band

6:15-7:15pm Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite Duo

7:30-9pm 55 Years of Alligator Records featuring Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Toronzo Cannon, Nick Moss, and Tinsley Ellis

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage

Noon-1:15pm Mississippi Marshall

1:30-2:45pm The Big Time Rhythm & Blues Band

3-4:15pm Eden Brent

4-5:45pm Ra’shad the Blues Kid

Rosa’s Lounge Stage

12:30-1:45pm Nick Alexander Blues Band

2-3:15pm Funky MojoDaddy

3:30-4:45pm The Mike Wheeler Band with Demetria Taylor

5-6:15pm Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings

6:30-7:45pm The Freddie Dixon Blues Band

Wrigley Square Next Generation of Blues

Noon-12:45pm Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts

1-1:45pm Chicago West Community Music Center

2-2:45pm Curie Metro High School

3-3:45pm The People’s Music School

4-4:45pm Kenwood Academy High School

5:15-6:15pm Meaza Joy

6:45-7:45pm VanderCook College of Music

Saturday, June 6th Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45-4pm Emcee Intro Remarks, National Anthem, & Lift Every Voice

4-5pm Dylan Triplett

5:15-6:15pm Shakura S’Aida

6:30-7:30pm Ruthie Foster

7:45-9pm 75 Years of Billy Branch with Kenny Neal and Ronnie Baker Brooks

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage

Noon-1:15pm John Clayton White

1:30-2:45pm Anissa Hampton

3-4:15pm Cuz Band

4:30-5:45pm Dexter Allen

Rosa’s Lounge Stage

12:30-1:45pm Theo Huff & The Legacy Band

2-3:15pm Melody Angel

3:30-4:45pm The Nick Moss Band

5-6:15pm The Gerry Hundt Trio

6:30-7:45pm Oscar Wilson Blues Band

Wrigley Square Next Generation of Blues

Noon-12:45pm WDCB Presents

1-1:45pm Nicholas Senn High School

2-2:45pm BandWith Chicago

3-3:45pm Fernando Jones Presents the Blues Kids of America Jam Session

4-4:45pm Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

5:15-6:15pm Chicago Blues Revival

6:45-7:45pm Midwest Young Artist Conservatory

Sunday, June 7th

Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:30-3:45pm Emcee Intro Remarks, National Anthem, & Lift Every Voice

3:45-5pm Women in Blues Tribute to Mama Yancey and Big Mama Thornton with Mary Lane, Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, Melody Angel, Lee Kanehira, and Lynne Jordan & the Shivers