Chicago Humanities Festival: Talks, Music, Performances
- Multi-week festival presenting authors, artists, and thought-provoking performances and discussions across the city. - Runs April 18–May 17 with multiple events happening this week and weekend in Chicago. - See schedule and ticket info at choosechicago.com.
Chicago Humanities is in the middle of its spring festival, with citywide talks and performances on the calendar from March 24 through June 28. (chicagohumanities.org) This week’s schedule includes Xochitl Gonzalez at Salt Shed’s Three Top Lounge at 6:30 p.m. on April 23 and “A Night With NPR’s Planet Money” at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture at 7:30 p.m. the same night. (chicagohumanities.org) The next neighborhood-wide festival day is Lakeview Day on Saturday, May 9, followed by Northwestern University Day on Sunday, May 17. The festival’s earlier Bridgeport Day on April 18 centered programs at Ramova Theatre and Co-Prosperity. (chicagohumanities.org; chicagohumanities.org) Chicago Humanities announced the spring lineup in March with authors, musicians, politicians and media figures spread across schools, theaters and neighborhood venues instead of a single downtown site. Public ticket sales opened March 19. (chicago.suntimes.com) The spring program ties major names to specific Chicago neighborhoods. Bridgeport Day included Dr. Ibram X. Kendi with Mayor Brandon Johnson, Yann Martel, housing justice speakers Tonika Lewis Johnson, Amanda Williams and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and neighborhood tours led by Shermann “Dilla” Thomas. (chicagohumanities.org); (chicago.suntimes.com) Lakeview Day is built around the Athenaeum Center, with a sold-out May 9 conversation between David Axelrod and David French at 11 a.m. and additional architecture and neighborhood programming that afternoon. (chicagohumanities.org; chicago.suntimes.com) Other spring headliners include Michael Pollan, Rick Steves, Joe Abercrombie, Peter Sagal, Padma Lakshmi, R.F. Kuang and Matt Haig. Chicago Humanities said the season also includes a new ticketing system and directs patrons with account questions to its box office. (chicagohumanities.org; chicago.suntimes.com) Choose Chicago lists the festival in its 2026 event guide, and the organization’s own events page is carrying the live schedule, including sold-out notices and remaining ticketed programs. (choosechicago.com; chicagohumanities.org)
