Literary-art Events in Chicago

Check out happening literary-art events all around Chicago, IL

Lidia Bastianich - The Art of Pasta Dinner

 Sat, 07 Feb at 03:00 pm Eataly Chicago USD 156

C2E2 2026

 Fri, 27 Mar at 10:00 am 2301 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60616

Chicago, IL: David Nihill at The Den Theatre

Fri, 13 Feb at 07:15 pm The Den Theatre

Authors on Tap: Margot Douaihy and Gillian Flynn

 Fri, 16 Jan at 07:00 pm Exile in Bookville Free

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble

 Sun, 25 Jan at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

LOVE IS IN THE ATMOSPHERE

 Sat, 07 Feb at 07:00 pm Adler Planetarium USD 55

Authors on Tap: Brian Raftery and Gillian Flynn

 Thu, 12 Feb at 07:00 pm Exile in Bookville Free

Vivian Tu aka Your Rich BFF "Well Endowed" Book Launch

 Fri, 06 Feb at 07:00 pm Everybody's Coffee (Wilson Abbey) USD 45

January: Three Avenues Open Mic Night

 Sat, 31 Jan at 07:30 pm 3009 N Southport Ave Free

Author & Punisher / King Yosef / Black Magnet / Wretched Blessing at Reggies

 Sat, 21 Feb at 07:00 pm Reggies

January Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 18 Jan at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Hershey Felder's Monsieur Chopin - A Play with Music

 Sun, 22 Feb at 04:00 pm Harris Theatre

Chicago Misconceptions • Debunking Grandma's Al Capone Stories

 Tue, 03 Feb at 07:00 pm The Bad Apple (Lincoln Park) USD 0 to 45

Pop! Culture Chicago

 Thu, 12 Feb at 09:00 am Aon Grand Ballroom Navy Pier Free

The Merry Wives of Windsor

 Fri, 03 Apr Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Giselle | Chicago | February 17, 2026

Tue, 17 Feb at 07:00 pm Harris Theater for Music and Dance

Short Shakespeare - Hamlet at Jentes Family Courtyard Theater - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

 Sat, 31 Jan at 11:00 am Jentes Family Courtyard Theater - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Erik Larson in Conversation with Mark Bazer "Demon of Unrest"

 Thu, 12 Mar at 07:00 pm Everybody's Coffee (Wilson Abbey) USD 36

Joe Bartnick Live in Chicago - 5/1/2026

 Fri, 01 May at 10:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 24

Soul Rebels 2026: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Bob Marley

 Fri, 06 Feb at 07:00 pm 201 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60607

The Poetry Brothel Chicago: DEVOTION

 Sat, 14 Feb at 07:00 pm Aloft Circus Arts USD 7 to 173

Gilles Peterson Presents: Liner Notes (Chicago Edit)

 Sat, 17 Jan at 07:00 pm The Land School Free

2026 Writing Workshop of Chicago

 Sat, 20 Jun at 09:00 am Congress Plaza Hotel

DOUGHBOYS Chicago

 Wed, 21 Jan at 07:15 pm 1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60622

Nimesh Patel: With All Due Respect Tour

 Fri, 06 Mar at 09:30 pm The Vic Theatre

Voices in Confluence: An Evening of Music, Poetry & Conversation

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:00 pm Bramble Arts Loft USD 29

Whitney Hanson - Words Never Die Tour 2026

 Sat, 07 Feb at 07:00 pm Bottom Lounge

LOTUSCHICAGO.ORG: The Wiz Interactive Viewing Groove!

 Sat, 28 Feb at 06:00 pm NEIU Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS), East Oakwood Boulevard, Chicago, IL, USA USD 50

Lets Talk About Art: Miss Julie

 Fri, 06 Feb at 01:00 pm Court Theatre Free

Black History Month Celebration: Rooted in Resilience

 Wed, 04 Feb at 06:00 pm Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts Free

Radiance | Jeeyoon Kim, Piano

 Fri, 20 Mar at 07:00 pm Pianoforte Studios, 1335 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60605

Strictly Chicago Series: Half Gringa

 Fri, 30 Jan at 08:00 pm Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture

A Conversation with Dr. S. Yin Ho: AI and Improving Data in Healthcare

 Thu, 12 Feb at 03:30 pm 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Free

February Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 15 Feb at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Apocalypse Confidential presents: Poltergeist

 Thu, 22 Jan at 07:30 pm The Understudy Coffee and Books Free

Literary evening with Edward Hirsch

 Sat, 17 Jan at 02:00 pm Chopin Theatre Free

20x2 Chicago: What Can You Do?

 Sun, 01 Feb at 06:30 pm Gman Tavern

Authors on Tap: Daniyal Mueenuddin and Rebecca Makkai

 Wed, 21 Jan at 07:00 pm Exile in Bookville Free

Tribute to Robert Burns at Martyrs' Live

Tue, 27 Jan at 06:30 pm Martyrs'

The Bi Wives Club: A Comedy Showcase

 Sun, 01 Feb at 07:00 pm Dorothy USD 16

March Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Mon, 16 Mar at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Amy Speace

 Fri, 27 Mar at 07:00 pm UncommonGround - Lakeview USD 15 to 20

April Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 19 Apr at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Parking The Merry Wives of Windsor - Chicago

 Fri, 03 Apr Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

Book Talk + Meet & Greet

 Sat, 24 Jan at 11:00 am 3015 W Division St, Chicago, IL

Book Club Run of Three Girls from Bronzeville with Dawn Turner

 Sat, 24 Jan at 10:00 am King Branch, Chicago Public Library

Ferrer Miller Duo

 Sun, 22 Feb at 06:00 pm Pianoforte Studios, 1335 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60605

Carlton Jones and Ladies of Comedy and Poetry

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:00 pm The Crib Comedy Playspace Free

I Know You Got Soul Exhibition Closing

 Sun, 18 Jan at 06:00 pm Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop Free

A Black Queer History of the United States by C. Riley Snorton &Darius Bost

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Where the Monarchs Never Die Book Launch

 Sat, 31 Jan at 06:00 pm 18th Street Casa De Cultura Free

Queering Chaos Conversations: Queering Music & Technology

 Tue, 20 Jan at 07:00 pm Dorothy USD 14 to 26

Coloring After Dark: A Color and Sip with Nicole Pacini

 Sat, 07 Feb at 07:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 22

LaMP

 Sat, 21 Mar at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

Edgar Allan Poeprov

 Sat, 31 Jan at 07:00 pm The Playground Theater Free

Pilsen Arts & Community House - Book Club

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:30 pm Pilsen Arts & Community House

Women of Influence: Author Edition - Wednesday January 28th

 Wed, 28 Jan at 06:00 pm Bodega Taqueria y Tequila USD 31 to 42

Winter Torch: A Gathering of Warmth and Resilience

 Sun, 15 Feb at 04:00 pm 201 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60607

Chicago Artopia Presents: Grisha Goryachev

 Sun, 22 Feb at 03:00 pm West Lawn Branch, Chicago Public Library Free

Great Chicago Books Club: Grady Chambers's Great Disasters

 Fri, 27 Mar at 07:00 pm Private Residence, Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL (Streeterville)

LaMP

 Fri, 20 Mar at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

Movement Philosophy ::::: Winter Session

 Mon, 01 Dec at 07:00 pm bim bom studios USD 0 to 173

The Seven Daughters of Dupree Book Signing with Nikesha Elise Williams

 Thu, 29 Jan at 06:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 6 to 32

Winesburg, Ohio (New Edition) Release

 Sat, 14 Feb at 07:00 pm Tangible Books

40 Years, 40 Films with Nick Digilio

 Wed, 21 Jan at 06:00 pm Rogers Park Branch, Chicago Public Library Free

Object Diaries at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 18 Jan at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Fundraiser for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights

 Sat, 24 Jan at 04:30 pm The Hideout Free

Chicago Screenwriters Network - January 2026: Table Read

 Sun, 25 Jan at 06:00 pm Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro USD 0 to 12

The Season of You Experience

 Sat, 17 Jan at 12:00 pm 3414 W Foster Ave USD 45

Book Event: The Hitch by Sara Levine

 Wed, 04 Feb at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Speculative Fiction Book Club

 Sun, 01 Feb at 05:00 pm Slant of Light Books Free

Touch Me, I'm Sick: A Memoir in Essays by Margeaux Feldman

 Wed, 28 Jan at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

The Story Luck Show 2nd Sunday of the Month

 Sun, 08 Feb at 06:30 pm Theater Wit

Shards of Me and My... Monologues and Poems

 Wed, 21 Jan at 07:30 pm Kimball Arts Center

SoL Book Club -- Global and Translated Lit

 Wed, 28 Jan at 06:30 pm Slant of Light Books Free

Of Course I'm Here Right Now Book Launch Party - Chicago

 Mon, 30 Mar at 06:00 pm Bramble Arts Loft USD 39 to 61

Once Upon A Brunch for Book Lovers

 Sat, 24 Jan at 12:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 43 to 69

Pilates at The Auditorium

 Sat, 17 Jan at 09:00 am 50 E Ida B Wells Dr, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60605

January Blue Hour Featuring Jimin Seo and Tarik Dobbs

 Wed, 21 Jan at 07:30 pm Haymarket House Free

The Burden of the Past: The Holocaust, Colonialism, and Today's World

 Thu, 29 Jan at 06:00 pm Goethe-Institut Chicago Free

Ground Rules on Greatness: Artists Jam

 Thu, 22 Jan at 07:00 pm Experimental Station Free

Overcoming Depression Book Signing and Talk with Marilyn Okoye

 Sat, 17 Jan at 12:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 0 to 11

Nowhere To Call Home Stage Play

 Fri, 08 May at 07:00 pm 2153 W 111th St USD 39

Women's Circle Chicago

 Mon, 19 Jan at 06:00 pm 4007 N. Broadway #202, Chicago, IL

Will Overman and Grady Spencer

 Sat, 07 Feb at 07:00 pm UncommonGround - Lakeview USD 18

Mindset Workshop -Chicago

 Fri, 30 Jan at 10:00 am Chicago USD 210

Book Talk: The Grave Robber with Tim Carpenter

 Wed, 28 Jan at 05:00 pm Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum Free

Loop & Listen Book Club

 Thu, 22 Jan at 06:00 pm Burst Into Books Headquarters USD 14

Loving through Enmity — Book Event with author Marvin E. Wickware, Jr.

 Sun, 18 Jan at 12:00 pm 3325 W Wrightwood Ave Free

Join us for Ted Karamanski Talk and Book Signing

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:00 pm 1200 West 35th Street, Suite 0E-5010, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60609

American Prophets Workshop: Writing Religion with Andrew Krivák

 Thu, 12 Mar at 06:00 pm American Writers Museum USD 25

American Prophets Workshop: Writing Religion with Andrew Krivák

 Thu, 12 Mar at 06:00 pm American Writers Museum

John Davis in Conversation with Liz Mason

 Fri, 16 Jan at 06:30 am Quimby's Bookstore Free

Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (IN PERSON)

 Thu, 22 Jan at 06:00 pm American Writers Museum

April Blue Hour featuring Diego Báez and Samyak Shertok

 Wed, 15 Apr at 07:30 pm Haymarket House Free

Poet of Stage and Page CIN SALACH

Sun, 18 Jan at 03:00 pm 4802 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60640

Speaking With Confidence Workshop for Latina Professionals

 Thu, 19 Feb at 11:00 am &Rise USD 0 to 87

Radiohead Concert in the Dark w Live Strings WAITLIST SHOW – DATE PENDING

 Mon, 02 Feb at 07:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago USD 0 to 322

Chicago Teachers House Party

 Sun, 18 Jan at 10:00 am 18th Street Casa de Cultura USD 0 to 25

Author & Punisher

 Sun, 22 Feb at 02:00 am Reggies Rock Club