Literary-art Events in Chicago

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

Dance Gavin Dance with The Fall of Troy, Wolf & Bear and The Novelists

 Fri, 15 May at 11:00 pm Riviera Theatre - Chicago

Abby Govindan: Pushing 30 Comedy Hour

 Sun, 31 May at 08:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 30

The Notebook - The Musical at Nederlander Theatre Chicago

 Tue, 04 Aug at 07:00 pm Nederlander Theatre Chicago

The Chicago Renaissance Ball

 Sat, 01 Aug at 04:00 pm Stan Mansion

American Writers Festival - American Writers Museum

 Sat, 06 Jun at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

22nd Annual Cavalcade of Authors - Printers Row Lit Fest Chicago

 Fri, 11 Sep at 07:00 pm SpringHill Suites Chicago Chinatown USD 0 to 266

Joe Bartnick Live in Chicago - 5/1/2026

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

Nervous Laughter: a comedy show

 Thu, 07 May at 07:00 pm Dorothy USD 15

The Poetry Brothel Chicago: LIFE IS A CABARET

 Fri, 12 Jun at 08:00 pm Chicago Theater Works USD 50

Freddy Jones Band w/ Pino Farina (solo)

 Sat, 02 May at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

American Writers Festival - Harold Washington Library Center

 Sun, 07 Jun at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Graceland Cemetery Tour (South Side) with Author Adam Selzer -

 Sat, 02 May at 11:00 am Graceland Cemetery USD 23

Francis Fukuyama: The Civil Service and the Future of American Diplomacy

 Thu, 14 May at 11:30 am Union League Club of Chicago USD 57

A Conversation with Shannon Chakraborty!

 Fri, 15 May at 07:00 pm Seminary Co-op Bookstore USD 43

💮Flowa Obscura | chLL Smith | DRRTYWULVZ | AUDIO GOBLIN | EASYJACK

 Sat, 02 May at 06:00 pm City Hall Events

The Moth Storyslam

 Sun, 10 May at 06:00 pm Heath Mainstage At The Den Theatre

In Conversation with Garrison Keillor at Park West

 Mon, 04 May at 07:30 pm Park West

The Claudettes: Album Release show at Old Town School of Folk Music

 Sat, 02 May at 08:00 pm Szold Hall, Old Town School of Folk Music

The Merry Wives of Windsor

 Fri, 03 Apr Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Kasaun Wilson LIVE in Chicago - 8/30/26

 Sun, 30 Aug at 07:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 18

Pink Floyd Concert in the Dark with Award Winning Violinist WAITLIST SHOW

 Sat, 16 May at 07:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago USD 0 to 322

Book Event: We Dance Upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel

 Wed, 13 May at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Sor Juana 2026: A Presentation of My Name is Chabela with Marisol Arnot

 Wed, 29 Apr at 07:00 pm National Museum of Mexican Art Free

Festival of Independent Artists

 Fri, 08 May at 05:00 pm 2408 N Kedzie Blvd USD 17 to 33

Tax & The City | A Big Tent Urbanist Event

 Thu, 30 Apr at 05:30 pm The iO Theater Free

Hayden Johnson LIVE at The Lincoln Lodge - one night only! 7/30/26

 Thu, 30 Jul at 08:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 18

2026 Writing Workshop of Chicago

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

Amit Chaudhuri - "Incompleteness: New and Selected Essays" - Srikanth Reddy

 Tue, 28 Apr at 04:00 pm 5751 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60637

Book Event: Gina Frangello & Elizabeth Crane

 Thu, 07 May at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

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

 Sat, 06 Jun at 07:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago USD 0 to 322

Benny Feldman's Butterfly Pavilion - 8/20/26

 Thu, 20 Aug at 07:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 24

TJ Klune "We Burned So Bright" Book Signing

 Thu, 30 Apr at 07:00 pm Everybody's Coffee (Wilson Abbey) USD 43

An Evening of Jazz with Martina Barta

 Wed, 29 Apr at 06:30 pm Cafe Prague USD 109

An Evening with Scott Simon

 Wed, 06 May at 07:30 pm First United Methodist Church of Chicago USD 28 to 54

Hybrid Poetry Event with Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

 Wed, 29 Apr at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Book Event: Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg

 Tue, 05 May at 07:00 pm Haymarket House USD 6 to 39

L’Orfeo

 Thu, 24 Sep at 07:00 pm Jarvis Opera Hall at Depaul University School of Music

Black Single Mother Book Talk and Signing with Jamilah Lemieux

 Tue, 28 Apr at 06:00 pm NEIU Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) USD 35

Modern Portraits: An Evening of AAPI Short Films and Poetry

 Fri, 01 May at 05:30 pm HAIBAYÔ Free

damsel. with Matthew Hawkins, Lizzie Kaniecki, Pretty Lee + more

 Sat, 16 May at 08:00 pm UncommonGround - Lakeview USD 20

Offsite at Haymarket House: Tillie Walden

 Thu, 04 Jun at 07:00 pm Haymarket House USD 6

May Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 17 May at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

An Evening with Tiffany D. Cross: Love Me Book Talk & Signing

 Tue, 12 May at 06:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 32

Pilsen Ukulele Party (PUP) FREE!

 Sat, 09 May at 12:00 pm Pilsen Arts & Community House Free

Book Launch & Signing with Tiffany L. Warren | A Harlem Wedding

 Wed, 13 May at 07:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 27

A Conversation with Nick Cutter!

 Thu, 21 May at 07:00 pm Seminary Co-op Bookstores USD 40

Author event with Anna Sortino in conversation with Briana Johnson

 Sat, 16 May at 06:30 pm Three Avenues Bookshop USD 0 to 24

Nicole Stott with Sarah & Joseph Belknap on the Cosmos

 Mon, 18 May at 05:00 pm Smart Museum of Art Free

Emotional Support Animals by Nicole J. Georges with Jessica Hopper

 Thu, 30 Apr at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Erin O’Brien "Dig In!" Cookbook signing with Monique Volz

 Thu, 28 May at 06:30 pm The Book Cellar USD 42

BrooksDay 2026

 Sun, 07 Jun at 12:00 pm Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library Free

Family Day: Zooming in and Zine-ing Out: What Does Science Mean to You?

 Sat, 13 Jun at 10:00 am Smart Museum of Art Free

Graceland Cemetery Symbolism & Architecture Tour

 Sat, 02 May at 02:00 pm 4264 N Clark St USD 23

June Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 21 Jun at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Memory Museum: Stories by M Lin

 Sun, 03 May at 06:30 pm Women & Children First Free

July Free Day at the American Writers Museum

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

5th Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival

 Sat, 25 Jul at 11:00 am Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center Free

Parking The Merry Wives of Windsor - Chicago

 Fri, 03 Apr Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

From Expert Contributor to Authentic Leader: Design Your Leadership Style

 Tue, 19 May 318 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL, USA USD 190

August Free Day at the American Writers Museum

 Sun, 16 Aug at 10:00 am American Writers Museum Free

Get Lit: Summer Book Fair

 Tue, 11 Aug at 05:30 pm American Writers Museum USD 7 to 29

43 Annual Midwest Symposium: Bowen Family Systems Theory and Therapy

 Fri, 01 May at 09:00 am 25 E Pearson St USD 100 to 260

Book Event: Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter by Stephanie Fairyington

 Thu, 21 May at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

GORDA by Estefania Unzueta / inicios Festival 2026

 Sat, 16 May at 08:00 pm Collaboraction Theatre Company USD 0 to 50

BEST OF PLAYGROUND(CHICAGO) ’26

 Mon, 27 Apr at 07:00 pm Theater Wit

Book Event: The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

 Wed, 24 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Rest Camp Chicago-A Day Retreat Fundraiser for Tired Grown Ups

 Sat, 30 May at 10:30 am Zen Yoga Garage USD 0 to 258

Definition Theatre: "keerah" by Netta Walker

 Fri, 29 May at 07:30 pm Definition Theatre USD 29 to 45

Staff & Friends Reading

 Thu, 14 May at 06:00 pm Poetry Foundation Free

Exhibit Opening: Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America

 Fri, 15 May at 06:00 pm International Museum of Surgical Science Free

Big Cheese Poetry Slam April 2026

 Tue, 28 Apr at 06:30 pm Zhou B Art Center USD 10 to 20

31st Annual H. Woods Bowman Public Service Lecture

 Wed, 29 Apr at 06:00 pm DePaul University - DePaul Center Free

An Evening with Anjanette Young - Book Signing and Talk

 Sat, 02 May at 04:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 0 to 31

Tuesday Funk #170 - May 5, 2026

 Tue, 05 May at 07:00 pm 5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60640

Big Cheese Poetry Slam May 2026

 Tue, 26 May at 06:30 pm Zhou B Art Center USD 10 to 20

May Book Club, Blind Date With a Book & Poetry Workshop: How to Read a Book

 Fri, 29 May at 07:30 pm Burning Bush Brewery USD 18 to 24

RHINO 50th Anniversary Launch: Reading & Open Mic

 Sat, 23 May at 04:00 pm Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Chrono Trigger at Auditorium Theatre Chicago

 Wed, 14 Oct at 08:00 pm Auditorium Theatre Chicago

LA VIRGEN DE BUMBLEFUCK,OHIO by Donovan Marquis Diaz -inicios Festival 2026

 Sun, 17 May at 06:00 pm Collaboraction Theatre Company USD 0 to 50

More Calm, Less Stress: An Experiential Evening with Author Megy Karydes

 Tue, 05 May at 06:00 pm Fabrik Chicago USD 55

2026 Annual EDSA Conference

 Sat, 02 May at 09:00 am DePaul University - Schmitt Academic Center Free

New Growth

 Sat, 30 May at 07:00 pm Public Works Gallery USD 14 to 31

Book Event: Where You'll Find Us by Jen St. Jude

 Wed, 03 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Auntie Shelia's Bingo Night

 Thu, 30 Apr at 07:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 8

Artist Talk & Book Signing with Craig Semetko | Leica Store Chicago

 Fri, 01 May at 11:00 am 800 N Michigan Ave Free

the first hngout

 Fri, 08 May at 06:30 pm 3001 W Peterson Ave USD 67

The Art of Wagashi – Hydrangea Nerikiri Workshop

 Sat, 06 Jun at 03:30 pm Japanese Culture Center USD 74

Big Cheese Poetry Slam June 2026

 Tue, 30 Jun at 06:30 pm Zhou B Art Center USD 10 to 20

Nowhere To Call Home Stage Play

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

Chicago Indian Literature Festival

 Sat, 30 May at 09:00 am The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center USD 10 to 50

Days of Wonder: it is time to be very tender with our grief (June 22)

 Mon, 22 Jun at 06:30 pm Elastic Arts USD 17

Chicago Artopia Presents: Tango 21 Dance Theater

 Sun, 03 May at 03:00 pm Balzekas Museum Of Lithuanian Culture, South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL, USA Free

Chicago New Books

 Thu, 07 May at 06:00 pm Poetry Foundation Free

Have Sex Like A Man Book Signing with Arnetta Randall

 Sun, 14 Jun at 02:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 0 to 27

Chicago Book Launch: A Celebration of Orange

 Fri, 15 May at 07:00 pm Puerto Rican Arts Alliance Free

LOST PROPHET: The Life & Times of BAYARD RUSTIN – by John D'Emilio - Author Coming

 Tue, 21 Jul at 07:00 pm Center on Halsted

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Ed Roberson

 Thu, 18 Jun at 06:00 pm Poetry Foundation Free

Black Writers Weekend 2026 The Pop Up Experience - Chicago

 Sat, 23 May at 05:00 pm 6900 S Stony Island Ave USD 18 to 40

The Dover Road by A. A. Milne

 Thu, 16 Apr at 07:30 pm Glessner House USD 0 to 34

Dorothy's Silent Book Club!

 Sun, 12 Apr at 06:00 pm Dorothy Free