Literary-art Events in Chicago

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

The Notebook - The Musical at Nederlander Theatre Chicago

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

Trevor Wallace at Zanies Chicago

 Wed, 29 Jul at 07:00 pm 1548 N Wells St, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60610

The Chicago Renaissance Ball

 Sat, 01 Aug at 04:00 pm Stan Mansion

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

Authors on Tap: Cory Doctorow and Rick Perlstein

 Fri, 26 Jun at 07:00 pm Exile in Bookville Free

Daily Stoic Live | Onstage with Ryan Holiday

 Wed, 19 Aug at 07:00 pm Gateway Theater at Copernicus Center USD 57 to 273

Jared Freid "Walking Red Flag" Book Launch and Signing

 Fri, 12 Jun at 07:00 pm Everybody's Coffee USD 49

Sun Ra Arkestra

 Thu, 24 Sep Constellation - Chicago

Raks Geek: Pride Edition

 Fri, 12 Jun at 07:00 pm The Newport Theater USD 33 to 43

Black & Bronze: A Bronzeville Music Fest

 Sat, 29 Aug at 01:00 pm Armstrong (Lillian Hardin) Park USD 0 to 55

Chicago BookFair

 Sat, 12 Sep at 12:00 pm S. Dearborn St. between Ida B. Wells & Polk St., Chicago, IL 60605.

The Poetry Brothel Chicago: LIFE IS A CABARET

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

Kasaun Wilson LIVE in Chicago - 8/30/26

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

Guardians of the Earth and Sky at Ping Tom Park

 Sun, 19 Jul at 02:00 pm Ping Tom Memorial Park Free

Asher Perlman: Back to the Drawing Board

 Sun, 26 Jul at 07:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 30

The State of Equity: Justice in Motion

 Fri, 18 Sep at 05:30 pm Marriott Marquis Chicago USD 25 to 1,500

My Father, Dick Allen Premiere & Exclusive Panel Discussion

 Thu, 25 Jun at 06:00 pm Chicago History Museum Free

Ballets Jazz Montréal

Sat, 07 Nov at 07:30 pm 50 E Ida B Wells Dr, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60605

24th ann. SOS Ball

 Sat, 31 Oct at 05:00 pm Chicago, Illinois, USA

Lev Fer ONE NIGHT ONLY at The Lincoln Lodge 10/29/26

 Thu, 29 Oct at 07:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 30

Black Film Club Collective + Dark Matter Present: Juneteenth Screening

 Sat, 13 Jun at 08:00 pm Elastic Arts USD 13 to 18

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

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

Creative Minds, Wealthy Futures 2026

 Sat, 27 Jun at 05:00 pm SZNL Chicago LLC USD 0 to 55

Offsite for Fatimah Asghar's Daughter of the Mountains

 Tue, 07 Jul at 07:00 pm Xoco House Gallery USD 11 to 32

Chicago Startups, Investors, Professionals: Pitch & Networking Event

 Mon, 06 Jul at 07:00 pm Rye Deli + Drink USD 10 to 39

Queer Movie Monday: SHE'S THE MAN

 Mon, 22 Jun at 07:00 pm Dorothy Free

July Free Day at the American Writers Museum

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

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

 Sat, 18 Jul at 07:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago USD 0 to 322

9 VENDOR SPACES LEFT– NATURAL HAIR FEST® KICK-OFF CELEBRATION | BUY NOW

 Sun, 28 Jun at 10:00 am Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown/River North USD 31 to 293

5th Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival

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

2026 Writing Workshop of Chicago

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

Guardians of the Earth and Sky at Jackson Park

 Sun, 26 Jul at 02:00 pm Garden of the Phoenix Free

Bloody Reads #112: Between Two Fires

 Wed, 10 Jun at 08:00 pm Bucket O' Blood Books and Records

Talk & Book Signing | Petra R. Rivera-Rideau and Vanessa Díaz with Bad Bunny Collaborators

 Sat, 08 Aug at 02:00 pm 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60611

Transcendence: A Black Trans Variety Show!

 Fri, 19 Jun at 09:30 pm The Newport Theater USD 15

Book Event: Break the System by Susila Gurusami

 Wed, 10 Jun at 06:30 pm Women & Children First Free

Blatant Gold

 Tue, 09 Jun at 06:00 pm Haymarket House Free

Poetry Reading: Orange by Noel Quiñones

 Thu, 18 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Coming out of the Psychedelic Closet

 Sat, 13 Jun at 02:00 pm Bucktown-Wicker Park Branch, Chicago Public Library Free

Lectures on Tap - "The Odyssey: Finding Meaning in Ordinary Life"

 Thu, 11 Jun at 06:30 pm Logan Square USD 39

Cocktails and Conversations with K'wan

 Sat, 13 Jun at 06:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 32

Free Street Certificate: Performance Art with Tricia Hersey

 Wed, 17 Jun at 06:00 pm 4625 S Ashland Ave USD 215

L’Orfeo

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

Brewed Conversations + The Walking Hour: A Juneteenth Wellness Experience

 Sat, 20 Jun at 11:00 am Sip & Savor Free

Conor Janda Runs An Hour

 Wed, 29 Jul at 08:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 30

M**der & Mocktails: A Killer Conversation with Mystery Authors

 Wed, 17 Jun at 07:30 pm Partners in Crime Bookshop Free

Movie Night in Chicago! 'Under the Lights' Special, Advance Screening

 Tue, 23 Jun at 06:00 pm Davis Theater USD 18

5th Annual Ida B. Wells Festival

 Sat, 27 Jun at 09:00 am Bronzeville Neighborhood (Various Locations) USD 0 to 50

PO JAM's: Poetic JustUs

 Sat, 27 Jun at 08:00 pm 950 W Fulton Market Free

PRFBBQ 2026 - Chicago

 Thu, 09 Jul at 07:00 pm WholesomeStudio USD 18 to 66

Esteem Awards 2026

 Sat, 18 Jul at 01:00 pm 3349 N Halsted St Free

The First Time: First Wish

 Wed, 10 Jun at 07:30 pm Martyrs'

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

Book Event: The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

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

August Free Day at the American Writers Museum

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

Money Breakthrough Intensive

 Sat, 26 Sep at 10:00 am Barack Obama Presidential Library USD 181 to 357

Authors on Tap: Ben Fountain and Camille Bordas

 Mon, 15 Jun at 07:00 pm Exile in Bookville Free

Get Lit: The Great American Heist

 Wed, 08 Jul at 05:00 pm American Writers Museum

Plain Jayne: A Memoir

 Wed, 17 Jun at 05:30 pm Chicago Urban League Empowerment Center Free

Carry Me To Your Bookshelf Tour with Christopher Golden and Guests

 Sat, 25 Jul at 04:30 pm 3182 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60618

An Afternoon with Elle Wright In Conversation with Aja

 Sat, 27 Jun at 03:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 3 to 22

Hyde Park Barnes & Noble: When Lambs Become Wolves Author Event

 Sun, 28 Jun at 02:30 pm Barnes & Noble Free

A BODY MADE HOME: Dr. Kai Marshall Green @ CFS

 Sun, 14 Jun at 12:00 pm Chicago Freedom School Free

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 15

Book Event: A Second Sight by Sarah J. Jackson

 Wed, 08 Jul at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

The Lesbian Bar Chronicles: Book Launch Party & Community Story Share

 Mon, 15 Jun at 07:00 pm Dorothy USD 0 to 31

Definition Theatre: "keerah" by Netta Walker

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

An Evening with Catherine Adel West

 Thu, 11 Jun at 06:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 3 to 22

Running Tour of LGNSQ with Ben Tanzer

 Sat, 13 Jun at 09:00 am City Lit Books

Body Politic (and Friends): A Night of Medical Misadventures

 Thu, 11 Jun at 07:00 pm International Museum of Surgical Science USD 0 to 18

Days of Wonder: it is time to be very tender with our grief (June 21)

 Sun, 21 Jun at 06:30 pm Elastic Arts USD 15

Chrono Trigger at Auditorium Theatre Chicago

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

Big Cheese Poetry Slam June 2026

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

Natural Hair Fest® Returns & Strengthens Natural Hair Movement in Chicago

 Sun, 28 Jun at 10:00 am Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown/River North USD 32 to 5,978

I AM THE FLAME: An Evening of Reflection, Healing, and Hope

 Fri, 06 Nov at 06:00 pm Barack Obama presidential library USD 0 to 45

Verses & Voices: Chicago Book Tour Stop

 Sat, 11 Jul at 04:00 pm kibbitznest books, brews & blarney Free

Book Event: The Maidenheads by Benny B. Peterson

 Wed, 17 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

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

 Thu, 01 Oct at 07:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago USD 0 to 322

Spawning Season: An Experiment in Queer Parenthood by Joseph Osmundson

 Thu, 11 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Serena Wolf "You Do You" Cookbook Chat and Signing

 Thu, 06 Aug at 06:00 pm The Book Cellar USD 42

Dorothy's Silent Book Club!

 Sun, 12 Apr at 06:00 pm Dorothy 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

Kathleen Rooney - "Man Overboard!" - Deborah Shapiro

 Sat, 11 Jul at 03:00 pm 5751 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60637

Fleuke and Carter Hulsey

 Sat, 20 Jun at 08:00 pm UncommonGround - Lakeview USD 18

The Mill | variety show & open mic

 Thu, 18 Jun at 06:30 pm Burlington Bar Free

June: Three Avenues Open Mic Night

 Sat, 27 Jun at 07:30 pm 3009 N Southport Ave Free

Skald

 Sat, 11 Jul at 08:00 pm Reggies Rock Club

Shamicka Toney Book Signing & Talk

 Sat, 29 Aug at 12:00 pm Da Book Joint USD 22 to 38

Open Mic for Poetry, Music & Comedy

 Wed, 17 Jun at 07:00 pm Platform 47 Free

Disco Kitchen Mag: Reading & Dance Party

 Sun, 14 Jun at 07:00 pm The Whistler Free

La Mesa Nacional Annual Conference

Sat, 25 Jul at 12:00 pm Chicago, IL

Poetry Reading: Bloodroom by Kay E. Bancroft

 Fri, 26 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Dirty Talk Showcase

 Fri, 03 Jul at 08:00 pm The Crib Comedy Playspace Free

Talk Yo Ish Variety Show

 Fri, 12 Jun at 08:00 pm The Crib Comedy Playspace Free

Author Event & Zine Workshop with Rani Ban

 Sat, 20 Jun at 07:00 pm Three Avenues Bookshop USD 0 to 24

Book Event: Earth 7 by Deb Olin Unferth

 Tue, 23 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

Romancing Roscoe

 Sat, 15 Aug at 10:00 am The Last Chapter Book Shop Free

Royalty Speaks Chicago: Stop Being The Best-Kept Secret

 Sat, 20 Jun at 08:00 am David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago USD 0 to 47

History of the Marathon in Chicago: A Lecture

 Wed, 10 Jun at 06:00 pm Little Italy Branch, Chicago Public Library Free

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Ed Roberson

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