Searching for what to do this week in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this week (July 27 – August 2, 2026) including the best events and activities.
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you.
Best Events This Week in Chicago
Below are the best events this week in Chicago:
Lollapalooza – July 30-August 2, 2026
Italian Beef Fest (new!) – July 31 – August 2, 2026
National Sports Collectors Convention (Rosemont) – July 29-August 2, 2026
Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention (Rosemont) – July 31-August 2, 2026
Nature Night Out at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 6-8:30pm – Adults-only evening.
Art Battle – Friday, July 31, 2026, 7-10pm
2000s Night at the Zoo – An Adults Only Evening at Lincoln Park Zoo – Saturday, August 1, 2026, 6:30-10pm – 21+ after-hours event with live music, a live DJ, karaoke and adult beverages.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire – August 1-2, 2026
More Events in Chicago This Week
Below are more events taking place this week in Chicago:
Movies at the Pier – Monday, July 27, 2026, 6-9pm | Free
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Tuesdays on the Terrace – Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 5:30-8pm | Free, but tickets are limited
Pier Fitness – Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free – Fitness sessions (rush hour cardio and sunset yoga) every Tuesday night at Navy Pier.
Millennium Park Summer Film Series: Hamilton – Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 6:30pm (gates open at 5pm) | Free Admission
HIIT at Gallagher Way – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Illinois Free Wednesdays at the Field Museum – Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Jazzin’ at the Shedd – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 5-10pm
Special Event: An Evening with Ben Folds at Jay Pritzker Pavilion – Wednesday, July 29, 6:30pm | Free
Summer Concert Series at Northcenter Town Square – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 7-8:30pm | Free
Full Moon Jam at Foster Beach – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
CatJam Chicago Jam Session at The Wild Mile – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 7-10pm | Free
Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier – Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 9pm | Free
Yoga Class at Gallagher Way – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 7-8am | Free
Queer Radical Fair at Tom (Ping) Memorial Park – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 4-8pm | Free
Wrigleyville Night Market at Gallagher Way – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 4-8pm | Free
Art Institute of Chicago Free Hours for Illinois Residents – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5–8pm | Free
Argyle Night Market – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5-9pm | Free
Community Powwow at Dvorak Park – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free
Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Square – Thursday, July 30, 2026, 6-8:30pm | Free
String Fellows at Norwood Park – Thursday, July 30, 6:30pm | Free
Dogs Night Out at Gallagher Way – Friday, July 31, 2026, 6–10pm | Free
Millennium Park Free Summer Workout – Saturday, August 1, 2026, 8-11:45am | Free
Bronzeville Smooth Jazz Festival – Saturday, August 1, 2026, 12-8:30pm
BWild x Wicker Park Farmers Market (WPFM) Free Summer Outdoor Yoga Series at Wicker Park – Sunday, August 2, 2026, 9-10am | Free
Vibes On Logan – Sunday, August 2, 2026, 2-7pm | Free
You can find more Chicago weekend events here.
As You Like It at Touhy Park – July 31-August 2, 2026, 6-7:30pm | Free
Broadway In Chicago presents & Juilet – Through August 2, 2026
Iceboy! at the Goodman Theatre – Through August 16, 2026
SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of SAW – Through September 6, 2026
More Things to Do in Chicago This Week
Take an Architecture River Cruise
An architecture river cruise is a must do Chicago experience.
Take a Lake Cruise
Enjoy a cool lake breeze and admire the Chicago skyline from a lake cruise.
If your time is short, you can do a combination river and lake cruise.
Watch Fireworks
Watch fireworks at Navy Pier Wednesday and Saturday all summer. The fireworks can be seen from various spots along the Lakefront including North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach and the Adler Planetarium Skyline Walk.
The best and most relaxing way to see the Navy Pier fireworks show is on a fireworks lake or river cruise.
If you enjoy guided tours, you can also see the fireworks and other attractions on this fireworks segway tour.
Kayak in the River or Lake
A fun way to explore the city is to go kayaking in the Chicago River or Lake Michigan. You can rent a kayak in the Chicago River here and Ohio beach here.
You can also join a guided kayaking tour in the downtown portion of the Chicago River including this history and architecture kayak tour and this sunset kayak tour.
Please note that you will get a little wet when kayaking so bring a waterproof case for your phone and water-resistant or quick-drying clothing.
Attend a Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight. Some of the concerts taking place this week include:
Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino & More
Tribute to the Beatles (Oak Park)
Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Strings (Oak Park)
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
Titanic: A Voyage Through Time
Step into history at Titanic: A Voyage Through Time an extraordinary virtual reality (VR) journey into history’s most famous ship. Dive to the wreckage as it rests today, then travel back to 1912 to experience the Titanic as a passenger. Walk the Grand Staircase, meet the people who shaped its story, and witness history firsthand in this immersive adventure.
When: Through September 27, 2026
Where: 108 West Germania Place, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is an immersive adventure that lets you and your friends become heroes, fighting spiders, creepers, and skeletons on your quest to rescue villagers from a zombie attack. Explore eight interactive Minecraft rooms and gather resources for your quest in these interactive biomes. Practice your Minecrafting skills with a handheld Orb to chop down trees, collect resources, and fight mobs.
Where: 9900 Berwyn Ave, in the Pearl District, Rosemont, IL 60018
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
AirOtic Soirée
AirOtic Soirée is a bold, sensual and provocative cabaret-circus experience returning to Chicago for a full summer run. After sold-out runs across the U.S. and Europe, the internationally acclaimed Airotic Soirée is a show that celebrates desire, sensuality, athletic beauty, and erotic elegance. Airotic Soirée is a blend of erotic cabaret and contemporary circus blending high-level acrobatics, seductive choreography and visual artistry. 21+ with valid ID.
When: Through August 29, 2026
Where: Experience 868, 868 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to purchase tickets.
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition
Balloon Museum’s EmotionAir Exhibition is a limited time unique exhibition that explores the profound relationship between art and emotions through the captivating medium of inflatable art. This exhibition, first presented in London in December 2023, is committed to the work of emotions, transforming artworks into mirrors to explore the profound relationship between art and emotions, action, and reaction. This is manifested tangibly through Inflatable Art, which offers itself as a medium to express the most intimate nuances of human feelings. Through a mix of interactive installations, emotional projections, and performance art, EmotionAir aims to transport visitors on an unprecedented sensory journey.
Where: The Fields Studios – Gate 1, 2828 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60641
Cost: Timed-entry tickets are required. Click here to purchase tickets.
Watch a Drunk Shakespeare Play
Join The Drunk Shakespeare Society for an unforgettable evening of Shakespearean revelry. Set within a speakeasy, five actors attempt to perform a Shakespearean play after one of them downs multiple shots of various alcohols. Every show is different depending on who is drinking and what they’re drinking. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
Where: The Lounge At The Lion, 182 North Wabash Avenue
Cost: Prices start at $29 per person. Click here to purchase tickets.
Wondra: Immerse yourself in the magic of nature
Looking for a fun activity for kids? Head to the suburbs for Wondra, where each space invites curious minds to discover hidden details, dazzling colors, and natural awe-scapes that spark imagination and evoke wonder. Experience nature’s wonders in a whole new light with this immersive journey.
Where: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Cost: Prices vary. Click here to see prices and purchase tickets in advance.
As you can see there are many things to do in Chicago this week. If you are looking for more things to do in the Chicago area, you can find the best things to do in the suburbs here. If you are planning ahead, you can find more things to do in Chicago in July.
