The beginning of May marks the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the perfect time to honor and explore the rich contributions of this diverse community in Chicago and beyond.

Our city is filled with opportunities to engage with cuisine, culture, and art from across the Asia and Pacific Islander diaspora, whether you’re wandering the streets of our vibrant Chinatown or enjoying dim sum in Uptown’s Asia on Argyle.

Here’s a roundup of Chicago events, exhibits, and beyond to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025.

AAPI Heritage Month events and activities in Chicago

National Cambodian Heritage Museum

Music of Cambodia (May 3)
This free performance will showcase the tradition and history of ancient Cambodian music. Held at the Mount Greenwood branch, the event is presented by the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and will feature traditional Cambodian sounds and instruments.

Free Admission at the Heritage Museum of Asian Art (May 16)
Learn about Asian art during a one-hour guided tour around the galleries of the Heritage Museum of Asian Art in Bridgeport. The free event, which happens every third Friday of the month, includes wine and appetizers.

AAPI Restaurant Week (May 17 – 26)
Get your tastebuds ready for this year’s AAPI Restaurant Week. Discover a multitude of AAPI-owned restaurants across the city and suburbs, all offering special deals and discounts throughout the week.

Chinese Guzheng Music Appreciation (May 17)
Step into the mesmerizing and ancient world of Chinese zither music with Menghua Guan as she plays enchanting traditional melodies and contemporary compositions. Chinese zither (Guzheng) is a 21-string plucked instrument and has more than 2,500 years of history.

Chicago Cubs AAPI Celebration (May 28)
Head to Wrigley Field to watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Colorado Rockies and host a ballpark celebration for AAPI Heritage Month. Purchase the AAPI Heritage Celebration Special Ticket Offer to receive a limited-edition jersey with your admission to the game.

Check out more events happening in Chicago throughout AAPI Heritage Month:

Exhibits & museums celebrating Asian culture

Cyrus Tang Hall of China at the Field Museum
Explore the intricacies and rich cultural history of the vast country of China and its evolution over more than 10,000 years. From recovered cargo in a sunken trading vessel to bronze weapons dating back centuries, there are a variety of artifacts to marvel at and learn from.

National Cambodian Heritage Museum
In the diverse Albany Park neighborhood, the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial raises awareness of the Cambodian genocide and celebrates the renewal of the Cambodian community and culture here in the United States.

Art Institute of Chicago
Take a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Asian art from antiquity through today. Start at the New Gallery for the Arts of Korea, the museum’s first permanent space fully dedicated to the region, and explore the nearby Chinese and Japanese galleries. And don’t miss the temporary exhibit on Japan’s Great Female Poets, open through July 2025.

Heritage Museum of Asian Art
For more than 10 years, this museum in the Bridgeport neighborhood has been showcasing a wide range of art forms, spanning a diverse array of Asian cultures and eras. Visit on the third Friday of the month for free admission, tours of the museum, and unique performances.

Chinese American Museum of Chicago
The Chinese American Museum has been a staple in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood for the past 20 years. Examine Chinese American culture through rotating exhibits, such as Race Making: American Advertising Trade Cards and Chinese Identity, and permanent installations like an exhibit dedicated to Chinese American Veterans: Unsung Heroes.

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Visit the University of Chicago’s world-renowned museum that houses 350,000 artifacts encompassing 10,000 years of history in West Asia and beyond. Learn about the beginnings of human life and discover how people thousands of years ago forged a collective identity, giving rise to the world’s first villages, cities, and empires.

Explore more: Discover our guide to Asian art and culture in every corner of Chicago.

Chicago neighborhoods with Asian communities

Nha Hang in Uptown

Asia on Argyle in Uptown
Located just off the Argyle Red Line stop in Uptown, you can find a variety of local businesses, family-owned restaurants, and supermarkets in what has become known as Asia on Argyle. Get takeout at Nha Hang or Ba Le Sandwiches and walk to the Margate Fieldhouse for a fun picnic in the park. Or, make dinner plans at Sun Wah BBQ for the best Peking duck in Chicago.

Chinatown
From architecture to shopping to some of the best bites in the city, Chicago’s Chinatown reflects both traditional Chinese elements and Western influences. Visit the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, see Chinatown’s Nine Dragon Wall on the corner of Cermak and Wentworth, and find your Chinese zodiac calendar animal in Chinatown Square.

Devon Avenue in West Ridge
On Devon Avenue in West Ridge sits Chicago’s main cluster of South Asian restaurants with a vibrant mix of cultures and a strong feeling of community on display. From traditional bakeries to clothing shops to international grocers, the Devon Corridor, also known as “The International Marketplace,” has Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian populations. Enjoy Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and vegetarian cuisine as well as bookstores, clothing stores, bakeries, and more.

AAPI-owned businesses in Chicago

This month and every month, there are so many ways to support local AAPI-owned businesses. Check out a few favorite local AAPI-owned restaurants in Chicago: