A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s largest free blues festival.
Each year, more than 500,000 blues fans gather in Chicago’s Millennium Park and venues across the city for multiple days of performances — all free and open to the public — featuring some of the genre’s most revered musicians, along with up-and-coming and local talent.
This year’s performances, part of Millennium Park’s milestone 20th anniversary season, will include living legend Buddy Guy, along with Shemekia Copeland, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Southern Avenue, and a Tribute to Jimmy Rogers.
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Chicago Blues Festival lineup
The 2024 Chicago Blues Festival featured a packed schedule of performances with four days of top tier talent in Millennium Park, with more than 40 performances and 250 artists celebrating the city’s iconic blues legacy. The festival culminated with a special performance by Buddy Guy as part of his “Damn Right Farewell” tour, marking one of his final Chicago performances.
Thursday, June 6
Ramova Theatre
- Ronnie Baker Brooks
- Shemekia Copeland
Friday, June 7
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Centennial Tribute to Jimmy Rogers featuring Kim Wilson Jimmy D. Lane, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Bob Margolin, Sebastian Lane, Felton Crews, and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
- Mr. Sipp
- Corey Harris
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (South Promenade)
- Big A & The Allstars
- J’Cenae
- Keith Johnson & The Big Muddy Band
- Nora Jean Wallace
Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade)
- Last Call with WDCB Radio and Carlos Johnson
- Sheryl Youngblood
- Luke Pytel Band featuring Laretha Weathersby
- Ivy Ford
- Lil’ Jimmy Reed with Ben Levin
Saturday, June 8
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Southern Avenue
- Vanessa Collier
- Centennial Tribute to Dinah Washington featuring Dee
- Alexander, Bruce Henry, Miguel de la Cerna, Jeremiah Hunt, Charles Heath IV, and Melody Angel
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (South Promenade)
- Dexter Allen
- Ra’Shad The Blues Kid
- Melvin Taylor
- Mzz Reese and The Reese’s Pieces
Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade)
- Last Call with WDCB Radio and Ivan Singh
- The Mike Wheeler Band
- Jamiah "Dirty Deacon" Rogers and the Dirty Church Band
- Vino Louden
- Al Spears & The Hurricane Project
Sunday, June 9
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Buddy Guy
- Cash Box Kings
- Centennial Tribute to Otis Spann featuring Johnny Iguana, Roosevelt Purifoy, Rie “Miss Lee” Kanehira, Sumito “Ariyo” Ariyoshi, Oscar Wilson, Bob Stroger, Billy Flynn and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (South Promenade)
- Jaye Hammer
- Anissa Hampton
- Jonathan Ellison & The RAS Blues Band
- Southern Komfort Brass Band
Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade)
- Last Call with WDCB Radio and The Stephen Hull Experience
- Melody Angel
- Omar Coleman Westside Soul
- Joey J. Saye Trio
- Nate Manos Band with Alicia “Ya Yah” Townsend
More blues events across Chicago
Discover citywide events celebrating blues music all week long before and during the Chicago Blues Festival.
Chicago Blues Festival history
The annual Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world. A staple in Chicago’s free summer music festival lineup for four decades, the festival’s diverse lineup has included everyone from B.B. King and Buddy Guy to Etta James and Koko Taylor and beyond.
The city’s first Chicago Blues Festival was held in 1984, a year after the death of blues icon Muddy Waters, known as the father of modern Chicago blues. Since then, the event has been dedicated to celebrating blues as a living tradition, honoring Chicago’s rich blues legacy, and paying homage to the genre’s past, present, and future.
The event is hosted by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and is typically held in lakefront Millennium Park in early June. The lineup includes a diverse mix of local and national acts, with notable past performances from Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, the Staples Singers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Dixon, and more.
Chicago Blues Fest FAQs
The Chicago Blues Festival is held at lakefront Millennium Park. There will also be citywide celebrations that take place throughout Chicago’s historic neighborhoods.
The Chicago Blues Festival is free and open to the public. The annual summer event is known as the largest free blues festival in the world and draws thousands of fans to Chicago’s lakefront Millennium Park.
The blues found its way to Chicago as African Americans left the South for the industrialized north during the Great Migration. Chicago-style blues was born when amplification was added to traditional Delta blues in order to compete with the volume of the city’s bustling streets. Today, acclaimed as a global blues capital, the city is synonymous with its signature only-in-Chicago sound. Learn more about Chicago’s iconic blues scene.
Food will be available for purchase from various concession areas. Alcohol will be available for sale inside the park. Alcohol purchased at the concessions must remain in the concession footprint. Back by popular demand, the festival elevates its food options with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” in the North Promenade Tent of the Park with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality. In between Blues sets, guests can stop to enjoy their BBQ, cornbread and drinks on picnic tables alongside whiskey barrels and smokers. Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the latest on all Millennium Park events, visit millenniumpark.org.
Yes, but folding chairs are only allowed on the Great Lawn and are not allowed in the seating area of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Yes! Chicago Blues Fest is the perfect place for a picnic and a night of music and dining al fresco. All guests will be allowed to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages to all events at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
Concerts and performances in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion are held rain or shine, unless there are severe weather warnings and/or the threat of lightning in the area. Please plan ahead for your comfort while enjoying this outdoor venue.
Photography, video, or recording devices are prohibited at all concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Animals are not permitted in Millennium Park, unless they are service animals. 
