A dynamic season of exhibitions, music and film showcasing Chicago's creative voices, artists and perspectives from around the world

CHICAGO - The City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced its 2026 Spring and Summer happenings at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.), featuring a robust lineup of visual art exhibitions, educational programs and free film screenings that celebrate Chicago's artists and the power of creative collaboration.

Throughout the season, residents from Chicago and global visitors are invited to experience architecture, music, dialogue and visual culture - all presented in one of the nation's premier cultural destinations with free admission, seven days a week.

"Chicago's Cultural Center is truly the people's palace - a place that belongs to everyone and where art and culture remain open and accessible to all," said DCASE Acting Commissioner Kenya Merritt. "We are proud to provide a platform for artists and creative voices that reflect the spirit, talent, and diversity of our city. For generations, this iconic landmark has been a place where people can discover new artists, explore new ideas, and experience the many forms of creative expression that define Chicago. This season's exhibitions and programs invite residents and visitors alike to come inside, be inspired and experience how the arts bring people together."

2026 Spring & Summer Exhibitions

Alberto Aguilar: I just really want to tell you this one thing
Mar. 28 - Aug. 23, 2026
Exhibit Hall, Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago-based artist Alberto Aguilar presents a two-part retrospective exploring the themes of communication, translation and collaboration. Through distinctive acts of translation and shared authorship, Aguilar invites artists, friends, family members and even strangers into his creative process, transforming the exhibition into a living dialogue.

The exhibition features works created with a range of collaborators including Saoirse Ahumada Furin, Jess Bass, Cecilia Beaven, Julieta Beltrán Lazo, Alex Bradley Cohen, Maria Burundarena, Jooeun Kim, Joshua Mitchell, Jonas Müller-Anheim, Ricardo Vilas Freire and Zespo.

More information on this exhibition.

Ornament & Information
Apr. 10 - July 19, 2026
Chicago Rooms, Chicago Cultural Center

Ornament & Information presents artists working in Chicago and Vienna whose practices explore the historic intellectual exchange between the two cities - from modern architecture to mid-century economic thought. Through sculpture, painting and conceptual approaches, the exhibition reflects on how ideas evolve as they move between cultural contexts.

The exhibition is curated in partnership with Gertie Chicago and featured artists include Anna Sophie Berger, Gaylen Gerber, Benjamin Hirte, B. Ingrid Olson, Devin T. Mays, Max Guy, Josef Strau, Isabelle Frances McGuire, Walter Pichler, Diane Simpson, Miriam Stoney, Valentina Triet, Micah Schippa Wildfong, Heimo Zobernig.

Public programs include an opening reception on Friday, April 10, in the Chicago Rooms and additional performances and artist-led events throughout the exhibition duration. The first performance will be held Saturday, April 11, at 3 p.m. inside the Chicago Rooms.

More information on this exhibition.

Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground
Apr. 25 - Sept. 27, 2026
Michigan Avenue Galleries, Chicago Cultural Center

Photographer Lauren Deutsch and filmmaker Jonathan Woods present an immersive exhibition translating the energy of Chicago's improvised music scene into color, movement and visual form. Developed by the Tangible Sound Collaborative, the project celebrates the city's legendary experimental music community and honors the influence of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).

Through photography, film and installation, the exhibition explores how music can inspire visual expression while celebrating the artists and ancestors whose creativity continues to shape Chicago's cultural identity.

Summer Film Screenings

June 3 - Aug. 19, 2026
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater, Chicago Cultural Center

Travel the world through film this summer with free weekly screenings, presented in partnership with Cinema/Chicago. Each week's screening will highlight cinema of a different country, offering audiences the chance to discover global stories on the big screen.

The screenings take place every Wednesday evening in the Claudia Cassidy Theater throughout the summer. All screenings are free and open to the public.

Public Programming & Special Events

Chicago Cultural Center Open House
Apr. 2, 2026 | 4-8 p.m.

DCASE invites artists, creatives and cultural workers to the Chicago Cultural Center Open House for an evening of workshops, networking opportunities and creative exploration across multiple floors of the historic jewel of the city. vVisitors can participate in hands-on workshops, artist talks, portfolio reviews and networking sessions designed to support Chicago's creative community. Programs will span disciplines including music, film, theater, visual arts and professional development for artists.

Highlights include creative career workshops, an indie filmmaker pitch showcase presented by Film Girlz Brunch, an artist opportunities fair, exhibition tours and speed networking with Chicago curators, along with open rehearsals and wellness programming for creative workers. Please see the full schedule below.

Learning Lab - 1st floor

• 5-7 p.m. - Artist Statements and Biographies Workshop

Welcome Center - 1st floor

• 4-5 p.m. - Artist Pitch Workshop with Arts Administrator Sam Brown
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. - "The Creative Core" Social Hour

Dance Studio - 1st floor

• 6-7:30 p.m. - Dance Studio Residency Open Rehearsal: Anniela Huidobro

G.A.R. Hall - 2nd floor

• 4-5 p.m. - Drumming Workshop with Victoria Djembe
• 5:15-6 p.m. - "From Vision to Stage" Theater Workshop with Kendra Jamaica (DAMA Productions)
• 6:15-7 p.m. - Clowning Performance Workshop with Journey of Newport Theater
• 7-8 p.m. - "A Soft Place to Land" Wellness Workshop for Creative Workers

G.A.R. Rotunda - 2nd floor

• 4-8 p.m. - DCASE Opportunities Fair
• 5-6:30 p.m. - One-on-One Project Development Sessions with DCASE staff

Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd floor
Creative Futures in Film (presented by Film Girlz Brunch)

• 4-5:30 p.m. - Indie Filmmaker Pitch & Connect Showcase
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Short Film Screening + Q&A
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Creative Career Clarity Workshop
• 7:30-8 p.m. - Open Networking

Preston Bradley Hall - 3rd floor

• 4-8 p.m. - Chicago Collage Community Hands-On Collage Workshop
• 5-6 p.m. - OVERRIDE Artist Showcase
• 4:30-7:30 p.m. - Headshots & Artist Photos
• 6-7:30 p.m. - Speed Networking / Portfolio Review with Chicago Curators

Room 408 - 4th floor

• 5-6 p.m. - Chicago Cultural Center Exhibitions Open Call Information Session
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Financial Foundations for Artists with Ladder Up

Exhibit Hall - 4th floor

• 5 p.m. - Curator Tour: Alberto Aguilar: I just really want to tell you this one thing

Under the Dome
Apr. 23, 2026 | 5-8:30 p.m.
Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center

Experience live music beneath the magnificent Tiffany glass dome during Under the Dome, an intimate concert event celebrating Chicago's vibrant creative community. This evening brings together local artists and audiences for a unique cultural gathering inside the landmark of the Chicago Cultural Center.

In addition to live performances by Chicago musicians, the event will feature a community clothing swap in partnership with Chicago Fair Trade, encouraging sustainability and creative exchange among attendees. Designed as a welcoming space for artists and audiences alike, the Under the Dome series highlights the Chicago Cultural Center as a place where music, creativity and community intersect.

This all-ages, alcohol-free event offers a relaxed and accessible concert experience for residents and visitors. American Sign Language will be provided. Performers will be announced at a later date.

Dance Programs

Motion/Pictures Dance Project with Jasmin Taylor
Apr. 25, 2026 | 3-4:30 p.m.

Join Motion/Pictures Dance Project (MPDP) for a public program exploring the intersection of dance and film through movement, storytelling and collaborative creative practice. The Chicago-based, artist-led production company works at the intersection of choreography and cinematic language, expanding narrative space through rhythm, image and embodied expression.

Founded by director and producer Talia Koylass, MPDP creates work that uplifts Black and Black-diasporic stories while exploring emotional nuance and challenging social norms through movement. This program will feature a presentation with artist Jasmin Taylor, inviting audiences to experience how choreography and film can merge to create immersive and boundary-pushing storytelling.

Chicago Dance Crash

Thursday, June 18, 2026

• 6-7 p.m. - Workshop
• 7-8:30 p.m. - Work-in-Progress Showing

Monday, June 29, 2026

• 6-7 p.m. - Workshop
• 7-8:30 p.m. - Work-in-Progress Showing

Chicago Dance Crash presents workshops and work-in-progress showings that highlight the company's signature fusion of street dance, concert dance and physical theater. These sessions offer audiences an opportunity to engage directly with the company's creative process while experiencing new choreography in development.

Based in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, Chicago Dance Crash amplifies diverse artistic voices rooted in styles such as hip hop, popping, krump, house, litefeet, Chicago footwork, contemporary and low fly.

The company is recognized for creating intensely physical, narrative-driven work and has received numerous accolades, including two Black Theater Alliance Awards for choreography. Their innovative performances have also been praised by Dance Magazine and Chicago arts publications for pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance.

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Chicago Cultural Center
Completed in 1897 as Chicago's first central library, the building was established as the Chicago Cultural Center, the nation's first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue, in 1991. One of the most visited attractions in Chicago, the stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free art exhibitions, performances, tours, lectures, family activities, music, and more - presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and many others. Learn about the latest events and news at ChicagoCulturalCenter.org and by following the Chicago Cultural Center on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city - to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city's most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city - serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.