What are our picks for the best events happening in Chicago worth your time this month, January 2026? This is the social calendar you need. From art+culture events, fashion celebrations, we’ve curated the best of things to do this month in Chicago so you can skip the scroll. Save this for later and send to your Groupchat to keep the fun going.
LIGHTSCAPE COCKTAILS UNDER THE LIGHTS
January 2
Chicago Botanic Garden | 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, IL
Enjoy a festive, adults-only vibe where you can be your merry ole self, complete with specialty cocktails and mocktails. This is a 21 and Over event.
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CHICAGO BEARS VS DETROIT LIONS
January 4 | 3PM
Soldier Field | 1410 Special Olympics Drive
The Bears have won seven of their last nine games and are 11-3 since an 0-2 start. On Sunday, they’ll look to rebound from last weekend’s 42-38. The NFC North champion Bears (11-5) will look to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and create momentum heading into the postseason Sunday when they close the regular season by hosting the Lions (8-8) at Soldier Field
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MAVIS STAPLES WITH SPECIAL GUEST NATHANIEL RATELIFF
January 10 | Time Varies
Cadillac Palace Theatre | 151 W. Randolph Street
Mavis Staples will perform with special guest Nathaniel Rateliff .
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BILL MURRAY & HIS BLOOD BROTHERS
January 9-10| 7PM
Thalia Hall | 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, IL
Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers is a blues-rock musical collaboration featuring actor Bill Murray as the frontman with acclaimed guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia, often joined by other musicians like Jimmy Vivino, performing classic rock covers and originals for energetic, unpredictable live shows.
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MCA CHICAGO FAMILY DAY | MYTHS & LEGENDS
January 10 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | 200 E. Chicago Avenue
Folklore, fantasy, and fortune! Take inspiration from Firelei Báez and Yoko Ono to venture forth into a mythical land. Designed for children under 12 and their grown-ups, MCA Family Days invite our youngest visitors to be the museum’s artists, thinkers, and collaborators.
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YOKO ONO: MUSIC OF THE MIND EXHIBITION PREVIEW
October 17 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | 220 E Chicago Avenue
Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind presents one of the most comprehensive exhibitions to date of Yoko Ono, the trailblazing artist, celebrated musician, and formidable campaigner for world peace. This remarkable retrospective celebrates key moments of Ono’s career, showcasing art driven by ideas and expressed in poetic, humorous, and profound ways.
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FIRESIDE CHAT WITH ALINEA GROUP CEO
January 13 | 5:30pm
Next Restaurant | 953 W Fulton Market
This intimate reception and roundtable discussion is exclusive to 2026 Season Ticket Holders and their guests. Join us for an evening with our CEO, Jason Weingarten, as he delves into the inspiration behind Next’s 2026 menus and shares exciting insight into the future of The Alinea Group. Cocktails, wine, and light bites will be served.
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ARTSIT TALK & RECEPTION: ELLEN HARVEY
January 15 | 6-8PM
Chicago Architecture Center, Gand Lecture Hall|
Join us for a special reception and talk with Ellen Harvey on The Disappointed Tourist, currently on view at the CAC.
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BA-BA!’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY BIRTHDAY BASH
January 15 | 6-9pm
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! | 2024 N Halsted St.
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Is turning FORTY! To celebrate four decades of memories at Chicago’s original Spanish tapas restaurant, we’re pulling out all the stops for an unforgettable fiesta.
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MCA LIVE: ALEX TATARSKY, SAD BOYS IN HARPY LAND
January 15-17 | 7:30pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | 200 E. Chicago Avenue
The 2025 (22nd) Confronting anguish through humor, Sad Boys in Harpy Land is a semi-autobiographical clown show about self-doubt and the artist’s journey.
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2026 CHICAGO CUBS CONVENTION
January 16-18 | 6:30-10:30PM
Sheraton Grand Chicago| 301 E North Water Street
Join Cubs fans, players, legends and members of the front office for three days of festivities and special moments that you can’t experience anywhere else. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cubs Charities.
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BRIAN REGAN LIVE
January 17| Doors 7PM
Chicago Theatre | 175 N State Street
Regan combines sophisticated writing with expressive physicality, unique vocal delivery, and animated facial expressions to turn everyday situations into laugh-out-loud events.
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KIDS MEET THE MUSIC 1 WITH D-COMPOSED STRING ENSEMBLE + JOSH JONES
January 17 | 2PM
Harris Theatre at Millenium Park | 205 E. Randolph Street
Join us for the first performance in our newly reimagines family series, Kids Meet the Music, featuring D-Composed String Ensemble and percussionist Josh Jones for an afternoon celebrating music by Black composers that uses percussive and rhythmic sounds.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
PILATES AT THE AUDITORIUM
January 17 | 9am
The Auditorium Theatre | 50 E Ida B Wells Drive
The first-ever Auditorium Wellness event arrives at Chicago’s legendary Auditorium offering guests the chance to usher in the new year with movement, mindfulness, and the magic of one of the nation’s most historic architectural treasures.
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CRAFTING CHARACTER: THE COSTUMES OF PAUL TAZEWELL
January 19-| 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Chicago |5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Step into the innovative and imaginative world of award-winning fashion and costume designer Paul Tazewell. This deeply inspiring and immersive exhibition takes you behind the seams of Paul Tazewell’s creative journey — tracing the artistry, imagination and craftsmanship that inspired the creation of iconic costumes from the blockbuster sensation Wicked to Broadway’s Hamilton to Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and more.
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FIRST BITES BASH 2026
January 22 | 7PM
Field Museum | 1400 S Lake Shore Drive
The official kick-off event for Chicago Restaurant Week, First Bites Bash is an all-inclusive tasting event produced by Choose Chicago that showcases the city’s award-winning restaurant scene.
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ROOFTOP PAINT AND SIP WITH BOTTLE AND BOTTEGA
January 22 | 6-8PM
Offshore Roftop Chicago |
Paint the perfect night! Offshore and Bottle & Bottega are teaming up to bring you a cozy winter Paint and Sip event.
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19TH ANNUAL CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK
Jan. 23 – Feb. 8
All around Chicago |
Welcome to the 19th annual Chicago Restaurant Week! This 17-day celebration of Chicago’s award-winning dining scene is one of the most anticipated culinary events of the year. This year, diners can enjoy special prix fixe menus for brunch and lunch ($30), and dinner ($45 and/or $60) at a record-breaking 500+ restaurants across the city.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
SALOME
January 25-February 14
Lyric Opera House Chicago | 20 N. Wacker Drive
Based on Oscar Wilde’s one-act play, Salome has been thrilling and fascinating audiences for more than a century. Lyric Opera of Chicago brings Sir David McVicar’s decadent production — which is set in pre-war fascist Italy and sheds a harsh light on the timeless greed and entitlement of the elite — to Chicago. Sung in German with projected English titles.
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THE BANCHET AWARDS 2026 & AFTERPARTY
January 25 | 5PM
Venue SIX10 | 610 S. Michigan Avenue
The Banchet Awards is a celebration of culinary excellence in Chicago, gathering more than 400 of Chicagoland’s foremost chefs, culinary professionals, and industry insiders.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
STAGS’ LEAP WINERY WINE DINNER
January 28 | 6PM
Shaw’s Crab House – Chicago | 21 E. Hubbard Street
Shaw’s Crab House welcomes wines from Stags’ Leap Winery. Concept Wine Director Kevin Bratt and Executive Sous Chef Juvenal Reyes will craft a seasonal, seafood-focused menu thoughtfully paired with a curated selection of Stags’ Leap wines. We are honored to host Julie Larsen, Treasury Luxury Sales Manager, as our esteemed guest of honor and speaker for the evening.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
TEDXLAKESHOREDRIVE
January 30|9AM-6PM
The Metropolitan Club | 233 S Wacker Drive
TEDxLakeShoreDrive* is a genuine, curated TEDx event, a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded explorers, from the speakers, performers to fellow attendees. Each in-person ticket includes admission to the event, lunch, entertainment, full-day networking, and a post-event reception.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
*Cover image credit Unsplash
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