Introduction to the Taste of Chicago
The long-running Taste of Chicago food festival will move back to July in 2026 after being booted from the mid-summer Downtown lineup for several years in favor of NASCAR. That’s according to the head of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Clinée Hedspeth, who confirmed the news at a mid-year budget hearing at City Hall Thursday.
Reasons for the Move
“It’s going back to July. We are still working on if it should go back to the Fourth of July time period,” she told a group of alderpeople who were pleased with the news. “Overwhelmingly, I think people, the citizens, want it back in July. And we’re excited to be able to do that in 2026.” In 2023, the Taste was pushed to September, to the dismay of many Chicagoans. The move was bad for business, said Downtown Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd).
Impact on the Community
A person holds a stuffed potato from ArePA George at Taste of Chicago in 2024.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
“After school starts again it’s difficult to have a major downtown festival in Grant Park, so I think it makes sense to move it to July again,” Hopkins said.
Financial Impact
Returning the Taste of Chicago to July would contribute to an estimated 50% increase in the department’s revenue next year, Hedspeth said. But it’s unclear if the festival’s return to July will be permanent. NASCAR will be on a Chicago hiatus for 2026, with a race held instead at the Chicago Speedway in Joliet. But NASCAR officials have indicated they want to return to the city in 2027.
Future Plans
Hedspeth said whether the Taste will take place in July beyond next year is something “your body will have to talk about, the Mayor’s office will have to talk about.” Hopkins said he and other Council members have told NASCAR that if the race does return, it should look at alternatives to the prime July 4th weekend. “NASCAR definitely wants to come back to Downtown, but they’ve already accepted that it will not be over July 4th — so that leaves the question of when,” Hopkins said. “And they can’t get too close to their big season ending race in Daytona, which is at the end of August.”
Neighborhood Festivals
Hedspeth said her department is still determining whether it will have the budget to hold a series of neighborhood-focused spinoffs of the downtown Taste festival in 2026, as the city has done in recent years. Ald. David Moore (17th) said the neighborhood Taste of Marquette Park was a success this year, but the larger downtown Taste “came and went,” and a lot of residents didn’t “even know it was going on.”
Conclusion
The Taste took place this year in Grant Park from Sept. 5-7. Hedspeth said the festival brought in $2.8 million in food and drink sales — a 12% increase from last year. That’s in part because the city is now charging a 10% commission on food vendors, she said. “It seems to be trending up. I think moving back to July will be even more beneficial,” Hedspeth said.
FAQs
Q: When will the Taste of Chicago move back to July?
A: The Taste of Chicago will move back to July in 2026.
Q: Why was the Taste of Chicago moved from July?
A: The Taste of Chicago was moved from July to make way for the NASCAR race.
Q: Will the Taste of Chicago return to the Fourth of July time period?
A: It is still being determined whether the Taste of Chicago will return to the Fourth of July time period.
Q: How much revenue did the Taste of Chicago bring in this year?
A: The Taste of Chicago brought in $2.8 million in food and drink sales this year.
Q: Will the neighborhood-focused spinoffs of the downtown Taste festival continue in 2026?
A: It is still being determined whether the neighborhood-focused spinoffs of the downtown Taste festival will continue in 2026.
