Chicago winters don’t slow the city down. February is stacked with performances, exhibitions, and high-energy fundraisers, from Black History Month programming to buzzy benefits and can’t-miss shows across the city and suburbs. This is your field guide to the month.
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All Month
Short Shakespeare! Hamlet
Short Shakespeare! Hamlet runs through February 28, 2026, in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, distilling Hamlet into a taut, 75-minute production. Adapted by CST Artistic Director Edward Hall and Roger Warren and directed by Hall, the production stars Chicago favorite Jaylon Muchison as the grieving Prince of Denmark, wrestling with betrayal, moral uncertainty, and the cost of inaction. Each performance includes a post-show conversation with the cast, and the production reaches approximately 20,000 students through weekday matinees, reinforcing Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s role as a national leader in arts education.
The Irish… and How They Got That Way
The Irish … and How They Got That Way is an irreverent musical history of Ireland through the tumultuous 20th and 21st centuries seen through the eyes of Pulitzer Prize winning author, Frank McCourt coupled with and a glorious score that spans 100+ years. Get your tickets for this show, running until March 15.
Spring Flower Show: Showers of Flowers
“Join us this spring for Showers of Flowers, the 2026 spring flower show at the Garfield Park Conservatory. “Showers of Flowers” highlights more than 80 hanging baskets that demonstrate vertical possibilities for your green thumb! The baskets will feature trailing vines, like ivy and sweet potato, bushy asparagus ferns, and colorful flowers like pansies, petunia, and calibrachoa. Let the beauty rain down upon you while you enjoy ground plantings, including seasonal favorites such as daffodils, tulips, lupines, cymbidium orchids, astilbe, snapdragons, and ranunculus, against a backdrop of azaleas, camellias, and hydrangea.” See everything in full bloom by May 10 when the exhibit ends.
On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival
On Loss and Absence brings together over 100 objects from diverse cultures dating from antiquity to today to reveal the ways people use textiles to sustain spiritual beliefs, understand death, cope with grief, remember those who have passed, and heal from trauma, both personally and collectively. Through March 15, 2026.
ADMISSIONS
At an elite prep school, Sherri Rosen-Mason champions equity and reform—until her own son’s Ivy League ambitions put her principles under pressure. As personal and professional worlds collide, this compelling drama examines parental loyalty, privilege, and the uncomfortable truths that emerge when ideals meet self-interest. Catch this show from February 13-March 15
Holiday
Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg brings a sharp contemporary lens to Philip Barry’s society comedy, the play that inspired the classic Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn film. Set among the moneyed Seton family on the Upper East Side, romance collides with class when an unexpected outsider enters the picture, putting privilege, ambition, and personal fulfillment under pressure. Directed by Robert Falls, this reimagining is witty, pointed, and quietly incisive. Catch it before March 1.
Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade: Driehaus Museum
Driehaus Museum’s Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade — open until March 15, 2026 — casts a new light on one of the Gilded Age’s most recognizable names. The show moves past the familiar glow of Tiffany’s stained-glass shades to reveal the full scope of the studio’s work between the 1890s and 1920s — from bronze boxes and pottery vases to a monumental chandelier rarely seen by the public. With pieces drawn from both the Driehaus collection and the Richard H. Driehaus Art Exhibition Lending Foundation, guest curator Alexandra M. Ruggiero frames the story around the artistry, materials, and influential designers that helped make Tiffany a household name.
Shark Feeding Tour
Be transported 8,000 miles away to the Indo-Pacific reef as the Shedd Aquarium gives guests from ages six and up an in-depth look at sharks and their lifestyle. This 75-minute behind-the-scenes experience allows visitors to witness meal time, learn how to prepare a meal fit for a shark, all while picking up facts from Shedd experts. Don’t miss this opportunity — available weekends only, now through March 2026. Get the details at Shedd Aquarium.
Second Saturdays at the Goodman
Saturdays at the Goodman are family-focused intergenerational workshops centered on joy, creativity, and sharing space. Join them to participate in workshops facilitated by Goodman Teaching Artists as they celebrate creativity and the art of storytelling. Second Saturdays are ideal for littles (ages 4-10), and their families. Find more details at Goodman Theatre online, now through July 2026.
February 1: The Phantom of the Opera
The iconic tale of the masked Phantom of the Opera comes to Chicago to thrill new audiences in the latest North American tour. See the show at the Cadillac Palace through February 1. Grab tickets at Broadway in Chicago.
February 1: Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
The 2026 Chicago Puppet Fest will span 12 days and dozens of Chicago venues, presenting an international pageant of puppet artists sharing more than 100 puppetry activities. Get ready for spectacular shows in landmark theaters, intimate works on smaller stages, the always popular late night puppet cabarets, and a long list of free puppet events happening all over the city. Shows often sell out so don’t delay!
February 1: Chicago Boat Show
If you think of boat shows and think of nothing but displays, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that the Chicago Boat Show, held at McCormick Place, is far more than that. From sand pits to wave simulators, from tiki bars to the newest water toys — this show is for lovers of all things sun, surf, and boating. Check out the full lineup of activities and businesses on the Chicago Boat Show website.
February 1-2: Woodstock Groundhog Days
What other minor holiday has a cult classic film such as Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day? For all you fans, the tradition is still alive and well in the filming location of the movie, Woodstock, Illinois. Just outside of Chicago, the quaint, historic downtown has everything from men in suits and top hats to their very own weather predictor, Woodstock Willie. And stick around for several days worth of activities such as Groundhog Day Dinner, dancing, drinking and watching the movie in the historic Harold Ramis theater. More information is available on the Groundhog Days website.
February 1-8: Chicago Restaurant Week
Celebrate the annual Chicago Restaurant Week, kicking off at the end of January. This 17-day celebration of Chicago’s award-winning dining scene is one of the most anticipated culinary events of the year. Check out Chicago Restaurant Week 2026 participating restaurants. 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.
February 1-14: Salome
“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. This gory thrill ride returns to Lyric for the first time in 20 years starring Elena Stikhina.”
February 5: Think Fast, Give Back – Smart at Heart Trivia Fundraiser
Smart at Heart Trivia Fundraiser is taking over the iconic Auditorium lobby for the very first time. This event supports Hearts to Art, a tuition-free fine arts bereavement camp where kids who have experienced the death of a parent can heal through creative play. Your participation makes this camp possible.
February 5: GALLIM – Bodies of Matter at Harris Theater
Founded in 2007 by groundbreaking choreographer Andrea Miller, GALLIM is one of New York’s leading contemporary dance companies. Based in Brooklyn, the company centers process, play, and exchange — full of exuberance and creativity. GALLIM’s work often explores themes of individuality and unity, using choreography and improvisation.
February 5-15: Chicago Theatre Week
Chicago Theatre Week returns this year with its annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago. During this time, audiences can grab value-priced tickets to incredible shows all over town — with some shows costing $30 or even $15. Chicago Theatre Week 2023 hit a record with over 20,000 ticket sales — let’s keep it going. Don’t be left out of the fun, visit Chicago Theatre Week 2026 for a full lineup and tickets.
Feb. 5: Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene
For one night only, Renée Fleming returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago with Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, a visually immersive recital inspired by her Grammy-winning album. Joined by longtime collaborator Inon Barnatan, Fleming pairs classical and contemporary works with striking imagery from the National Geographic Society, tracing humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world. Part concert, part cinematic meditation, the program unfolds as a 90-minute journey through beauty, vulnerability, and awe.
February 7-8: Fika Fest
Always celebrating its roots, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce returns with their annual Fika Fest — a play on Swedish tradition, coming from the phrase “a coffee and cake break.” But it’s more than that, too. It’s meant to connect neighbors and friends and is considered “an essential part of the day” for many Swedish folks. Visit the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce website for more information about fest events as they become available.
February 7-16: Chicago Auto Show
Now in its 118th edition, the Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place as the largest auto show in North America and one of the longest-running on the continent. First staged in 1901 and produced since 1935 by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, the show gives a firsthand look at the industry’s past, present, and future, bringing together nearly 1,000 vehicles from more than two dozen manufacturers, spanning domestic and imported cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans, alongside concept cars, world and North American debuts, competition and project vehicles, and antique and collector models.
February 7, 14, 21, 28: Black Makers Market
Head over to Navy Pier every Saturday in February to catch the Black Makers Market — showcasing the talents of over three dozen local Black artisans, designers, and entrepreneurs. “Each weekend, a variety of original products will be available for sale, including home goods, fashion, jewelry, luxurious candles, hand-crocheted apparel, ceramics and more.” Find more details on Black Makers Market online.
Feb. 7: On Cloud Nine Supporting Horizons for Youth
Support Horizons for Youth by taking part in On Cloud Nine, the organization’s annual fundraising gala, now in its 26th year. The 2026 event takes place on Saturday, February 7, at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago and includes an open bar, music and dancing, and light fare. The event celebrates Horizons’ community of volunteer support with proceeds directly serving the organization’s mission.
February 7 – March 22: The Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy
“Rewind to the ‘60s and ‘70s at the Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy where 10,000 vibrant orchids are the hottest thing since bell bottoms. Floor-to-ceiling sunbeams made of cascading orchids light up the room in living color. Lose yourself in a 10-foot lava lamp aglow with colorful blooms, then hit the road as a flower-filled Volkswagen Beetle carries you through a Route 66 daydream. The experience is pure good vibes.”
February 8-22: Chicago Black Restaurant Week
As community members and neighbors, we should be supporting Black-owned businesses all year long, not just during Black History Month. But if you’re looking for a good place to start this February, look to Chicago Black Restaurant Week — which pulls together a long list of Black-owned eateries, vendors, and businesses in order to both celebrate and support them. Check out the Chicago Black Restaurant Week website for a lineup of spots and how to support.
February 10: Angel Bat Dawid: The Souls of Black Folk Suite
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Angel Bat Dawid is joined by The Great Blk Music Infinity Ensemble and D-Composed String Ensemble for a remarkable contemporary jazz experience — fusing music, history, and cultural expression. This collaboration honors and explores the W. E. B. Du Bois’s seminal work, The Souls of Black Folk.
Feb 10-March 8: Hamnet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The U.S. premiere of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamnet runs February 10 through March 8, at Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s The Yard. Adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti from Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel and directed by Erica Whyman, the production traces the intertwined lives of Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare, and the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, during a time of plague. Moving between love, childbirth, grief, and the natural world, the play examines how private sorrow shapes creative legacy, offering a deeply human reimagining of the forces behind one of the English language’s most enduring works.
February 21: Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration
Join Uptown United and the local business, non-profit, and cultural organizations on Argyle Street to continue the annual tradition going back 40+ years of celebrating the Lunar New Year along the Argyle commercial corridor. 2026 is the Year of the Horse, and festivities will kick off at 1:00pm sharp on Argyle & Sheridan featuring 20+ local community groups, cultural institutions, dancers and performers! In addition, local organizations are planning pop-ups with family-friendly activities between 10:30am-4:00pm. Visit Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration online for more details.
February 21: Music Frozen Dancing
Music Frozen Dancing returns Feb. 21 outside Empty Bottle for a bracing winter street party that runs from afternoon until nightfall. Presented by Empty Bottle Presents and Goose Island Beer Company, the free festival once again blends a stacked lineup of experimental dance noise, hardcore, post-punk, and guitar pop with indoor DJ sets for thawing breaks. The event continues its tradition of pairing music with mission, raising funds for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights this year, while also helping keep Music Frozen Dancing free and community-driven.
February 21: Polar Adventure Day
Experience the beauty of the season at one of Chicago’s most unique natural areas, Big Marsh Park, with a full day of family-friendly outdoor and indoor fun. Bundle up and enjoy husky sled dog demonstrations, live demonstrations, arts & crafts, nature play and warm up with hot cocoa by the bonfire. Check out the Polar Adventure Day site for more info.
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Margaret Smith is a Chicago-based writer and editor with a passion for socio-political storytelling about their community. They are a graduate of Columbia College Chicago.
