CIVL Fest returns April 16-25, 2026!

CIVL Fest 2026 is a citywide festival spotlighting Chicago’s independent venues with ten days of shows, special events, and community-focused programming.

Today’s announcement is just the beginning: this is the first wave of the CIVL Fest 2026 lineup, with 50+ events at 30+ venues rolling out across the city in the coming weeks.

Keep an eye on CIVL’s socials and follow your favorite local independent venues for new show drops and special event reveals as the full CIVL Fest lineup unfolds.

You can find links to each show + tickets here.

ABOUT CIVL

Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) has served as the leading advocate for Chicago’s independently owned and operated performing arts venues since 2018. CIVL fosters collaborative advocacy, supports its members through resource sharing and community engagement, and promotes public understanding of the essential cultural and economic impact our venues have on the city.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH CIVL FEST?

Reach out to us → info@civlchicago.com