Navy Pier announced the return of the Midwest’s largest free performing arts festival, Chicago Live! Now in its fifth year, the 2025 edition of Chicago Live! is set to take place Saturday, September 20 through Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier.
This year’s “Chicago Live! in ’25” event will feature more than 100 companies, artists, and performing arts organizations from Chicago. In honor of the festival’s five-year anniversary and continued commitment to celebrating Chicagoland’s greatest performers and companies, at the center of this year’s Chicago Live! will be the world premiere of five commissioned pieces ranging from unique musical compositions to breathtaking dance numbers. Artists performing world premieres will include;
- Giordano Dance Chicago
- Aerial Dance Chicago
- Victor Garcia, trumpet
- Momenta Dance Company
- Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra, Russell Vinick, Music Director
Extending beyond the Pier, the 2025 edition of Chicago Live! will take to the water, with several performances being held in Lake Michigan aboard Shoreline Sightseeing cruises, including a fully staged musical theatre performance by Music Theatre Works at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 20.
“Chicago’s cultural community is among the most eclectic and celebrated in the world, yet many of our incredible artists and ensembles are still reeling from the lasting impacts of the pandemic and now face significant funding cuts,” said Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner. “Events like Chicago Live! are essential to keeping our local arts organizations in the spotlight and thriving.”
With more than 100 performances taking place across five stages, Chicago Live! is guaranteed to have something for the more than 100,000 Chicago-area residents and out-of-town guests expected to be at Navy Pier over two days.
Presented by the Pritzker Foundation and supported by Peoples Gas, Chicago Live! was launched in 2021 following the pandemic as a way to reconnect audiences with Chicago's performing arts community after a devastating 18-month closure that left many in the industry in limbo. In just five years’ time, the festival has more than doubled in size, growing from 43 performing companies in its inaugural year to more than 100 groups and individual artists slated for this September’s event, making it a true testament and celebration of Chicago’s art scene. Chicago Live! remains a celebration of the vibrant artists and brightest companies that make the city truly one-of-a-kind.
More information on Chicago Live!, including the full performance lineup, can be found on the Navy Pier website.
ABOUT NAVY PIER
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the most visited destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases over 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities, and more. The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. Today, Navy Pier continues to usher in its second century with ongoing redevelopment efforts including the 223-room Sable hotel, the all-transient Navy Pier Marina, and thrilling new attractions such as Flyover Chicago. The Pier is proud to present free programming designed to inspire and engage communities across the city and globe, including the #1 Fireworks display in the nation. For more information, visit NavyPier.org.