Over the past couple of months, Ravinia Festival has been building up anticipation for the 2026 season. Specifically they've been noting the changes going into the Hunter Pavilion, which has been undergoing some big changes. Today, Ravinia Festival underlines all the hard work going into the new era of the revered festival with an incredible lineup of artists highlighted by the opening of the updated and redesigned Hunter Pavilion, honoring Maxine M. and Thomas B. Hunter III.
The first weekend of shows at the redesigned Hunter Pavilion is a doozy. A special CSO concert, their 90th residency) on July 11 will take the opening day with Ravinia chief conductor Marin Alsop, pianist and frequent collaborator Yunchan Lim and flutist Lizzo. The following evening (July 12) will show off Ravinia's eclectic and diverse range as rock legend Billy Idol will take over the stage for a sure-fire night of anthems.
The CSO’s annual six-week residency will continue though August 16 this season and will feature quite the programs including a tribute to the work of Chicago-born icon Quincy Jones (August 13), St. Vincent performing her beautiful catalogue of music alongside the orchestra's talented musicians for the first time (July 25), a Brahms X Radiohead-inspired evening conducted by Steve Hackman and of course another all-Tchaikovsky evening to close out this year's residency on August 16.
The rest of the 2026 lineup is just as inventive and eclectic, giving last year's tremendous offerings a run for their money. Whether it's legendary performers like Paul Simon or Gladys Knight, local marvels Chance the Rapper and Liam Kazar, international superstars Los Tigres del Norte, or festival debuts by Ricky Martin, Alabama Shakes, and Ray LaMontagne, Ravinia has made sure there is something for everyone to enjoy!
You can check out the lineup below as well as on the Ravinia Festival website. Tickets go on sale beginning Thursday, April 23.
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
- July 11 - Hunter Pavilion & 90th Residency Grand Opening Marin Alsop, conductor / Yunchan Lim, piano / Lizzo, flute
- July 16 & 18 - Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio Starring Kathryn Lewek and Miles Mykkanen James Conlon, conductor Sung in German with English supertitles
- July 19 - Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony and Violin Concerto Marin Alsop, conductor / María Dueñas, violin
- July 23 -Mahler’s Sixth Symphony Marin Alsop, conductor
- July 24 - On the Movies Music’s descriptive magic, written by women and about women Marin Alsop & Laura Karpman, co-curators
- July 25 -An Evening with St. Vincent: A new dimension of favorites and deep cuts, from Marry Me to All Born Screaming Jules Buckley, conductor
- July 31 - Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony Midwest Premiere: Carlos Simon’s Good News Mass Marin Alsop, conductor
- August 1 - John Williams and Rachmaninoff Emanuel Ax plays Williams’s new Piano Concerto Marin Alsop, conductor
- August 2 - This Land: America in Song Created and conducted by Ted Sperling
- August 6 - Stravinsky’s The Firebird and Debussy Klaus Mäkelä, conductor
- August 7 - Dedicated to sharing the renowned artistry of the CSO, Klaus Mäkelä
- August 13 - The Music of Quincy Jones: Favorites from the Chicago-born legend’s albums, scores and more curated and conducted by Jules Buckley
- August 14 - Brahms X Radiohead: The First Symphony woven with OK Computer themes and lyrics created and conducted by Steve Hackman
- August 16 - The CSO’s 90th summer residency concludes with the nearly 50-year Ravinia tradition of Tchaikovsky Spectacular Featuring the 1812 Overture with cannons! Earl Lee, conductor / Stella Chen, violin
RECITALS, CHAMBER MUSIC, and GUEST ORCHESTRAS
- June 5 - Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk (MT)
- June 7 - Alisa Weilerstein & Inon Barnatan(MT)
- July 22 - Augustin Hadelich (MT)
- July 26 - Chanticleer (MT)
- August 2 - Black Moon Trio’s Lakenotes: Seasons of Lake Michigan (SKC)
- August 5 - Danish String Quartet (MT)
- August 9 - Misha Dichter (BGH)
- August 9 - Hugh Jackman with the Chicago Philharmonic.
- August 16 - Frederica von Stade & Susan Graham with pianist Kevin Murphy(BGH)
- August 19 - “Gregory Alan Isakov w/ Chicago Philharmonic, under the baton of Christopher Dragon.
- September 2 - Labrinth
- September 3 - Music of the Baroque and Dame Jane Glover
- September 5 - Karen Ouzounian (SKC)
- September 6 - Olga Kern (BGH)
- September 23 - Jacob Collier (MT)
FAMILY PROGRAMMING and FILM
- August 1 - Laurie Berkner
- August 8 - Black Moon Trio: “The Great Lakes” (SKC)
- August 15 - Okee Dokee Brothers (CSL)
- August 22 - Divi Roxx Kids (CSL)
- August 23 - Grease Sing-Along
- August 29 - JAM Orchestra*: Dr. Seuss Goes to the Opera
JAZZ and BLUES
- June 3 - Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane* (MT)
- June 4 - Stella Cole* (BGH)
- June 6 & 7 - Wildflowers: Kurt Elling with Fred Hersch (SKC)
- July 14 - Squirrel Nut Zippers (CSL)
- July 15 - Harry Connick Jr.
POP, HIP-HOP, RAP, LATIN, and REGGAE
- July 12 - Billy Idol
- July 28 - Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band with special guest The Docksiders
- August 4 - Magic City Hippies (CSL)
- August 8 - Chance the Rapper
- August 11 - Brian McKnight & Gladys Knight
- August 20 - Ricky Martin
- August 27 - Kool & The Gang with special guest Morris Day & The Time and ConFunkShun
- September 5 - Rod Stewart* with special guest Richard Marx
- September 13 - 10th Fiesta Ravinia: Los Tigres del Norte
- September 17 - Ziggy Marley and Thievery Corporation
- September 18 - Tom Jones
ROCK, INDIE, COUNTRY, and FOLK
- July 17 & 18 - Paul Simon
- July 26 - Emmylou Harris & Graham Nash
- July 29 - The Kody Norris Show (CSL)
- August 15 - moe. and Umphrey’s McGee on the moe.mentUM Tour
- August 21 - Alabama Shakes with special guest Liam Kazar
- August 22 - Bonnie Raitt
- August 25 - Deep Purple with special guest Kansas
- August 26 - Brandi Carlile with special guest I’m With Her
- August 28 - Alabama
- August 29 - Ray LaMontagne (Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour) with special guest The Weather Station
- August 30 - Miranda Lambert
- September 6 - Squeeze with special guest Adam Ant
- September 12 - Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas (Arcadia Tour) with special guest Theo Lawrence
- September 19 - Martina McBride*
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