Black History Month is an anticipated annual event that was started in 1915 in Chicago by Carter G, Woodson and it continues to be an important avenue for celebrating African American achievements across the country.
Dr. Margaret Burroughs, founder of the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center Courtesy of the DuSable Museum
Chicago’s extensive African American cultural history supplies a rich assortment of activities for this year’s celebration, which includes a mix of museums, music and dining options. Check out our list of Chicago Black History Month events for 2026:
MUSEUM EXHIBITS
Photo courtesy of Museum of Science & Industry
Griffin Museum of Science & Industry
5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Attend one of the longest-running annual exhibits of African American artists with the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition. This year, the show includes youth artists between the ages of 14 and 17, at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. Check out the show-stopping costumes at Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell, which displays works from “Wicked”, “West Side Story,” and “Hamilton,” by Black fashion designer Paul Tazewell.
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
740 E. 65th Place
Discover the glamorous world of 19th-century Black creatives with the exhibit, Paris in Black. Transport yourself to Paris from the 1890’s through the ‘50s, when Black writers, artists, performers and intellectuals, including Josephine Baker, James Baldwin and Langston Hughes, created a Black Renaissance in the City of Lights.
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.
Injustice: The Trial for the Murder of Emmett Till exhibits the life of Emmitt Till, the Chicago teen whose brutal murder in Mississippi helped spark the Civil Rights Movement, with photos of his joyful Chicago existence and his funeral attended by thousands, along with sketches of the courtroom trial.
The Black History Month Family Event focuses on the theme of how art has played a role in social change for the Chicago African American community on February 22, 2026.
Events
Griffin Museum of Science & Industry
Black Creativity Career Showcase
Meet Black artists, scientists and engineers and discover how their important work impacts the city during this hands-on family event on February 14, 2026. Connect with experts in their fields and observe demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities and learn about their work life during one-on-one conversations.
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand
Black Makers Market at Navy Pier
Browse a collection of one-of-a-kind art pieces, accessories, jewelry and more designed by Black creatives in honor of Black History Month at the free Black Makers Market every Saturday in February on February 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2026.
Auditorium Theatre
30 E. Ida B. Wells Dr.
This free concert series by Uniting Voices celebrates the Black musical legacy of Chicago with a performance by school program singers from all over the city as the culmination of their Black History 360 curriculum. The concert takes place on February 24, 2026, at the Auditorium Theatre.
Munch through a variety of Black-owned restaurants serving everything from Jamaican, Japanese, Southern, and Vegan dishes during Black Restaurant Week from February 8-22, 2026.
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