Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best art in Chicago next weekend, Sep 18–20, 2026: 6 picks, refreshed weekly.
6 picks · checked Sep 10
Shedd Aquarium, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopDiego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDance salsa, cumbia and merengue at Shedd’s Ritmo del Mar, with aquarium exhibits included in the evening ticket.
Shedd Aquarium, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopDiego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDance salsa, cumbia and merengue at Shedd’s Ritmo del Mar, with aquarium exhibits included in the evening ticket.
Art Institute of Chicago, Regenstein Hall, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopPedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFollow seven decades of Willem de Kooning’s drawing through more than 200 works at the Art Institute.
Art Institute of Chicago, Regenstein Hall, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopPedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFollow seven decades of Willem de Kooning’s drawing through more than 200 works at the Art Institute.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopGregory Ford Henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDancehall and reggaetón meet contemporary art in the MCA’s look at Caribbean music, resistance and joy.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopGregory Ford Henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDancehall and reggaetón meet contemporary art in the MCA’s look at Caribbean music, resistance and joy.
Heritage Museum of Asian Art, Hyde Park, Bronzeville & the South SideBball606 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA free evening at Heritage Museum of Asian Art pairs gallery time with a guided tour, wine and appetizers.
Heritage Museum of Asian Art, Hyde Park, Bronzeville & the South SideBball606 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA free evening at Heritage Museum of Asian Art pairs gallery time with a guided tour, wine and appetizers.
The Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopSee paintings and drawings by 32 artists under 40 in Palette & Chisel’s national emerging-artist showcase.
The Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopSee paintings and drawings by 32 artists under 40 in Palette & Chisel’s national emerging-artist showcase.
The Fields Studios, 4120 W Diversey Ave, Logan Square, Wicker Park & BucktownTim Evanson from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsEmotionAir brings the Balloon Museum’s air-centered art experience to The Fields Studios, with a visit built around feeling art.
The Fields Studios, 4120 W Diversey Ave, Logan Square, Wicker Park & BucktownTim Evanson from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsEmotionAir brings the Balloon Museum’s air-centered art experience to The Fields Studios, with a visit built around feeling art.
