On March 12, 2026, the Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, officially pulled back the curtain on its 2026 season—and what a spectacle it promises to be. This year’s schedule, stretching from June through September, boasts more than 90 concerts and an astonishing array of musical legends and rising stars. From the grand opening of the state-of-the-art Hunter Pavilion to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) 90th anniversary residency, the festival is shaping up to be a historic celebration of music, diversity, and innovation.
Ravinia’s 2026 lineup reads like a who’s who of the music world. Paul Simon, making his highly anticipated debut, headlines two nights in July. He’s joined by a cavalcade of stars: Gladys Knight, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Jacob Collier, Hugh Jackman, Rod Stewart, Kool & The Gang, Chance the Rapper, Ricky Martin, Alabama Shakes, and Ray LaMontagne, to name just a few. According to ABC7 Chicago, the festival’s programming spans 15 distinct musical genres, from pop and rock to jazz, blues, hip-hop, Latin, folk, and classical. It’s a lineup designed to appeal to every musical taste and age group.
But it’s not just the artists that make this season special. The Hunter Pavilion, opening its doors for the first time, represents a major leap forward for Ravinia. As Jeffrey P. Haydon, President and CEO of the Ravinia Festival, put it: “The grand opening of the Hunter Pavilion marks a historic milestone for Ravinia. It is particularly meaningful that this state-of-the-art venue will serve as the inaugural stage for our debut artists and provide both artists and audiences an atmosphere that leaves them equally inspired.” The venue’s enhanced acoustics and sophisticated production capabilities are already proving a magnet for world-class talent, many of whom are making their Ravinia debuts.
The festival’s schedule is packed with notable dates and unique experiences. Tickets go on sale at Ravinia.org starting Thursday, April 23, 2026, and if past years are any indication, they’ll go fast. Highlights include Laurie Berkner on August 1, Black Moon Trio’s family-friendly journey through the Great Lakes on August 8, and the Okee Dokee Brothers on August 15. There’s even a Grease Sing-Along on August 23 for those who want to belt out “Summer Nights” under the stars.
Jazz aficionados will find plenty to love, too, with Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane kicking things off on June 3 and Joe Bonamassa bringing his blues guitar wizardry on August 12. Billy Idol rocks the stage on July 12, while Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, with special guest The Docksiders, brings beach vibes on July 28. Magic City Hippies, Chance the Rapper, Brian McKnight & Gladys Knight, and Ricky Martin all add to a summer of unforgettable performances.
Rock legends aren’t left out either. Rod Stewart, with special guest Richard Marx, takes the stage on September 5. Los Tigres del Norte headline the 10th Fiesta Ravinia on September 13, while Ziggy Marley and Thievery Corporation bring their global grooves on September 17. The festival closes out its main run with Martina McBride on September 19 and a special appearance by Jacob Collier on September 23, whom Chris Martin of Coldplay once called “the best musician in the world,” according to Rolling Stone.
Yet, perhaps the heart of Ravinia’s summer is the six-week residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, running from July 11 through August 16. This year marks the CSO’s 90th summer at Ravinia—a milestone that brings with it a sense of both tradition and renewal. Marin Alsop, the festival’s Chief Conductor, leads the opening performance at the Hunter Pavilion, featuring the internationally acclaimed pianist Yunchan Lim and a special appearance by pop sensation Lizzo on flute. It’s a blend of old and new, classical and pop, that perfectly encapsulates Ravinia’s approach to programming in the twenty-first century.
The CSO’s season is nothing short of ambitious. Distinguished guest conductors like Klaus Mäkelä, the incoming CSO Zell Music Director, will share the podium, while the orchestra pays tribute to icons like Quincy Jones and explores masterworks by Mahler, Dvořák, and Tchaikovsky. On July 16 and 18, James Conlon returns to lead Mozart’s comic opera The Abduction from the Seraglio, with Kathryn Lewek and Miles Mykkanen starring. July 19 sees the debut of María Dueñas, Gramophone’s Young Artist and Instrumentalist of the Year for 2025, in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, while July 23 brings Mahler’s monumental Sixth Symphony under Alsop’s direction.
Innovation is front and center on July 24, when Alsop and Emmy-winning composer Laura Karpman co-curate a program spotlighting original orchestral music’s magic in screen storytelling, featuring works by women composers long underrepresented in the film industry. The next night, six-time Grammy winner St. Vincent joins the CSO for a first-ever orchestral collaboration, promising a kaleidoscope of sonic and visual exploration.
Other highlights include Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony and the Midwest premiere of Carlos Simon’s Good News Mass on July 31; pianist Emanuel Ax celebrating his 50th CSO debut anniversary with a new John Williams concerto on August 1; and a genre-bending fusion of Brahms’s First Symphony with Radiohead’s OK Computer tracks on August 14, led by Steve Hackman. The CSO’s residency concludes with the nearly 50-year tradition of an all-Tchaikovsky evening, featuring the 1812 Overture, cannons and all, on August 16.
Beyond the mainstage, Ravinia’s diverse programming extends across six venues, from the intimate Martin Theatre to the expansive Carousel Stage. Chamber music lovers can catch Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk on June 5, while fans of vocal music will appreciate Chanticleer’s “orchestra of voices” on July 26. Family programming, educational initiatives, and innovative collaborations by the Steans Institute Alumni ensure there’s something for everyone, from the youngest music fans to seasoned concertgoers.
The festival’s impact on Chicago’s music scene is hard to overstate. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the Hunter Pavilion renovation positions Ravinia as a top-tier destination for artists who might previously have hesitated to perform at outdoor venues. The festival’s bold strategy of blending pop stars like Paul Simon and Lizzo with orchestral masterworks is a clear signal that tradition and innovation can—and do—coexist in modern classical music programming.
With tickets set to go on sale April 23 and a summer packed with debuts, tributes, and cross-genre experimentation, Ravinia’s 2026 season is poised to set new attendance records and redefine what a summer music festival can be. For music lovers in Chicago and beyond, this is one season not to miss.