BLK in the City: Events Guide 2.17 - 2.23 (2026)

Things to do in Black Chicago

Last update: 2.17.26 at 4:50 pm - Events will be updated regularly.
🏢Company (if different from venue) | 🎟️Event + Ticket hyperlink | 📍Venue

Black News

Jan 28 - Mar 17: 14-Film African Cinema Lecture Series
Last day Mar 1: Connecting Threads: Africa Fashion in Chicago - Interview Pt1 | Interview Pt2 | Tickets
Mar 28 - Apr 26: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is is coming to The Goodman Theatre in Chicago!

Experiences to Book in Advance

FEVER Experiences
🎻🕯️ Candlelight Concerts: A Tribute to Drake
🎻🕯️ Candlelight Concerts: Neo-Soul Favorites
🎻🕯️ Candlelight Concerts: 90s Hip-Hop
🎺 The JAZZ Show: A Tribute to Soul
🔢🎉 Bingo Loco: The Ultimate Bingo Party
🍽️🚢 Dinner Cruise on the Chicago River
🖤 Black History & Black Love: A Reality Dating Show Experience! | Virtue Restaurant

Multiple Dates

🎭 Feb 1 - Mar 1: Collaboration Theatre | Trial In The Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till | Kimball Arts Center
🎈 Now - Apr 6: Balloon Museum - EmotionAir: Art You Can Feel | The Fields Studios - Gate 1
🎥 Feb: Black Film Club Screenings
🎾 Feb: Toss and Spin & Sport House Chicago Events
🍷 Feb & Mar: Chicago Winery

Tue, Feb 17

🎉The Sphinx Club | Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday | The Park Bar & Grill

Wed, Feb 18

🎹🎶 Kandace Springs | City Winery Chicago

Thu, Feb 19

🎨Liberated Arts Movement | Art & Flo | Forest Park Public Library

Fri, Feb 20

🎶PrazBar | Christian R&B Listening Lounge
🎶🍷The Wine Dwn | The Wine Down: An R&B Party | Bronzeville Winery
🎥🎶SUG N JAM | Soundtrack Sessions: A Black History Month Experience | Drip Collective
🎶Next Showcase USA | Show Us What You Got Concert | Foundation Room
✊🏾Africa International House USA, Inc | Black History Month Special Presentation: Stories of Chicago‘s Legendary Musicians | Center for Contemporary African Art & Culture
🎭😂Fernando Jones | I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot | Knotty Luxe (Markham)
🎭AHF | Ohh Mamma! Burlesque Show | Harris Theatre
📖✍🏽Da Book Joint | Ben Crump: Worse Than A Lie Book Signing & Talk | Pen & Paper: A Joint Collective
🎨🎉Art x Deja Jovon | Slow Burn: R&B and Art Experience | Humboldt Park (Location revealed with ticket purchase)
🎥Fourtune House | Film Festival Double Screening Night
🎨Binkey & Max | The Funktion Variety Show | Collaboraction (Kimball Arts Center)
🎨KHAOS Creative Collective | Legacy In Threads: 100 Years of Fashion | UIC Illinois Room

Sat, Feb 21

🚶🏽‍♀️💕Black Girl Playground | Play-Girl Walk | Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park (Indianapolis)
🎶🎤Thankful For RnB | R&B Sing Along | Haymarket Pub & Brewery
🎶K Moon & Friends | Unplugged Karaoke Experience | Elements (Bellwood)
🥂 Late Check-Out Brunch | ETC Chicago
🎶❤️L2K | Luv08z: R&B Edition Vol.1 | Rhythmhood & Snipes Studio
🎉Dope After Dark | Pleasures: An R&B Party | Schubas
🎶City Winery Chicago | Howard Hewett
🎉RATIO | Rosè Lounge | RESERV
🎤Big Kid Slam | The Return of Big Kid Slam | Three Top Lounge
👩🏽‍🏫MCA Chicago | Workshop w/ artist and educator Ariya Hawkins

Sun, Feb 22

🎥🥂Black Film Club Collective | Matinee & Mimosas | Three Cities Social
🎶Nolan Entertainment | Sunday Night Live | Reggie’s Music Joint
✊🏾🎤The SouthSide Writes | Say It With Your Chest: A Black Empowerment Cypher & Poetry Showcase | HAZ Studios (Pilsen)

Mon, Feb 23

Check for updates later