Art
10 art exhibitions in Chicago to look forward to in 2026
Chicago’s art scene has never been accused of subtlety. One minute you’re contemplating Matisse’s cut-paper reveries, the next you’re...
Museums
Your guide to the best Chicago museums, exhibitions and shows
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Chicago's 12 best museums
These are out favorite institutions devoted to art, history and science.
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Free museums and galleries
If you're exploring on a budget, check out these free-to-visit spots.
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The best Chicago art museums
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Art Institute of Chicago
Flanked by iconic bronze lions, this encyclopedic institution owns more than 300,000 artworks and artifacts from all over the world
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Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art
Situated on the Northwestern University campus, this museum’s permanent collection boasts 4,000-plus works
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DePaul Art Museum
Hop off the Red or Brown Line at Fullerton and take in an eclectic exhibit at the DePaul Art Museum
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Museum of Contemporary Art
The MCA houses one of the largest collections of modern art in the nation and frequently hosts major touring exhibits
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Museum of Contemporary Photography
See a brilliant mix of archival and new photos at Columbia College's picture-perfect museum
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Smart Museum of Art
The University of Chicago's fine art museum hosts a mixture of contemporary pieces and antiquities from its collection
Top art exhibits in Chicago
Art
Theaster Gates: "Unto Thee"
Until February 2026, the University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art hosts “Unto Thee,” Theaster Gates's first solo museum exhibition in his...
Art
“Mutuality” at Hyde Park Art Center
“Mutuality” a group exhibition of new works created during the 11th year of the Hyde Park Art Center’s biennial Center...
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The best science and history museums in Chicago
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Adler Planetarium
Take a virtual-reality trip through time and space or enjoy the stars at this lakefront planetarium
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The Field Museum
This massive natural history museum still packs ’em in with more than 30 permanent exhibitions covering 300,000 square feet
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Chicago History Museum
Cull through thousands of archived photographs and curi and take in several permanent and temporary exhibits
Attractions
Shedd Aquarium
This 75-year-old institution houses enduring favorites such as piranhas, frogs and snakes of the Amazon
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Museum of Science and Industry
If you’re into exhibits loaded with interactive bells and whistles, this expansive Hyde Park locale is your ticket
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The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
From prairie and river ecosystems to the biology of Ice Age–mammals, the focus at this Lincoln Park museum is vast and varied