Chicago's most iconic street party was cancelled—here's why

Since 2021, the beloved street party Sundays on State has drawn nearly 1.5 million people to the Loop’s main drag, but, to the disappointment of many Chicagoans, it will not return this year. 

The 2026 festival, which took place on September 7 and October 5 last year, was cancelled by The Chicago Loop Alliance, which announced in February that the decision was made as it works to establish the new Loop Arts District, along with revamped arts- and culture-related programming. 

Although it’s disappointing that Sundays on State will not take place this year, a new wave of cultural events is on the horizon. The Loop Arts District is a coalition of 90 arts organizations that will collaborate to create programming and activations to revitalize what was once a vibrant downtown district. Representatives from the Loop Alliance have said that this fall’s programming will be aligned with a larger unveiling of the new arts district.

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The Loop, and particularly State Street, is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. But things are looking up: Vacant storefronts on State Street dropped nearly 14% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and performing arts and cultural institutions accounted for more than 1.4 million visitors to the Loop within the same time period. 

“Chicago Loop Alliance remains committed to what we do well—advocating for the betterment of the Loop, beautifying and enhancing the district as a destination and providing innovative programming to attract investment and activity,” president and COE Michael Edwards says in a news release.

Sundays on State was the city’s most iconic free street party and will be dearly missed by the community. A five-block stretch on State Street from Randolph to Jackson Streets would be closed to vehicular traffic to make way for local food, drink and shopping vendors, live performances, art and cultural activations, and more, featuring a whopping 91% of participants from underrepresented businesses. Last year’s vendors included Moor’s Brewing Company, Bad Johnny's Wood-Fired Pizza and Taqueria La Ciudad, and Chicago Movement Collective, Windy City Ramblers and Rhythm Revolution performed.

The Chicago Loop Alliance said it will release an economic impact study on the arts, as well as more detailed arts-related programming information soon. For now, there are plenty of other Chicago festivals to fill the Sundays on State-sized hole in your heart.