Things to do in Chicago today

Find the best things to do in Chicago today, including parties, concerts, screenings and other can't-miss events.

By Morgan Olsen

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UPDATE: Many events and venues have been canceled or closed due to coronavirus. Other events on this list may be canceled or postponed—if you're unsure, please call ahead to confirm.

If you're looking for things to do in Chicago today, you've come to the right place! Whether you're a longtime resident of the city or a first-time visitor, there's always something happening in Chicago that's worth checking out. You'll find events taking place at some of the best Chicago attractions, concerts at Chicago's best music venues and parties that stretch late into the evening at nightlife destinations throughout the city. Our guide to things to do in Chicago today also includes the latest theater shows, museum exhibitions and screenings at Chicago's best movie theaters. Make some plans with our list of the most amazing things to do in Chicago today.

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Best things to do in Chicago today

El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos). Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple, about 1570.

Photograph: Courtesy The Minneapolis Institute of Art, The William Hood Dunwoody Fund

“El Greco: Ambition and Defiance”

Art Painting Multiple venues Until Jun 21 2020

After training in Venice and Rome, painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos moved to Spain in 1577 and began churning out work under the name "El Greco." This exhibition allows guests to gaze at 57 works created by one of the most important painters of the Spanish Renaissance in the 16th century, including towering altarpieces, portraits and oil paintings gathered from all over the world. The exhibit include his final major work, "The Adoration of the Shepherds," which he painted as an altarpiece for his own tomb in Santo Domingo el Antiguo.

Photograph Courtesy Cameron Esposito

Cole's Comedy Open Mic

Comedy Open mic nights Multiple venues Until Jul 30 2020

Since 2009, funny folks have tried new material (or tried stand-up for the first time) at Cole’s, where a typically friendly crowd makes it a welcoming place to take risks. Now the weekly comedy get-together has moved online in the form of a Zoom meeting, which gives anyone who signs up for a slot (just email colesbarmic@gmail.com) the chance to grab the virtual mic. Come for the laughs and stick around to watch special guests like Cameron Espostio and Ian Abramson.