WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT RETURNS TO CHICAGO WITH A STAR-STUDDED LINEUP JULY 8-12, 2026
And – for the first time in festival history – Windy City Smokeout will add a fifth night of entertainment with a special Wednesday night concert
Windy City Smokeout, Lettuce Entertain You‘s annual music and BBQ festival and two-time Academy of Country Music’s “Festival of the Year,” is thrilled to announce its return to Chicago’s iconic United Center for the 13th year from July 8-12, 2026, with 4-Day General Admission, VIP, Platinum, and Wednesday wristbands going on sale on Monday, October 27, at 10 a.m. The weekend will feature country music’s biggest names, including Lainey Wilson, Jordan Davis, Hootie & the Blowfish, Treaty Oak Revival and more to be announced soon, along with an impressive roster of up-and-coming talent and more than 20 of the best pitmaster teams from across the country.
The festival will also produce their first-ever Wednesday night concert headlined by Treaty Oak Revival on July 8, offering a new way to kick off the weekend. Wednesday evening’s early bird experience will provide a more intimate concert, along with a variety of new food vendors for guests to experience, as Smokeout’s 2026 pitmasters focus on putting the finishing touches on Thursday’s BBQ preview and prepping for the world’s largest parking lot party the weekend ahead.
The 2022 and 2024 winner of the ACM “Festival of the Year” award, Windy City Smokeout has become synonymous with pairing the biggest names in country music and BBQ. The festival’s talent is curated by ACM award-winning promoter and Windy City Smokeout Co-Founder and Partner Ed Warm.
The list of headlining talent includes:
- Lainey Wilson (2023 Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year” and ACM’s “Entertainer of the Year” in 2024 and 2025)
- Jordan Davis (2022 CMA “Song of the Year” winner)
- Hootie & the Blowfish (1996 AMA “Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist”)
- Treaty Oak Revival (2025 ACM nominee for “Album of the Year”)
- Fifth Headliner to be announced soon!
Each headliner will follow a thrilling lineup of country music’s most exciting up-and-coming talent programmed throughout each day. Guests can round out the experience with a selection of standout events, such as the “Biggest Happy Hour of the Summer” on Friday, July 10 and a bottomless BBQ Brunch presented by OpenTable on Sunday, July 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The BBQ Brunch will include a variety of dishes from the Windy City Smokeout’s Pitmaster Buffet and a special Bacon Bar – plus guests will have access to unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys (and more!). A 4-Day or Sunday pass is required in addition to a BBQ Brunch ticket for entrance.
Festival passes and Wednesday night general admission for Windy City Smokeout will be available at the rates below:
- 4-Day General Admission: $255
- 4-Day General Admission, plus BBQ Brunch: $320
- Wednesday General Admission: $49
- Wednesday VIP Admission: $99
Full lineup and single-day admission prices will be announced soon. Windy City Smokeout takes place Wednesday, July 8 from 2-10 p.m.; Thursday, July 9 from 2-10 p.m.; Friday, July 10 from 2-10 p.m.; Saturday, July 11 from 1-10 p.m.; and Sunday, July 12 from 1-10 p.m. Passes for the 2026 festival are available at www.windycitysmokeout.com. All 2026 performing artists’ show dates and showtimes, along with the BBQ pitmaster lineup, will be announced soon.
Members of the Windy City Smokeout email newsletter and SMS mobile club will be the first to receive early bird pricing and insider information. The newsletter and mobile club can both be signed up for on the homepage of the Windy City Smokeout website. For more information on Windy City Smokeout, be sure to follow on Instagram at @WindyCitySmokeout and TikTok at @WindyCitySmokeout.
Lone Star Smokeout, the first-ever expansion of the Smokeout festival, is also making its return to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas from April 24-26, 2026. For more information and to be the first to know about wristbands and headliners, please visit www.lonestarsmokeout.com or follow on Instagram at @LoneStarSmokeout.