African/Caribbean Festival of Life

33rd annual African/Caribbean International Festival of Life / JSVFest. Official 2026 materials now list Sept. 25–27; lineup TBA.

  • Dates: September 25–27, 2026
  • Where: Chicago, IL 60605 (venue TBA)
  • Neighborhood: TBA
  • Cost: Ticketed

Schedule

  1. Sep 25 — Friday: Unity Stage lineup to be announced.
  2. Sep 26 — Saturday: Unity Stage lineup to be announced.
  3. Sep 27 — Sunday: Unity Stage lineup to be announced.

What to expect

Current official materials list the 33rd African/Caribbean International Festival of Life, combined with the 10th JSVFest, for September 25–27, 2026, with the Unity Stage lineup still to be announced. Treat older July 3–5 Union Park listings as stale unless organizers reconfirm them: local coverage reported the July Union Park permit plan was denied and the festival had to move to fall.

Tickets

Ticketed event; check the official ticket link for current 2026 pricing, tiers, and venue details before buying. Do not rely on older July weekend ticket copy.

Transit

Venue and gate details should be confirmed on the official page or ticket page before going. Older July Union Park routing should be treated as stale unless organizers reconfirm the venue.

Bag policy

Security and bag policies are pending with the updated fall event details. Check the official page before going.

Family-friendly

Historically family-friendly during daytime programming, with food, culture, dance, and music celebrating African and Caribbean communities. Re-check the fall schedule and venue before planning with kids.

Local tips

  1. Do not rely on July 3–5 listings; current official materials show September 25–27, 2026.
  2. Check the official site and ticket page before buying or traveling; lineup and venue details are still being updated.
  3. Local media reported the July Union Park permit plan was denied, so use the fall date until organizers publish a newer correction.

Frequently asked questions

When is African/Caribbean International Festival of Life 2026?

The official event page currently lists September 25–27, 2026. Older July 3–5 guide listings should be treated as stale unless organizers publish a newer correction.

Why did the date change from July?

Local media reported that organizers said the July Union Park permit plan was denied because of police staffing constraints, forcing the festival to move to the fall.

Is the lineup announced?

Not yet. The official page lists the 2026 Unity Stage lineup as to be announced for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Official festival information