Windy City Smokeout

Expanded to 5 days. Lainey Wilson, Jordan Davis, Hootie & the Blowfish, Blake Shelton, Treaty Oak Revival headline.

  • Dates: July 8–12, 2026
  • Where: United Center Parking Lots
  • Neighborhood: Near West Side
  • Cost: Ticketed

Lineup

  • Treaty Oak Revival — Wed
  • Hootie & the Blowfish — Thu
  • Lainey Wilson — Fri
  • Jordan Davis — Sat
  • Blake Shelton — Sun
  • Braxton Keith — Wed
  • Sterling Elza — Wed
  • Scotty McCreery — Thu
  • Ghost Hounds — Thu
  • Noeline Hofmann — Thu
  • Karley Scott Collins — Thu
  • Hudson Westbrook — Fri
  • Vincent Mason — Fri
  • Mackenzie Carpenter — Fri
  • Chandler Walters — Fri
  • Russell Dickerson — Sat
  • Tyler Hubbard — Sat
  • Blake Whiten — Sat
  • Warren Zeiders — Sun
  • George Birge — Sun
  • Carter Faith — Sun
  • Tyler Nance — Sun

Schedule

  1. Wednesday, July 8, 2026 — Treaty Oak Revival: With Braxton Keith and Sterling Elza.
  2. Thursday, July 9, 2026 — Hootie & The Blowfish: With Scotty McCreery, Ghost Hounds, Noeline Hofmann, and Karley Scott Collins.
  3. Friday, July 10, 2026 — Lainey Wilson: With Hudson Westbrook, Vincent Mason, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Chandler Walters.
  4. Saturday, July 11, 2026 — Jordan Davis: With Russell Dickerson, Tyler Hubbard, Blake Whiten, and Alexis Wilkins.
  5. Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Blake Shelton: With Warren Zeiders, George Birge, Carter Faith, and Tyler Nance.

What to expect

Windy City Smokeout runs July 8-12, 2026 outside the United Center, expanded to five days for the first time. It remains Chicago's country-music tailgate writ large: Treaty Oak Revival on Wednesday, Hootie & The Blowfish Thursday, Lainey Wilson Friday, Jordan Davis Saturday, and Blake Shelton Sunday, with barbecue from more than 20 pitmaster teams and beer/cocktail infrastructure built for long hangs. The food is not filler here; it is half the event.

Tickets

Multi-day wristbands and single-day. Box Office at Madison & Wood. Buy only via official site or TicketMaster Verified Ticket Exchange — don't buy from third-party sites. Wristband shipping deadline before fest.

Transit

United Center is well-served by CTA. Take Pink/Green Line to Ashland (walk west) or buses 9, 19, 20. Driving: United Center lots fill fast — pre-book via SpotHero. Bike racks on-site.

Bag policy

Bag size limit 10×6×2 inches. Outside food/drinks not allowed EXCEPT for medical needs (food allergies allowed with allergy disclosure). Metal detectors and screening at all entrances. Service animals allowed.

Family-friendly

All ages event. Daytime is fine for kids/baby. Get the stroller in early, scope a shaded spot near a stage. Evenings bring drinking adult crowd. ADA-accessible throughout.

History

Windy City Smokeout was born in 2013 as a small parking-lot gathering tucked under a bridge at Rush and Illinois, organized by Lettuce Entertain You — the Chicago-based, family-owned restaurant group behind Bub City. The festival moved to the Chicago River banks at Grand Avenue in River North in 2014, spending five years growing there before its surge in popularity prompted a second move in 2019 to the United Center lots, where it draws more than 90,000 attendees each year. The formula — championship pitmasters from across the country sharing space with country and rock music's biggest names — has made it one of America's premier outdoor country festivals and a two-time Academy of Country Music Festival of the Year (2022 and 2024). The 2026 edition is the festival's 13th year and its first with a five-day run.

Food and drink

  • Bub City — Chicago pitmaster/vendor listed by Choose Chicago.
  • Chef Art Smith's Reunion — Chicago participant.
  • Green Street Smoked Meats — Chicago barbecue heavyweight.
  • Lexington Betty Smokehouse — Chicago barbecue vendor.
  • Smoque BBQ — Chicago barbecue classic.
  • Soul & Smoke — Chicago-area barbecue vendor.
  • Terry Black's Barbecue — Austin, TX participant.
  • Little Miss BBQ — Phoenix, AZ participant.

Local tips

  1. Wednesday opener (Treaty Oak Revival, July 8) is the smallest crowd of the week — best day for first-timers
  2. Friday Happy Hour is the social peak; Sunday BBQ Brunch is the food peak
  3. BBQ Brunch is a separate ticket and sells out — buy when announced
  4. Pitmaster Buffet on Sunday is the best $/food ratio of the entire weekend
  5. Goose Island is the local beer rep — get the Bourbon County if available
  6. Pre-book parking via SpotHero for ~50% savings vs day-of

Frequently asked questions

Where is Windy City Smokeout 2026?

Outside the United Center in Chicago.

Why is 2026 different?

The festival expands to five days, July 8-12, with a new Wednesday opening night.

Can kids go?

Choose Chicago says kids under age 10 are free with a ticketed adult.

What ticket tiers are available?

Wristband options include General Admission, VIP, Platinum, and Wednesday admission; check the official wristband page for current availability and pricing.

Who is serving barbecue?

Choose Chicago lists Chicago names including Bub City, Chef Art Smith's Reunion, Green Street Smoked Meats, Lexington Betty, Smoque BBQ, and Soul & Smoke, plus national pitmasters from Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona, and beyond.

Where should I buy?

Use the official Windy City Smokeout ticketing path. Avoid screenshots, DMs, and unofficial resale links.

Official festival information