Chicago is getting ready to move again. From August 21 through August 24, the 2025 Chicago House Music Festival & Conference will bring stages, dance floors, and conversations to life in every corner of the city. The lineup from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) looks set to honor the sound that started here while leaving room for the next chapter. People who have followed this music for years know that Chicago’s house scene has always been about that balance, connection, and nostalgia.
The celebration starts Thursday at the Chicago Cultural Center with a night built for the community. There will be open dance sessions, live DJ sets, and panels on everything from the craft of production to the changing face of nightlife. On Friday, the action moves outside to Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden for SummerDance. Masterclasses during the day will flow into evening sets from hometown favorites Vince Adams and DJ Lil John. Saturday is the heart of the festival at Millennium Park, where four stages will offer four different takes on the sound. Expect to hear pioneers like Andre and Tony Hatchett alongside rising talent. Sunday slows the pace at the riverwalk, where DJ Jerome Baker and Julio Bishop will play as people spread out blankets and let the music carry them into the evening.
DCASE says the weekend is about more than music. It is about history, community, and passing something on. House music was born in small rooms and underground spaces, and it still has that grassroots spirit. Whether or not four days can capture all of that is something people will decide for themselves. But for one weekend in August, Chicago will come together on the dance floor. For the full schedule and updates, visit ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us.
