NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson at the Haven Entertainment Center in Bronzeville (Photo Credit: Tacuma Roeback).
Thirty years ago, the 85th Annual NAACP Convention in Chicago featured such esteemed Civil Rights figures as Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Mamie Till Mobley and of course, the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
On the eve Democratic National Convention, NAACP leadership announced that its esteemed event will be returning to Chicago in 2026, bringing together distinguished thought leaders, changemakers, entrepreneurs and creators back to the city.
“The NAACP is proud to partner with the Illinois State Conference, state and local leaders, and community partners to bring the nation’s largest civil rights organization to Chicago,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson in a statement. “Chicago sits at the intersection of Black history, and Black future. We’re excited to be here today, embarking on a partnership to bring the largest nationwide cohort of Black advocates to the Windy City.”
Through this venerable, time-honored convention the NAACP aims to educate and empower individuals through innovative programs that highlight the consequential issues that impact Black people, matters such as the racial-wealth gap, diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, entrepreneurship, racism and social justice.
Bringing back the convention to a city like Chicago, which has one of the five largest Black populations in America and, at its core, is shaped by African-American history and culture, made perfect sense, in the eyes of state and city leaders like Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“As a city rooted in Black history and committed to carrying forward the values of the NAACP in all that we do, there is no better place than Chicago for this historic event,” Mayor Johnson said, “I want to thank the NAACP for choosing Chicago as its home for the 2026 National Convention and I look forward to working together to deliver an incredible Chicago experience.”
In a statement, Gov. Pritzker added that, “100 years after the first NAACP Conference took place in Chicago, I couldn’t be more proud to welcome them back in 2026 for what I’m sure will be the best conference yet.”
“Chicago’s Black community carries a storied history and an important place in the legacy of culture, activism, and advancement, and the NAACP Convention will be an opportunity to show off the best of Chicago and Illinois while also supporting the ongoing fight for racial justice.”
The landmark announcement was made Sunday afternoon, on the eve of the 2024 DNC, at the Haven Entertainment Center in Bronzeville, owned by Chicago Defender Men of Excellence honoree Norman Bolden.
NAACP made its announcement as thousands arrived in Chicago for the historic political convention where Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to become the first Black woman to receive the Presidential nomination from a major political party.
The NAACP National Convention in Chicago will run from July 18 to July 22, 2026.
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