UPDATE: The Grant Park Music Festival is set to launch a groundbreaking 2026 season under the direction of Giancarlo Guerrero, starting on June 10, 2026. As the nation prepares for its 250th birthday, Guerrero’s lineup aims to redefine what constitutes “American music,” blending familiar classics with lesser-known compositions.
This year’s festival will kick off at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion featuring a thrilling program that includes Joan Tower’s Made in America, Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, and Samuel Barber’s Symphony No. 1. The series runs from June 10 through August 15, promising a summer filled with diverse musical experiences.
Guerrero is passionately questioning the very essence of “American music.” He stated that the festival will showcase not only the “usual suspects” but also composers influenced by or who have immigrated to the United States. “The question that I was asking myself is, What is ‘American music’?” Guerrero said in an interview with Chicago Classical Review. As someone with roots in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and now a U.S. citizen, he endeavors to provide audiences with new perspectives on familiar pieces.
The lineup boasts a mix of iconic names like George Gershwin and Aaron Copland, alongside special events featuring Ben Folds. Expect two world premieres and several Chicago and Illinois premieres, designed to create a rich tapestry of the nation’s musical heritage as it celebrates its semiquincentennial.
In addition to Guerrero, notable guest conductors include Carlos Kalmar, who will lead performances on July 1, 3, and 8, and Leonard Slatkin, conducting a program on July 10-11 featuring Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. The festival will also spotlight renowned soloists like Anne Akiko Meyers, Olga Kern, and Garrick Ohlsson, enhancing Guerrero’s vision of juxtaposing classical works with innovative compositions.
All concerts at the Grant Park Music Festival remain free, with general seating available on the lawn. For those seeking enhanced experiences, memberships are currently on sale, offering reserved seating, discounted parking, and exclusive invitations to member-only events. Full details can be found on the festival’s membership page.
As excitement builds for this year’s festival, Guerrero’s ambitious programming promises an unforgettable celebration of American music that resonates with audiences from all backgrounds. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to engage with a vibrant musical community this summer!
