Chicago Summer Trip! 11 New & Fun Things to Do for Visitors in 2026
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Cool & New Things to Do in Chicago Summer 2026
Chicago in the summertime means meals on rooftops, boat parties and fun popups that will only last for the season. It’s fun to see what’s coming to the city in the summer, and for 2026, it looks like we’ve got a few more good reasons to make a weekend of it in the Windy City.
What’s on the agenda? There’s the brand new presidential center finally opening its doors on the South Side, a giant British game show taking over Michigan Avenue, a ritzy new magic mansion, Pokémon fossils, several different ways to get out on the water, and yes, you can now actually walk inside Minecraft.
Are these on your radar yet? Here’s your cheat sheet for what’s new, what’s worth it, and what to book before it sells out.
1 – Obama Presidential Center
What it is: a brand new presidential center in Jackson Park that finally gives Obama’s Chicago story a permanent home on the South Side. It is part museum, part community hub, part “we are really living through history.”
The doors open to visitors for the first time, with opening celebrations in June and a full first season of exhibits and programs. Expect crowds, security, and a lot of people taking photos in front of the tower.
How to visit: Visit The Center starting June 19. Treat it like a big museum day. Grab timed tickets online, ride Metra Electric or a bus from the Loop, and give yourself extra time to walk the grounds and the lakefront before you head back.
- Address: 6001 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
- Website: obama.org/visit for visitor info; museum tickets via obama.org/visit/museum-tickets.
2- Minecraft Experience
Yes, you can now step inside Minecraft.
Villager Rescue is an in‑person, story driven Minecraft quest where you solve puzzles, run through themed “biomes”, and work together to finish the mission. It is built for families and hardcore fans, but the sets are fun enough that even non‑gamers can enjoy the chaos.
You get timed entry, about an hour inside, and a very selfie‑friendly gift shop at the end. Ideal for suburban kids, convention weekends, and anyone who has listened to the Minecraft soundtrack on loop.
- What it is: An in‑person, immersive, interactive Minecraft quest.
- Season/dates: “Now open” for a limited time; timed entry, 55‑minute experience. Seasonal Popup – Exact closing date not listed.
- Address: 9900 Berwyn Ave, Rosemont, IL 60018
- Website: minecraftexperience.com/chicago.
3 – Pokémon Fossil Museum at The Field Museum
Chicago finally scored the traveling Pokémon Fossil Museum, and it is exactly what it sounds like. Real fossils are displayed next to their Pokémon counterparts, which somehow makes both more charming and more nerdy.
The exhibit runs through next spring. Reserve tickets early if you are trying to go on a rainy Saturday.
- What it is: Special exhibition “Pokémon Fossil Museum” at the Field Museum
- Season/dates: May 22, 2026 – April 11, 2027
- Venue name: Field Museum of Natural History
- Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
- Website: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/pokemon
4 – The Cube: Live Game Show on The Mag Mile
The Cube brings the British game show to a giant glass playground on Michigan Avenue.
It looks like a normal storefront until you realize the inside is full of glowing cubes where people are sprinting, balancing, and shouting “we got this” while they drop a ball on the floor.
You book a time, grab a crew, and tackle a series of short, high pressure challenges in your own cube. The tasks sound simple on paper. In real life, with lights and timers and your friends watching, they are hilariously not simple.
Best for: friend groups, birthday nights, team outings, anyone who secretly watches game shows and thinks “I would crush that.”
Opens in June 2026. Details.
5 – The Hand & The Eye (Magic Mansion)
The Hand & the Eye is a high-end multi‑level magic playground tucked inside the old McCormick Mansion that feels like somebody mashed up a haunted house, a speakeasy, and a magic club.
You are not going to ‘see a show’ here, but rather, get a whole mansion of close‑up performances, hidden rooms, and side quests as you wander through the experience.
Now Open: yep, the place is finally open to the public, with nightly “hours of enchantment” that started in spring and are rolling straight through summer.
- Address: 100 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611 (Ontario & Rush, just off the Magnificent Mile)
- Hours: Sunday – Wednesday 4–10 PM; Thursday–Saturday until 11 PM (reservations required)
- Website: Tickets and info at handandeye.com
6 – NAIA on the River
NAIA is a huge new restaurant in downtown Chicago that could be mistaken for a resort‑style Mediterranean escape.
Located right on the river, it fills almost an entire city block (12,000 square feet, 150 feet of river frontage on the Riverwalk) and you can arrive by boat if that’s your thing.
Expect the Greek chef to serve up Mediterranean food, seafood and shareable plates. Dine in the main dining room indoors, at the big central bar, on the waterfront terrace, or camped out under the heated pergolas.
Best for: summer nights on the Riverwalk, out‑of‑town flex dinners, group celebrations, anyone who secretly dreams of Greek Islands but doesn’t want to leave the country.
7 – F1® Arcade
F1® Arcade is the official Formula 1 hospitality concept, opening this summer (2026) at 1 W Grand in River North.
Once open, it’ll have a full restaurant and bar with a motorsport‑inspired menu, plus cocktails and mocktails, along with 70 full‑motion F1® simulators.
A rooftop terrace and big screens for Grand Prix watch parties round out the experience.
8 – Retro Roller Rink on Navy Pier
Don’t miss this summer‑only, retro roller rink tucked inside Navy Pier, with disco lights, DJs, and arcade games.
Summer Skate runs June 18 – Labor Day. All Ages.
For the 21+ crowd, there’s Skate After Dark at Navy Pier, a late-night roller disco with retro DJ sets, classic arcade games, and skating after dark.
- Address: Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (Summer Skate is inside the pier complex).
- Website: navypier.org/summerskate.
9 – Hello Kitty Cafe Chicago
A dedicated Hello Kitty Cafe location is coming to downtown Chicago, likely to open Summer 2026.
Expect a big merch section plus menu items like cookies, cakes, and donuts, along with seasonal options.
The space is about 8,000-square-feet, so this will ultimately be one of the largest themed cafes in the Chicago area.
- Address: 360 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601 (Magnificent Mile)
- Website: https://www.sanrio.com/blogs/hellokittycafe
10 – ART on THE MART Riverfront Projections
After dark, the Merchandise Mart turns into a river sized projection screen on 25‑story‑tall digital art projection on the façade of THE MART. It’s the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, changing up the show seasonally.
- Address: 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654, best viewed along the Riverwalk between Wells St and Franklin St.
- Website: artonthemart.com.
11 – Magnificent Mile Sculptures – Swimmers On Michigan Avenue
All summer, the Magnificent Mile is dotted with 10 sculptures of swimmers. Some are life sized. Some are over twelve feet tall, perched on mirrored spheres or pedestals, just hanging out in swim caps above the shopping crowds. Artist: Carole A. Feuerman
The show runs along Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River up toward Oak Street.
Make it a mini walk: start near the Wrigley Building, follow the swimmers north, then either keep going into the Gold Coast or drop down to the lakefront. On display through November 15, 2026. Details.
Summer 2026, Let’s Go!
Between a once-in-a-generation presidential center opening and neon paddleboards on the river after dark, Chicago this summer is genuinely a lot. In the best way.
Go book something. Report Back. Have Fun!
