Chicago’s Weekly Food Truck Festival Is Back at Daley Plaza Through October

The Chi Food Truck Fest officially returns this month for its 11th season, bringing a rotating lineup of some of Chicago’s most popular food trucks to Daley Plaza every Friday through October 2.

Running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the weekly event has become a staple of Chicago summers, transforming the plaza beneath the iconic Chicago Picasso into an open-air lunch destination packed with local flavors.

2026 Chi Food Truck Fest Schedule

The festival will take place on the following dates:

May

15, 22, 29

June

5, 12, 17 (Wednesday), 26

July

1 (Wednesday), 10, 17, 24, 31

August

7, 14, 21, 28

September

4, 11, 18, 25

October

More Than 40 Food Vendors Participating

This year’s lineup includes more than 40 rotating food trucks and specialty vendors, featuring a wide range of cuisines from across Chicago’s food scene.

Expect everything from:

Brick-oven pizza
Barbecue
Soul food
Tacos and Latin street food
Burgers and comfort food
Coffee and espresso drinks
Desserts and sweet treats

One of the biggest draws of the event is the variety. Since vendors rotate throughout the season, each Friday offers something a little different.

Why the Event Has Become a Downtown Staple

What started as a smaller seasonal event has grown into one of downtown Chicago’s most recognizable weekday food festivals.

Part of that appeal comes from the setting. Located in the heart of the Loop, the event draws office workers, tourists and locals looking for a quick outdoor break during the workday.

It also reflects how much Chicago’s food truck scene has evolved over the past decade. What was once seen mostly as quick street food has turned into a platform for small culinary brands, chef-driven concepts and neighborhood favorites.

The festival gives many of those businesses visibility in one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors.

A Different Kind of Downtown Experience

There’s something uniquely Chicago about grabbing lunch from a food truck while sitting under the Picasso sculpture surrounded by skyscrapers.

For many downtown workers, it’s become part of the rhythm of summer Fridays. And for visitors, it’s one of the easier ways to sample a broad mix of local food culture in a single stop.

With outdoor event season officially underway, the return of Chi Food Truck Fest is another reminder that Chicago’s warm-weather festival calendar is fully back in motion.

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