A new food and culture festival is gearing up to make its Chicago debut!
Viral Asian cultural festival Panda Fest is landing in Chicago this summer, promising a full weekend of amazing food, spellbinding performances, and nonstop fun.
Here’s everything to know and when you can get tickets.
Panda Fest 2026—Coming soon to Grant Park
Panda Fest will take over Grant Park (Upper Hutchinson Field) from August 28–30, bringing three days of all things Asian food and culture to the heart of the Windy City.
With previous successful runs in cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Austin, the inaugural Chicago edition of Panda Fest will be one for the books!
Festivalgoers can expect a wide range of authentic food vendors, offering popular street food dishes from Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan:
- Fried noodle and rice dishes
- Bao buns and dumplings
- Matcha treats and ice cream
- Fruit and boba teas
- Candied fruit “Tanghulu” skewers
- Soufflé pancakes and baked goods
- Much more!
Guests will also have access to dozens of merchandise and art vendors, offering jewelry, plush toys, clothing, handbags, accessories, and tons of other adorable panda-themed gifts.
Panda Fest will also feature live entertainment from live DJ sets to traditional Chinese dragon dancers, and other high-energy entertainment.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. The festival will also feature 15 inflatable panda floats, tons of panda photo ops, a panda bounce house, interactive games, and other panda-packed activations.
Tickets
Early bird Panda Fest tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 12 through Sunday, May 31. And here’s the best part—they start at just $10!
General admission tickets will start at $14, and VIP tickets will be available for $35.
Click here to grab your tickets early and learn more information.