One of Chicago’s biggest music festivals won’t be returning next year.
Pitchfork Music Festival has just announced it will not be happening in 2025. The annual indie, alt-rock and hip hop spectacle has taken over Union Park every summer since 2004. The decision was revealed in a statement on the Pitchfork website.
"For 19 years, Pitchfork Music Festival has been a celebration of music, art, and community—a space where memories were made, voices were amplified, and the shared love of music brought us all together,” the official release reads. “We are deeply grateful to the City of Chicago for being our Festival’s home for nearly two decades, to the artists who graced our stages with unforgettable performances and to the fans who brought unmatched energy year after year.”
The festival had a reputation for highlighting up-and-coming artists, as well as legacy acts. Past headliners have included Kendrick Lamar, Vampire Weekend, Robyn, Bon Iver and the National. This year’s edition featured Alanis Morissette, Jamie xx and Black Pumas.
Although Pitchfork Music Festival has been held in Chicago every year since inception, it has also expanded to cities around the world, like Paris, London, Berlin and Mexico City. In its statement, Pitchfork left the door open for the fest to come back elsewhere in some capacity, saying, “Pitchfork will continue to produce events in 2025 and beyond.”
Festival season is one of our favorite things about summer in Chicago, and we’re deeply saddened by this news. For a trip down memory lane, check out our past coverage of Pitchfork Music Festival and relive the good times.