Night Out in the Parks 2026 Season: Call for Proposals

About the Open Call

Night Out in the Parks celebrates Chicago’s cultural community by activating parks across the city with robust cultural events, bringing neighbors together to laugh, dance, sing, and engage. The Chicago Park District, in partnership with 100 local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances to amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy of our city in every neighborhood and enhance quality of life across Chicago. Through theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific performances, and nature programs, the series supports Chicago-based artists, facilitates community-based partnerships and programs, cultivates civic engagement, and ensures equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. Be a Part of Night Out in the Parks 2026 Season: Calling all Chicago-based organizations, collectives, and individual artists to participate in the 14th season of Night Out in the Parks! The 2026 Call for Proposals is now open and accepting your cultural project ideas. Submit Your Work for the 13th Annual Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase: Chicago Onscreen, the Chicago Park District’s annual celebration of local films and filmmakers, is returning to parks in 2026 with its 13th annual slate of free screenings of locally-made and Chicago-focused short and feature films in Chicago’s parks. Filmmakers of all ages, skill levels, and professional experience are invited to submit their Chicago-based films for this hometown screening opportunity.

What is Offered

Opportunity to present cultural projects, performances, or film screenings across Chicago's parks, amplifying artistic and cultural vibrancy, facilitating community engagement, and providing access to the arts for Chicagoans.

Requirements

The opportunity is open to Chicago-based organizations, collectives, and individual artists. For the film showcase, filmmakers of all ages, skill levels, and professional experience are invited to submit Chicago-based films.

How to Apply

For the Night Out in the Parks 2026 season, Chicago-based organizations, collectives, and individual artists should submit their cultural project ideas through the online portal available at https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/night-out-parks-proposals. For the 13th Annual Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase, filmmakers are invited to submit their Chicago-based films at https://www.chicagoonscreen.com/submissions.