The Chicago Humanities Festival announced its fall 2026 lineup, running Sept. 14 to Nov. 14 across Northwestern, Pilsen, and Hyde Park days, with new executive director Brittany Pyle promising a return to a tighter, more anticipated festival format.
Hyde Park Day lands Nov. 7, four days after midterm elections, pairing photojournalist David Hume Kennerly and harpist Mary Lattimore for reflection alongside panels on constitutional collapse and the Supreme Court led by Peter Sagal, Aziz Huq, Tom Ginsburg, and Eric Slauter. Elsewhere the festival books Susanna Hoffs, Ira Glass, Eric Idle, Emily St. John Mandel, Marlon James, Barbara Kingsolver, and Naomi Klein, among others.
Pilsen Day leans into Latino culture and history, while walking tours of doorways and public art round out the more contemplative offerings. Pyle says she wants audiences to anticipate the festival again, rather than treat it as an ongoing year-round operation.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.