New Chicago Music Festival Forever Mine Launching in May

The inaugural event will feature iconic 2000s artists and popular house and R&B DJs across three stages in Union Park.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:47pm

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The new Forever Mine Music Festival is coming to Chicago's Union Park on May 23-24, 2026. The two-day event will feature a lineup spanning iconic artists from the early 2000s like Juvenile, Shaggy and Monica, as well as popular House and R&B DJs including Kaytranada. The festival will have three stages, each with a unique vibe, and will also include live art installations, Y2K-inspired photo booths, bars, and food vendors.

Why it matters

Chicago has a rich musical heritage, especially in the house and R&B genres, and this new festival aims to celebrate that legacy by bringing together artists and DJs from those scenes. The diverse lineup spanning different eras is designed to appeal to a wide range of music fans in the city.

The details

The Forever Mine Music Festival is being organized by co-owners Fernando Nieto and Miguel Torres, who say they want to "see a crowd of all ages singing the anthems that defined the early 2000s and are now finding new life with the next generation." The festival will feature three stages - the Main Stage, Warehouse Stage, and Silent Disco Stage - with a mix of live performances and DJ sets.

  • The inaugural Forever Mine Music Festival will take place on May 23-24, 2026.
  • The event will run from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

The players

Fernando Nieto

Co-owner of the Forever Mine Music Festival.

Miguel Torres

Co-owner of the Forever Mine Music Festival.

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What they’re saying

“Chicago gave the world house music, and this city has always been where house and R&B intersect. That's why we're bringing them together at Forever Mine. We want to see a crowd of all ages singing the anthems that defined the early 2000s and are now finding new life with the next generation.”

— Fernando Nieto and Miguel Torres, Co-owners of the Forever Mine Music Festival

What’s next

Tickets for the Forever Mine Music Festival will go on sale at 12 p.m. CT on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The takeaway

The Forever Mine Music Festival is poised to become a new Chicago summer tradition, blending the city's rich musical heritage in house and R&B with a diverse lineup of iconic artists and rising stars to appeal to music fans of all ages.