CHICAGO — Hootie & the Blowfish and Lainey Wilson will be among the headline performers for next year's Windy City Smokeout, which also includes a special Wednesday night concert for the first time in festival history to kick off the weekend.

Windy City Smokeout made the announcement in a news release Monday, saying the festival will return to the United Center parking lot for the 13th year in 2026, running from Wednesday, July 8, through Sunday, July 12.

The festival's first-ever Wednesday night concert will be headlined by Treaty Oak Revival. The festival says Wednesday's "early-bird experience will provide a more intimate concert, along with a variety of new food vendors for guests to experience, as Smokeout’s 2026 pitmasters focus on putting the finishing touches on Thursday’s BBQ pr

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