Kenwood Academy High School students hold a banner reading “Workers Over Billionaires” as they lead a march of labor unions, activists groups and citizens through the West Loop during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicagoans celebrated May Day on May 1, also known as International Workers’ Day, with performances, rallies and marches all over the city, from Union Park to Rainbow PUSH Coalition. This year’s national “no school, no work, no shopping” action aimed to advocate for immigrants’ and workers’ rights.
Students, labor unions and activist groups march on Washington Street over the Kennedy Expressway during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march in the West Loop during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Demonstrators hold up their fists during a May Day rally at Union Park May, 1, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Teachers Union representative Jynette Baker shouts out at a May Day event at Rainbow PUSH Coalition on May 1, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps gives high-fives to arriving Chicago Public Schools students at a May Day event at Rainbow PUSH Coalition on May 1, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps, left, and Creative Network dancer Mari Redd dance on May 1, 2026, at a May Day event for students and teachers at Rainbow PUSH Coalition. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Kindergarten and first grade students from Shoesmith Elementary school cheer and shout at a May Day event at Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago, May 1, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Demonstrators from the Casa DuPage Workers Center march and chant during a May Day rally at Union Park, May, 1, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)Mayor Brandon Johnson, center, joins students, labor unions and activist groups as they leave Union Park to march through the West Loop to Daley Plaza during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march in the West Loop during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)A demonstrator from the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council holds a megaphone and chants during a May Day rally at Union Park, May, 1, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march in the West Loop from Union Park to Daley Plaza during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march on Washington Street over the Kennedy Expressway during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Students from the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council chant during a May Day rally at Union Park, May, 1, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)Cooper Mariachi band students file onto the stage ahead of a performance on May, 1, 2026, during a May Day rally at Chicago's Union Park. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march in the West Loop during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Students from Shoesmith Elementary school arrive for a May Day event at Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago, May 1, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Kindergarten and first grade students from Shoesmith Elementary cheer and shout as students take part in a May Day event at Rainbow PUSH Coalition, May 1, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march in the West Loop during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Students, labor unions and activist groups march through the West Loop during a May Day march on May 1, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
