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Festival of lights

Diwali events in Chicago 2026

Diwali 2026: Sunday, 8 November 2026

On Diwali, Sunday, 8 November 2026, the sun sets at 4:36 pm (CST) in Chicago. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening after sunset, in the pradosh period — roughly the first two and a half hours after it; the lamps are lit as it gets dark. Sunset in other cities in the US

2 Diwali events are listed in and around Chicago for 2026, from 5 to 7 November. The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities.

Diwali events in Chicago2 listed

Hindu temples and gurdwaras near Chicago for Diwali

Most mandirs hold Lakshmi Puja on Diwali evening and many hold Annakut the day after; gurdwaras keep Bandi Chhor Divas the same night. Each temple sets its own times, so check its page before you go.

Hindu temples and gurdwaras in the US: the guide →

Where to celebrate Diwali in Chicago

Chicago’s Diwali is a run of ticketed evenings: Brown Man Therapy’s Finding Light Through the Darkness gala at Fairlie, which raises awareness of South Asian mental health (Thursday 5 November, 7pm), and Mehal House’s Jalsa Social: A Festival of Lights on West Grand Avenue (Saturday 14 November, 4pm to 6pm). In the western suburbs, Aarush Entertainment’s Diwali show with Indian Idol’s Ashish Kulkarni is at Ashyana Banquets in Downers Grove on Friday 13 November.

New Indian events near Chicago, by email

Once a week, and only when something new is on within 10 km of where you live — garba nights, Diwali melas, meetups, concerts. Free, and one click switches it off.

Diwali in Chicago is better with people near you

The Namaste Community app finds what is on around you in Chicago and everywhere else — free.

  • Groups near youJoin the Indian community groups in your city — chat, plans and people who get it.
  • Events near youEvery Diwali mela, festival and meetup, ranked by distance, with RSVP and reminders.
  • Buy and sellSarees, kurtas, furniture, kitchen things — from people a few streets away.
  • Rent near youRooms and flats from the community, with the person behind the listing one tap away.
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What Diwali is

The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities.

If it is your first one

  • Book restaurant tables two weeks ahead — the Diwali weekend fills every Indian restaurant in town.
  • Check local fireworks rules before buying any; most European towns restrict them to New Year.
  • Sweets (mithai) can be ordered from Indian grocers a week ahead; many deliver nationwide.
  • The big city events sell tickets in advance and sell out; children under a certain age are usually free.

Questions people ask

When is Diwali 2026 in Chicago?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Community celebrations in Chicago are held on the weekends around it.
What time does the sun set in Chicago on Diwali 2026?
On Sunday, 8 November 2026, the sun sets at 4:36 pm (CST) in Chicago. That is for the city centre with a flat horizon, as every published table gives it; behind buildings or hills it appears a few minutes later. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening after sunset, in the pradosh period — roughly the first two and a half hours after it; the lamps are lit as it gets dark.
Where can I go to a temple for Diwali in Chicago?
3 temples and gurdwaras are listed within 20 km of Chicago, among them Home of Harmony, Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago, Shree Ganesh Temple of Chicago and International Krishna Consciousness. Most mandirs hold Lakshmi Puja on Diwali evening and many hold Annakut the day after; gurdwaras keep Bandi Chhor Divas the same night. Each temple sets its own times, so check its page before you go.
What Diwali events are there in Chicago?
2 Diwali events are listed on this page so far: Finding Light Through the Darkness Diwali Gala; Chicago Diwali Party 2026 | Bollywood Night at Experience 868.

Diwali events in other cities in the US

Ashburn · Atlanta · Austin · Boston · Cerritos · Charlotte · Columbus · Dallas · Denver · Detroit · Edison · Fremont · Houston · Indianapolis · Jersey City · Los Angeles · Miami · Minneapolis · New York · Palo Alto · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Pleasanton · Raleigh · Sacramento · San Diego · San Francisco · San Jose · Schaumburg · Seattle · Washington DC

Organising something?

Post it from the app under Events, wherever you are. It is free, a moderator checks it, and it appears here and to every member nearby. Running several a year? Email hello@namaste.community for a listing invite.