Pitchfork Music Festival, long a staple on Chicago’s big summer music fest scene, announced Monday that it will not be returning to Chicago in 2025.
In a social media post, the festival’s organizers stated the rapidly evolving music festival landscape was behind the decision to call it quits after 19 years in the city, writing in part:
“This decision was not made lightly. For 19 years, Pitchfork Music Festival has been a celebration of music, art, and community — a space where memories were made, voices were amplified, and the shared love of music brought us all together. The Festival, while aligned with the taste of the Pitchfork editorial team, has always been a collaborative effort, taking on a life of its own as a vital pillar of the Chicago arts scene. We are deeply grateful to the City of Chicago for being our Festival’s home for nearly two decades, to the artists who graced our stages with unforgettable performances, and to the fans who brought unmatched energy year after year.”
The festival has taken place in Union Park since 2006 (except for a pandemic-era cancellation).
The statement further added that Pitchfork “will continue to produce events in 2025 and beyond. We look forward to continuing to create spaces where music, culture, and community intersect in uplifting ways — and we hope to see you there.”
Earlier this year, Pitchfork’s parent company, publishing/media giant Condé Nast, announced the fest’s namesake website, with its highly respected and influential industry coverage, would be folded into its GQ brand, which resulted in staff layoffs and a new approach to the site’s content/scope.
This year’s festival headliners lineup boasted Alanis Morissette, Grandmaster Flash, Black Pumas and Carly Rae Jepsen, among others.
The Sun-Times has reached out to Condé Nast for further comment.