2026 IL Resident Free Days, Free Nights and a Heart-Pumping Valentine's Day House Party Announced at Shedd Aquarium

2026 IL Resident Free Days, Free Nights and a Heart-Pumping Valentine's Day House Party Announced at Shedd Aquarium

Chicago – Shedd Aquarium is announcing new Illinois resident free days in January and February, giving guests an opportunity to escape the cold and dive into aquatic environments from coral reefs to freshwater rivers.

Admission to the aquarium includes daily Animal Spotlights that highlight the amazing adaptions of marine mammals, touch experiences with sturgeon and starfish, live programs with the chance to see an animal feeding and chats about sharks, penguins and more. Every visit to the aquarium is unique, with evolving habitats like Wonder of Water and plenty of opportunities to dive deeper and ask questions about aquatic life.

Shedd Aquarium will once again be closed to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, for routine annual maintenance, cleaning and projects that cannot take place outside of normal hours of operation or with guests in the building. Ahead of and following the closure, Illinois residents can enjoy free admission to the aquarium.

The aquarium will continue to offer the popular Illinois resident free hours on Tuesday evenings through the rest of the year. A full list of free days and hours and closure days is included below:

2026 IL Resident Free Days

· January 14-20, 27-29

· February 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26

Closed

· January 21-22, 2026

2026 IL Resident Free Evenings (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

· March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

· April 7, 14, 21, 28

· May 5, 12, 19, 26

· June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Advance reservations for free days and free evenings are highly recommended due to high demand. Guests can secure tickets ahead of a visit using Shedd’s website. Please note that there is a $5 convenience fee per order for free day/evening reservations made online. However, you can reserve tickets by phone at no extra cost by calling 312-939-2438. This helps ensure access to as many neighbors as possible by validating orders.

All adults must provide proof of residency in person when redeeming tickets at a discounted rate.

This year, adult guests can also celebrate Valentine’s Day beneath the waves at Shedd’s first-ever Heartbeat House Party, an after-hours evening of house music, themed bites and deep-sea surprises. Guests are invited to dress in shades of red and pink as they dance to the rhythms while vibing with friends, coupled up or flying solo, all while surrounded by pulsing jellyfish and swaying seahorses.

Heartbeat House Party

· Saturday, Feb. 14, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

· Tickets: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/tickets?event_id=276

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Wendy Thompson-Friend Health