John Prine 80th Birthday Tribute Concert Announced at Chicago Theatre

Calling all John Prine fans! This fall will bring a very special celebration of one of the world’s most beloved and influential songwriters. Souvenirs: 80 Years of John Prine comes to The Chicago Theatre on October 8, 2026, honoring the songs, spirit, humor, and humanity of an artist whose music continues to mean so much to so many.

Hosted by John C. Reilly and backed by Prine’s longtime band, the evening will feature an incredible lineup of artists performing songs from Prine’s catalog, including Amos Lee, Josh Ritter, Joy Oladokun, Kathleen Edwards, Margo Price, Steve Earle, Shemekia Copeland, The Cactus Blossoms, Ratboys, Jon Langford, and many others, with additional performers still to be announced.

The concert takes place just two days before what would have been Prine’s 80th birthday. But this won’t simply be an all-star tribute show. From everything shared so far by the Prine family and The Hello in There Foundation, the evening is really about community, something John Prine created everywhere he went, both through his music and the way he moved through the world.

Born in Maywood, Illinois, Prine famously wrote many of his early songs while working as a mail carrier in Chicago, carrying melodies and lyrics in his head along postal routes. Those songs—funny, heartbreaking, compassionate, and deeply observant—went on to influence generations of songwriters while speaking directly to ordinary people and everyday lives in ways few artists ever have.

The concert will also serve as the centerpiece of a larger weekend of events throughout Chicago celebrating Prine’s life and legacy, in partnership with organizations including Old Town School of Folk Music and the Siskel Film Center.

Proceeds from the event will benefit The Hello in There Foundation, established by Prine’s family after his passing in 2020. Since then, the foundation has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants supporting organizations focused on housing, food insecurity, mental health, addiction recovery, immigrant and refugee justice, and other community-centered causes—work that reflects the empathy and generosity so deeply woven into Prine’s songs.

Tickets to the general public go on sale Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m. CT, with pre-sales beginning earlier this week. Additional artists and events connected to the celebration weekend are expected to be announced soon.