Peace Day Chicago Sept 2026

Peace Day Chicago Since 1978, the Peace School has brought Chicago together each September at Daley Plaza to celebrate Peace Day — a tradition held in cooperation with the International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations in 1981. The event's mission is to celebrate unity and diversity in the city and world, bringing together members of the Consular Corps and other dignitaries standing shoulder to shoulder with students, members of cultural organizations, tourists, businesspeople, and residents from across Chicago's neighborhoods. Its centerpiece, the World Peace Flag Ceremony, features a procession of nearly 200 national flags, representing the 192 nations recognized by the United Nations, each carried across the stage as part of the "Peace in ...." call-and-response for every country from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, including Eritrea, and the event encourages people to become peacemakers in their own communities. This year marked the 45th year of the gathering, which featured music and dancing, with Mayor Brandon Johnson speaking to the importance of the day given the current state of global conflict. As Johnson put it, the day powerfully reminds us of our shared responsibility to promote peace and understanding among nations and communities.