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How do I purchase tickets over the phone?
You can call 312-661-1239 Monday–Friday, 10 am–5 pm. Our team of Audience Services Representatives can assist with ticketing over the phone.

Can I buy tickets at the door?

Tickets may be sold at the door, the box office can only take credit card purchases at this time. However, if tickets are available, we encourage you to purchase them online up to the start time of the event, to avoid long wait times.

What do I do if I have an account, but my password is not working?

If you’ve purchased tickets online with us in the past and forgot your password or your password isn't working, please reset your password using the “Forgot password” link on the login page. After clicking, head to your email to create a password to log in.

I am a member but my login isn’t working, why?

If you’re a Member, thank you for your support! Members should log in using the email address associated with your membership account in order to check out with member tickets. If you're uncertain about which email is attached to your membership, please call or email the box office for assistance at 312-661-1239 or tickets@chicagohumanities.org.

Who do I contact for questions about membership?

If you have any questions about your Membership, please email development@chicagohumanities.org.

Do you have discounts for students and teachers?
We are pleased to offer an educational discount on most programs for students and teachers (with valid educational email address).

If I volunteer can I get free tickets?
When you become a volunteer, after working one shift you receive free tickets to use throughout the Season! You can sign-up and become a volunteer on our volunteer page.

Why is a book required with my purchase?

A very small number of Festival events each year require the purchase of a book-and-ticket bundle for entry. This is part of our agreement with our presenters. The book-and-ticket bundle price includes entrance to the event, a copy of the book, and occasionally a social opportunity or photo op with the presenter.

Why is there an added processing fee?
Processing fees are applied to all orders at $4.00 per ticket.* While these fees are well below industry averages, they help defray administrative and platform costs and ensure you receive high-quality customer service before, during, and after our programs. We appreciate your support.

How are ticket prices determined?

Ticket prices for Chicago Humanities events are determined based on anticipated demand for each presenter. Prices may fluctuate prior to the event in response to changes in interest. Please note that if ticket prices increase, no refunds will be issued for any prior purchases.

Does Chicago Humanities donate tickets to Organizations?

Chicago Humanities is pleased to collaborate with your organization by donating tickets to support your charity event, gala, or similar initiative. Please email tickets@chicagohumanities.org with the subject line, ticket donation inquiry and we will make sure the request is sent to the appropriate person upon receipt.

Please include:

1. Name of Organization
2. How many tickets or value of the request
3. When the request is due by

Can I get a refund for my order?

All ticket sales are final. Tickets are nonrefundable. Sometimes due to circumstances outside our control, event dates, venues, or presenters are occasionally subject to change. We will alert ticket holders to any significant changes via email, robocall, and on our website. For up-to-date program information, please visit the events page.

No refund will be given even if a moderator changes before the event.

Can I exchange my tickets?

No, we currently do not offer exchanges. If you feel there is an error please contact the Box Office, 312-661-1239 and we can accommodate accordingly.

Can I still enter a program if I arrive late?

To cause the least amount of disruption to the performance and to other patrons, if you arrive late you'll be seated at the discretion of the house manager. Some programs may require no late entry at the request of the artists. Please plan your travel carefully, and leave extra time for traffic, parking, and walking to the venue.

If you may need to leave your seat during the event for a medical condition, please email tickets@chicagohumanities.org prior to your visit– we'd love to find you seats and come up with a plan that will allow us to minimize distraction while allowing you to enjoy as much of the event as possible.

Can I give my tickets to a friend?

Yes, no ID is required to use or tickets or check in at Will Call. If you cannot attend an event, you are welcome to give tickets to a friend, or if you are arriving separately, you can split your tickets amongst your group to arrive at separate times.

Does my child require a ticket?

Every patron, regardless of age, must have a ticket for entry. Our event formats are mostly unscripted and there is no official rating system for live events. Event attendance decisions are at the discretion of the parent or guardian to determine whether an event is appropriate for their family and children.

What is a waitlist?

When a program sells out, our Box Office team will post a waitlist on the Event Page by next available business day. Waitlist patrons will be notified via email when additional tickets have been released. Tickets are first-come-first-served.

How does the waitlist work?

For tickets released leading up to an event, the Box Office will contact waitlisted customers via email stating a limited amount of tickets have become available. Please note that this waitlist is a request for tickets and not a ticket reservation.

How much time will I be given to purchase tickets?

Unless otherwise stated, tickets are released and reserved on a first-come-first served process as stated in the email until tickets are gone.

Where can I find the waitlist and how many tickets can I obtain?

Patrons who visit the event page, or receive the link via a marketing email can submit their name and information and request up to 2 tickets max.

Please note: Due to limited capacity of venue lobbies. Waitlists may become capped if the list is too long to realistically accommodate further requests for tickets.
Being on the waitlist does not guarantee event entry.

How do I get my book?

Book order fulfillment is handled by our partner bookseller, Seminary Co-op. Occasionally we partner with other booksellers across Chicago. Please review the book voucher attached to your tickets PDF to indicate which bookseller logo at the top of the voucher is handling your books.

• If shipping is included: You will receive a book receipt with your tickets. Books will be mailed to the shipping address you provided at checkout.
• If your book can be picked up: You will receive a book voucher with your tickets. You will visit the book table onsite the day of your event to receive your books.

If I can't make it to the event, how can I pick up my pre-ordered book?

The bookseller will hold your book at their store for 2 weeks after the event. Please contact the bookseller listed on your event to coordinate pickup or discuss any questions you may have regarding your book order.

Please Note: Book purchases include shipping to US addresses only. If you have any questions about book fulfillment for your events, please reach out to the Seminary team at onlineorders@semcoop.com.

Why does my event not have a meet and greet?

At Chicago Humanities, we strive to include meet and greets as part of our events whenever possible. However, there may be instances where the venue is not conducive to a meet and greet which can pose safety concerns for our patrons. If a meet and greet is not listed on our website as part of the event, please note that one will not be offered. In such cases, we may be able to provide signed bookplates (stickers with the author's signature) for attendees to affix to their copies.

Where can I find my tickets after purchase?

Your order confirmation is sent immediately to the email address you provided at checkout. You will receive a receipt, then shortly after an email with the subject “Order Confirmation – Your Chicago Humanities Tickets.” Your tickets and book voucher (if applicable), will be a PDF attachment in your Confirmation email. Please be sure to check Promotional or Spam folders in your email if you’re having trouble locating your ticket. You can also view your event and ticket details anytime by logging into your account.

I still need help finding my tickets

If for any reason you have not received a PDF of your tickets, email tickets@chicagohumanities.org.

Why are there seats draped in various colors?

When attending an event at Chicago Humanities, you may notice the house draped in various colors. Please refer to the information below to understand the significance of each color. Your ticket will indicate the specific drape section where you will be seated.

• Black Drapes means for reserved for patrons who requested an accessibility accommodation
• Green Drape means reserved for a Marketing complimentary ticket
• Blue Drape means reserved for a Presenter complimentary ticket
• Red Drape means reserved for Humanist members/Donors

If your ticket does not state one of the colors above, you can sit in any seat that does not have a drape on it.

Chicago Humanities can accommodate your group at our events if the event is not sold out. Please email tickets@chicagohumanities.org with the subject line, Group Sale Inquiry and we will make sure the request is sent to the appropriate person upon receipt.

Please include:

1. Name of customer organizing the purchase
2. How many tickets you are requesting.
3. Preferred Email tickets will be sent to.

Do you offer group discounts?

Chicago Humanities can accommodate your business/university/school.

What is the minimum group size?

Groups of 10 or more can take advantage of a group discount.

How far in advance can I make my request?

Due to high demand of tickets, we can only accommodate group sales up to a week before an event.

What kind of discount is offered?

Chicago Humanities can offer a percentage off of your group depending on stock availability.

How do I get my tickets?

Tickets will be sent via email with the subject line Order Confirmation – Your Chicago Humanities Tickets. You will find your tickets at the bottom of the email as a pdf. We cannot accommodate Will Call for any group sales.

When is the payment due?

The payment for receiving a request is due latest 3 days before the event. The request can be made by credit card or by check via invoice.

How do I purchase a ticket?

For partner events, tickets can be purchased through our event partner's box office. The event partner's contact information is listed on the event page.

How can I request an accessibility accommodation at a partner event?

For partner events, accessibility accommodations can be requested through our event partner's box office. The event partner's contact information is listed on the event page.