Everything You Need to Know to Go to Sueños, El Festival Latino
In its fourth year, the Latine-centered music fest promises a second stage, a smooth entry, and a LATAM-spanning food menu
For someone who frequently covers festivals, there is something immensely refreshing about attending one that actually centers Latine culture, community, and music. Chicago’s Sueños, which translates to “Dreams” in English, was launched in 2022 by co-founders Aaron Ampudia and Chris Den Uijl (also behind the Baja Beach Fest in Rosarito, MX), who understood not only the global need for Latine representation in music spaces, but also a local one—nearly 30 percent of the Windy City’s population identifies as Hispanic or Latine, which makes it the second largest ethnic/racial group in the city. Last year’s Sueños drew nearly 70,000 attendees to Grant Park—the festival’s largest crowd yet—and the 2025 event stands to attract even more concert-goers with the addition of a second stage, new efficiencies for a smoother entrance experience, and, yes, more food.
From the genre-crossing artist roster, to the 33 flags soaring high above the grounds representing the countries of Latin America, to the additional local food vendors and bands joining this year—everything feels intentional at Sueńos, a.k.a. El Festival Latino. As the influence of Latin music increasingly stretches across the globe, a Latine-focused festival at this level is essential and overdue.
Below, we’ve got your guide to the ultimate Sueños weekend—where to stay, how to get there, what to bring, and more—to ensure you make the most of this year’s dreamy lineup.
Where and when is Sueños this year?
Sueños will take over Grant Park for Memorial Day weekend, 12-10 p.m., May 25 and 26. A lovely 319 acres in the heart of downtown Chicago, the green space bumps up against Lake Michigan on the east and high rises pretty much everywhere else. The park is also the city’s go-to for big community events from Lollapalooza to Taste of Chicago. Entering festival grounds for the first time can feel a bit overwhelming, but Grant Park in May is a calming presence—covered in greenery with flowers in full-bloom—and event signage is plentiful.
How do I secure tickets to attend Sueños?
Tickets are available via the official Sueños website and there are several options depending on how much you are willing to dish out. Pricing is also tiered, meaning costs go up as the cheaper tiers sell out. At publication time, General Admission was $360 for two days, GA+ cost $520, and VIP ran $752—with most perks revolving around bar and bathroom access, festival entry routes, and stage-viewing locations. The premium “El Sueño” ($2,040) and “El Oro” ($10,000 for two) tiers level up to include things like private lounges, golf cart transportation, and backstage access. There are also one-day passes available starting at $229 and layaway options as well. This year, Sueños is opening up their box office a day ahead of the festival on Friday, for a more seamless experience. Say you need to pick up tickets at will call or have in-person questions, you can now do this the day before the festival starts to avoid long lines and day-of chaos.
Is the 2025 Sueños lineup any good?
Without a doubt. Colombian icon Shakira is headlining on Saturday, taking a break from her current world tour for a two-hour set that we can only imagine (and hope) will incorporate some of her classic hits alongside cuts from her guest-packed 2024 album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. After his 2024 Sueños set was cancelled due to severe weather, corridos tumbados star Peso Pluma is back to co-headline on Saturday—organizers introduced a second stage this year to make space for more talent and keep sets running on time. On Sunday, reggaeton icon Don Omar takes to the main stage, while the other headlining slot goes to regional Mexican band Grupo Frontera (who have a song with Shakira). This year’s fest is the most genre-diverse yet, including everything from Latin pop to Dominican dembow. Newcomers like Tito Doble P, Omar Courtz, and El Malilla are taking center stage alongside veterans like Wisin, Arcángel, and El Alfa, serving up a range of old- and new-school music that speaks across generations.
How do I get to Sueños?
If you’re flying in, note that the festival grounds are nearly 16 miles from O’Hare and 8.7 miles from Midway. Also, traffic will be in full effect due to the festival and holiday weekend activities, so give yourself some time to get where you’re headed. Once you’re settled in, utilizing public transportation is an easy and cost-effective way to get around the downtown area, with multiple train lines including the CTA and Metra. If you’re going the ridesharing route, consider that it’s much easier to get to the festival than it is to leave, so be prepared to play the waiting game or pick an alternative mode of transportation—like feet. If you’re staying downtown and have the energy/endurance to handle it, you’re likely to be a moderate walking distance to your hotel.
Where to stay during Sueños
Staying downtown is ideal when attending Sueños—walkable lodging is available and, in fact, essential if you get stuck waiting for an Uber in the post-show rush or, say, a massive storm hits. Take it from a veteran attendee. Given the abrupt, fest-cancelling inclement weather last year, I waited and watched rideshares cancel on me one after the next until I made the executive decision to walk to my hotel. Even with the rain pouring down, it was worth every step.
For a luxury stay only a six-minute trek from Grant Park consider The Blackstone. This hotel not only contains an elegant architectural interior, but also a rich history dating back to the 1800s that includes such notable guests as Teddy Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, and Al Capone. A smooth 7-minute walk (or 4-minute car ride) away is Pendry Chicago, where I stayed last year and hope to return to this year. The rooms are bright and modern, the bar is dark and classic, and the service excels. For city views and a lively rooftop consider nearby London House.
Where to eat at Sueños
To those who’ve attended, Sueños isn’t just a music festival—it’s also a space to celebrate our multifaceted cultures, including the breadth of Latin American cuisine. The on-site food villages overflow with a plethora of local vendors—there were more than 50 vendors to choose from last year. While the 2025 lineup isn’t yet finalized, some returning names have been confirmed, including the vegan-friendly El Campeón, quesabirria slingers Tacotlán, Puerto Rican outpost Ponce Restaurant, Mexican staples purveyor El Taconazo, and Prime Tacos, who are famous for coating their various offerings in a thick layer of neon red Hot Cheetos dust.
This year, Sueños will be introducing the community-minded La Plaza, the biggest food village of them all, complete with its own smaller stage that will feature performances from some of Chicago’s best local bands and DJs like LeManz, Los K-Bros, DJ JTC, and DJ Orozco.
What to bring to Sueños
I was caught off guard by the weather at last year’s Sueños. Now I know to prepare for absolutely anything at a “rain or shine” festival, including for the festival to be cancelled due to rain. When we were told to evacuate ahead of an incoming thunderstorm, not only did I not have an umbrella or poncho on me, but also my footwear wasn’t waterproof enough for the downpour that followed. So, stash an umbrella or fold-up poncho on your person, or note the nearest vendor selling such goods.
Large bags are not allowed, but clutch-style purses and fanny packs are okay and lockers are available for $25 a day or $48.50 for the weekend. Hoping to have a cute picnic with friends? Blankets, sheets, and towels are allowed—as are binoculars and point and shoot cameras without detachable lenses.
While Sueños is cashless, I recommend keeping some money on you in case you find yourself needing water, snacks, or rain gear while walking to and from the park. Then again, summer is less than a month away, so sunscreen and sunglasses are essential—even last year, the sun was beaming when the clouds weren’t in the way. You’re also allowed to bring your own water bottle to fill, for free, at the on-site hydration stations.
What else is happening at Sueños?
Aside from the plethora of performances to take in and the immense amount of food to savor, Sueños offers a number of different activities for festivalgoers. There will be opportunities to win artist meet-and-greet access for those who closely watch Sueños’ social media channels, while everyone will have access to the new-to-2025 El Mercadito—a farmer’s market-style area for local Latine artists and makers to sell their wares on the festival grounds. “Each time we try to up the experience at Sueños and there are lots of new things happening this year apart from the added stages,” says festival co-founder Ampudia. “The goal is to build and celebrate Latin culture in the most authentic way, so we dedicate a lot of time to the overall experience.”
Merch booths abound across the park, but those looking to save money or the Earth (or both) can participate in the Rock & Recycle program by filling up a festival-provided trash bag with bottles and cans and exchanging it for an exclusive Sueños 2025 T-shirt.
Last year, the Verizon Deck, which returns to the General Admission section in 2025, gave Verizon customers access to better main-stage views, free phone charging, and customizable phone cases (non-customers were able to enroll in a free 30-day trial to participate). Also in 2024, booze brands like Buchanan’s, Cîroc, and Don Julio hosted VIP section activations complete with custom cocktail menus and plenty of celeb sightings.
In GA, “Casa Bacardi” served rum drinks and hosted a silent disco, while Cantu Beauty offered attendees the chance to get their hair done up with charmed braids or stylish space buns. Sueńos rewards adventurers who explore with an open mind.