2026 True Chicago Conference

Starting route to… your creative journey. Follow your curiosity - move past the familiar and closer to your destination. We invite you to Make Your Map at the annual True Chicago Conference on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at The Forum at the Obama Presidential Center. This unique one-day experience is catered to emerging creatives ready to take the next step by learning to trust their internal compass and be inspired by others who have taken the path before them.

Your journey is not meant to be traveled alone. We have created an ecosystem of creatives just like you who are eager to begin their journey, as well as some who have taken a more scenic route and are ready to share what they’ve experienced along the way. Throughout the day, you’ll experience panels, keynotes, networking opportunities, and interactive sessions that will equip you to navigate your creative journey long after the day is over. This year’s True Chicago Conference is a great first step in the process of movement, and will help you set your pace if you’ve already started on your creative path.

True Chicago strives to support the city of Chicago’s young talent by creating a community inspired to produce work that represents the bold heartbeat of our city. We encourage creatives to strive towards a pattern of making something extraordinary out of the ordinary. Failure and obstacles are no longer an option. You will leave this event with a personalized roadmap for your journey, a deeper connection to the network of emerging creatives in the city, and takeaways on how to create your own reality as you strive towards success. Your ticket to the conference includes a day full of programming, mentorship/portfolio review opportunities, and lunch.

Set your destination, trust your compass, Make Your Map - your starting point is here!

Please note that a ticket to the conference does NOT grant you access to the Obama Presidential Center

Not sponsored by The Obama Foundation