About our event
What is Best of Chicago? Best of Chicago is the Chicago Reader's annual voting campaign, culminating in a celebration of the best in music, arts, food, cannabis, and business. More than 40,000 users vote in over 300 categories, and come together in the spring to celebrate with the Chicago Reader. Previous Best of Chicago celebrations have been held at Thalia Hall, the Metro, and Lincoln Park Zoo.
Attendees Demographics
Gender Distribution
Expected Audience
1001-2500Sponsorship Opportunities
Why You Should Sponsor Best of Chicago
This is the largest audience-run "Best of" campaign in the city, and places your brand in front of more than 40,000 voters, as well as our general readers. Best of Chicago promotion is included on our social media channels, on our website, and in our print edition (63,000 print copies delivered across Chicago every week).
The Best of Chicago ballot and winners are determined by audience vote. No outside influence, including staff preference, advertising revenue, board membership, or affinity with the Chicago Reader, its members or advertisers, affects the Best of Chicago nominations, ballot, or results.
US$20000
ContactPresenting Sponsor
Join us as Presenting Sponsor of Best of Chicago! ($40,000 value) With more than 300 categories and 400,000 votes in previous years, the presenting sponsorship creates an unparalleled opportunity to increase your branding and awareness. Reach more than 40,000 voters during the campaign, and thousands of people in the promotion of and on site at the Best of Chicago party in May 2025! “Presented by” on print, digital ads. Category exclusivity applies. Tagging as “Presented By” in Best Of promotional social posts 4 Full page print ads 4 Half page print ads 150,000 chicagoreader.com display ad impressions 10 Email newsletter ads Ballot background and interstitial, 1 Group and 2 Category ballot ads Unlimited Enhanced ballot listings** Event sponsorship Level 1: Table, signage, gift bag, etc + 20 tickets Delivery of email opt-ins at end of Best of Campaign (Feb 2024)
US$15000
ContactTitle Sponsor
Title Sponsorship ($30,000 value) Title sponsorship creates incredible opportunity to promote your brand and nominees throughout the Best of Chicago campaign. Medium logo on print and digital Best of Chicago house advertising 8 Half page print ads 100,000 chicagoreader.com display ad impressions 8 Email newsletter ads 1 Group and 4 Category ballot ads Unlimited Enhanced ballot listings** Event sponsorship Level 2: Table, signage, gift bag, etc + 16 tickets
US$10000
ContactPremium Sponsor
Premium Sponsorship (4 Available) ($21,475 value) A premium sponsorship gives you exactly what you need to promote your brand and your nominees to the wide audience of Best of Chicago. Small logo on print and digital Best of Chicago house advertising 4 Half and 2 quarter page print ads 75,000 chicagoreader.com display ad impressions 4 Email newsletter ads 1 Group and 2 Category ballot ads Enhanced ballot listings**(up to 4) Event sponsorship Level 3: Table, signage, gift bag, etc + 12 tickets
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The Chicago Reader is the oldest free alternative weekly in the United States, and has been covering Chicago's art and culture since 1971.
The Reader has been a fearless, innovative, and nationally respected media voice in Chicago for more than 50 years. In print every week and daily online, we are tastemakers, incisive critics, and agenda-setters. Our readers look to us for what’s new, what’s now, what’s next, and depend on us to hold local government and other public authorities accountable—not to take sides. We are community-supported, and we could not be more proud of our equitable approach to community coverage, staffing, and vendor supply. We’ve got fresh talent and fresh energy, and we’re thrilled to continue to deliver our unflagging, unfiltered take on Chicago.
The Chicago Reader creates and curates political and cultural coverage by and for Chicago, including highlighting underrepresented communities and stories. We reinvest all of our revenue to achieve sustainability, grow our reach, and ensure the fulfillment of our mission.