Axios Presents: Chicago Knows Best

For nearly a year, Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann has been asking readers one simple thing: "What do Chicagoans really think?"

From hot dogs and neighborhood rivalries to music, politics, etiquette and everyday life, thousands of readers have weighed in through more than 100 Axios Chicago surveys.

Now those answers become the game.

Join Axios Chicago to celebrate the newsletter's fifth anniversary and for the premiere of "Chicago Knows Best," a live game show where contestants try to guess how Chicago answered.

Think "Family Feud" meets Chicago bar trivia, with real survey results, unexpected opinions and plenty of debates over who actually knows this city best.

The show will feature special guests, plus appearances from Katie Rich ("SNL"), TJ Shanoff (Second City), Scott Goldstein (Da Chi Game Show) and special guest Ald. Ed Bus (53rd Ward). Music and production by Schadenfreude co-founder Stephen Schmidt.

Whether you're a lifelong Chicagoan or still arguing about ketchup on hot dogs, come see if you know this city as well as Chicago knows itself.

September 3, 2026

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8pm

*Tickets: $10

Proceeds go to paying for Axios Chicago's softball team