In August of 2023, the Parliament of the World’s Religions returns to the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement after 30 years away to celebrate 130 years of history in the city of Chicago. Parliament Convenings attract participants from more than 200 diverse religious, indigenous, and secular beliefs and more than 80 nations.
Registrants enjoy access to all the plenary sessions, hundreds of breakout sessions, art & cultural exhibits, performances, a film festival, and countless opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations committed to justice, peace, and sustainability.
The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be hosted in McCormick Place Lakeside Center from August 14-18, 2023
In August of 2023, the Parliament of the World’s Religions is addressing the most urgent and critical global issue of our time. Freedom, human rights, and democracy are under attack all over the world. The 2023 Parliament will convene on the theme of A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights, calling people of faith and conscience to stand up together in all their diversity and defend freedom and human rights.
Parliament Executive Director, Rev. Stephen Avino, affirms that the 2023 Parliament Convening will serve as, “…a place of open minds and open hearts where we can all express the wonder and dignity of our religious and spiritual traditions against the backdrop of the majestic beauty of Lake Michigan. But we could not do all this without addressing the foundational issue of our time; the threat to freedom and human rights. We must defend freedom and human rights together and find solutions to the rise of autocracy in our world.”
Every attendee of the Parliament Convenings brings unique wisdom and world views from their religious traditions and lives, their scholarship, their artistic talents, and their activism. At the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions, attendees from around the world are answering a call to conscience.
Programming for the 2023 Parliament will focus largely, but not exclusively on:
The Call for Programs closed on November 3rd, the schedule for the week is available here.
The 2023 PoWR Hotel Block is now accepting bookings for the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hilton Garden Inn Chicago McCormick Place, Hampton Inn Chicago McCormick Place, and the Home2 Suites by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place.
As the largest and most flexible convention center in North America, McCormick Place is the perfect venue for meetings and events of all sizes. The entire campus is accessible via sky bridge, making the campus the most connected venue available in the city of Chicago.
The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be hosted at the Lakeside Center overlooking Lake Michigan from Monday, August 14 through Friday, August 18.
The Lakeside Center is ideally suited to serve meetings and exhibitions. Highlights include:
McCormick Place strives to create the best possible experience for every guest, every time. Should you or someone from your organization require assistance while attending an event at McCormick Place, the following amenities may assist your team during their visit.
Trained service animals are welcome at McCormick Place.
TTY Phone access is available at the Security Command Center located in the North Building on Level 1. For more information, call our TTY number at 312-791-6505. Assisted listening transmitters and receivers are available free of charge on a first come, first serve basis.
Elevators are located near the main entrances in all McCormick Place buildings, and near the main exhibit halls on all levels.
McCormick Place has 4 designated drop-off points for taxis and cars that provide ramped curbs and automatic entry doors:
All meeting rooms and theaters are wheelchair accessible, except rooms E268 and E269 of the Lakeside Center.
Accessible parking is available in Lot A (located on Martin Luther King Drive), Lot C (located underground in Lakeside Center) and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place parking garage.
The Arie Crown Theater provides wheelchair seating throughout the theater; wheelchair companion seating can be arranged with advance notice.
First aid stations, restaurants, retail outlets and drinking fountains are wheelchair accessible. Restrooms provide either accessible or ambulatory stalls.
All McCormick Place public signs incorporate raised lettering and Braille.
For wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power chairs and oxygen equipment rentals, contact our preferred service partner, Scootaround Mobility Solutions at 888-441-7575 or visit https://locations.scootaround.com/McCormickPlace
Public transportation is the most affordable and convenient way to get to McCormick Place.
Chicago’s iconic Union Station serves both Amtrak and Metra, the city’s commuter rail service. Originally designed by Daniel Burnham and completed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Union Station is a glowing expression of Chicago’s status as a national railroad hub, and remains a treasured part of the city’s history.
Additionally, the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves the three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. There are also two Metra stations in the Loop: Millennium Station on the Metra Electric District line and Lasalle Street Station on the Rock Island District Line.
With 21,000 miles of routes across the United States and Canada, Amtrak offers more than 300 high-speed trains to more than 500 destinations daily. Find Amtrak routes and fares.
The high-speed Metra commuter rail train connects outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago and is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city. Find fares and route maps.
South Shore Line serves Chicago through Northern Indiana to the South Bend Airport. Call (219) 874-4221 ext. 245 for group rates. Find South Shore Line routes and fares.
Chicago welcomes hundreds of thousands of international visitors each year. Two documents are needed to enter the United States:
If your country is not part of the VWP, there are three visitor visa categories you may apply for:
B-1: For those entering the U.S. temporarily for business
B-2: For those visiting for pleasure
B-1/B-2: For a combination of both
Note: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda visiting the United States for temporary travel generally do not require a nonimmigrant visa.
In addition to major banks, you can find currency exchanges at:
Chicago translation and interpretation services include:
A-Class International Simultaneous Interpreters |
LTC Language Solutions |
Accurate Translation |
TransPerfect |
Atlas Translation Services, Inc. |
Chicago is home to two international airports conveniently located in the center of the country, with thousands of daily inbound and outbound flights to more than 240 destinations.
Multi-award-winning, environmentally conscious O’Hare (ORD) is one of the largest airports in the world. It lies just 16 miles from downtown Chicago and boasts four terminals — three domestic (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and one international (Terminal 5).
Midway (MDW) is the nation’s premier point-to-point airport, offering value-oriented leisure and business travel to over 60 destinations. It’s located only 11 miles from downtown Chicago.
Both O’Hare and Midway are within easy reach of downtown Chicago.
Chicago’s central location and its position as a hub for the nation’s major interstates make it a convenient drive from anywhere in the country. Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).
View an interactive parking map of downtown Chicago to search for public parking lots and garages by address and points of interest.
There are three main parking lots on the McCormick Place campus. All are in close proximity and walking distance to the convention complex and are ADA accessible.
If you’re headed to Chicago from a Midwestern metropolis like Detroit, Indianapolis, or St. Louis, catch a leisurely ride on a private charter bus. Charter buses include free WiFi, reclining seats, panoramic windows, and plenty of legroom. Find a private charter bus.
Greyhound has five Chicagoland locations, including two 24-hour stations and 20 express routes to major U.S. cities. Find Greyhound stations.
Megabus is a budget-friendly, city-to-city service. Find Megabus stations and rates.
Are there vendors or organizations in your community who would benefit from connecting with the interfaith movement? Help us spread the word about the exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities at the Parliament.
The Parade of Faiths is a pre-Parliament event on Sunday, August 13th featuring music, dance, and celebration of Chicago’s rich diversity. Connect with Chicago representatives from your tradition and encourage them to sign-up today!
Join us in answering the call to conscience at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, USA. From now until August 2023, join us in hosting a local pre-parliament event to offer “a taste” of the Parliament experience.
Each Parliament of the World’s Religions is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Join volunteers from around the world in making this Convening unforgettable.
70 East Lake St., Ste 230
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 629-2990
The Parliament of the World's Religions acknowledges it is situated on the traditional homelands of the Bodéwadmik (Potawatomi), Hoocąk (Winnebago/Ho’Chunk), Jiwere (Otoe), Nutachi (Missouria), and Baxoje (Iowas); Kiash Matchitiwuk (Menominee); Meshkwahkîha (Meskwaki); Asâkîwaki (Sauk); Myaamiaki (Miami), Waayaahtanwaki (Wea), and Peeyankihšiaki (Piankashaw); Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo); Inoka (Illini Confederacy); Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe), and Odawak (Odawa).
PoWR recognizes the region we now call Chicago remains home to a diversity of Indigenous peoples today and this land upon which we walk, live, and play continues to be Indigenous land.
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