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Monday, September 21, 2026

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Coming Up:

At 10:00  AM

Anaconda Live

Amazon Rising

Beluga Rescue Chat

Amphitheater
At 10:30  AM

Kelp Forest Chat

Oceans
At 11:00  AM

Penguin Chat

Underwater Viewing

Must See Tour

View Today's Full Schedule
Open 9 am - 5 pm
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    Before You Arrive

    • Planning Your Visit
    • Tickets & Pricing
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    At the aquarium

    • An icon of the Shedd building's grecian facade. Today at Shedd
    • A map icon. Aquarium Map
    • Soundings Café in Shedd's Oceanarium serves up paninis, soups and sandwiches. Shopping & Dining
    • Rockhopper penguins have long, feathery yellow "eyebrows" of feathers above their eyes. Animal Encounters
    • A giant Pacific octopus with eight arms covered in round, grasping suckers spread out to feel its habitat. 4-D Experiences
    • A guest gently touches the rough, prickly surface of a sea star in sea star touch. See all experiences

    Exhibits

    • A view of Shedd Aquarium from above with a new, large entry pavilion attached to the building's south side. Experience Evolution
    • The Wonder of Water exhibit. Wonder of Water
    • A young visitor stands next to a brightly lit habitat as huge fish and turtles swim by beyond the glass. Amazon Rising
    See all exhibits
  • Animals

    Animals

    • A black tip reef shark, observed by Shedd researchers in the Bahamas, cruises overhead. Sharks
    • Beluga whale Beethoven looks out of the water at Shedd Aquarium. Belugas
    • A juvenile Barbour's map turtle peers interestedly at the camera, the sharp ridges at the top of its shell's dome distinctive. Turtles
    • Rockhopper penguins have long, wispy feathers that sweep back from above their eyes like eyebrows. Penguins
    • Sea otter Luna peers interestedly at a visitor behind the scenes in Shedd's Oceanarium. She has her long body comfortably wedged into a large rubber bucket. Sea Otters
    • The mandarin dragonet is a tiny fish about the size of one's thumb, constantly fanning its fins as it searches for food along the reefs where it lives. See all Animals

    Protecting Animals & Habitats

    • A mussel's size is measured as part of a freshwater mussel survey. Center for Species Survival
    • A sea lion sits in a bucket of water in a California rescue and rehabilitation facility. Global Conservation Partnerships
    • A woman crouches on a pair of plant beds floating in the Chicago river, checking the ties that keep them together. South Branch Initiative
    See all conservation research

    Animal Care

    • Animal Rescue & Response
    • Animal Hospital & Labs
    • Animal Wellbeing
    • Animal Enrichment
    • Animal Stories
    • Explore Animal Care
  • Programs & Events

    Programs & Events

    • Laguna perches on the edge of a habitat behind the scenes at Shedd Aquarium. Animal Encounters
    • Under the purple-lighted canopy protecting Shedd's north terrace from the elements, a man spins a woman as they dance salsa to a stage of live musicians in the background. He is wearing nice but casual white shirt and brown dress slacks, and she is wearing a comfortable, breezy striped yellow and black dress with tasteful ruffles at the hem. Evening Events
    • A girl and a dolphin look at each other through the glass in underwater viewing. The dolphin and the girl are about the same size. Youth & Families
    • A group of participants in Shedd's Kayak for Conservation program float in single-person kayaks on the Chicago river, surrounded by greenery and with a bridge in the distance. Conservation Action
    • Educators work on an activity together during Shedd's annual Science Educator Conference. Educators
    • A beluga and calf peer at an underwater camera in Shedd's Oceanarium. All Programs & Events

    Upcoming Events

    • Two dancers strike a dramatic pose in front of Shedd's historic rotunda. Ritmo del Mar
    • A moon jelly stands out from a smack of jellies at Shedd Aquarium Haunted House Party
    • A yellow sea horse in oceans gallery, its long snout and curved neck distinctive. Calm Waters
    See all Events

    Beyond Shedd

    • Travel with Shedd
    • Online Learning
    • Marine Ecology Course
    • Freshwater Ecology Course

    Host an Event

    • Weddings, Parties, More
  • Act & Support

    Action Spotlights

    • An image of a glass containing several plastic pellets, often called nurdles, found in a natural waterway. Reduce Plastic Pollution
    • A girl signs a pledge to reduce her use of single-waste plastics. Fight the Foam
    • A group of people, some carrying buckets, walk through grasslands. Restore Local Habitats
    Act with Shedd

    Support

    • A man and his son sit together gazing up at the huge glass wall of a wild reef habitat as it curves above them. Become a Member
    • A tiny baby penguin sits in the cradle of someone's palm. Make a Gift
    • A black family smiles as they are presented by an animal handler with a beautiful green-winged macaw. Join Aquarium Council
    Support Us

    More ways to support

    • Volunteer at Shedd
    • Join Teacher Advisory Council
    • Eat Sustainable Seafood
    • Keep Sharks Swimming
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John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 312-939-2438

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