Where to find the Chicago Reader in print

The Reader is published in print every week and distributed free to the 1,014 locations on this map (which can also be opened in a separate window or tab). Copies are available free of charge—while supplies last. You can report an issue or request a new distribution location here.

The most recent issue is the issue of February 20, 2025. Delivery to distribution locations begins on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

View or download a free PDF of the print issue

As part of an internal audit that the Reader conducted in summer 2024, we consolidated some Reader pick up sites and boxes in some north side and central city neighborhoods.

Don’t worry, we are delivering the same number of papers to your area. . . . We’re just bringing the papers closer to where we see demand.

We have 49 new locations where you can find print issues of the paper on the south and west sides, including new Reader boxes in Englewood, North Lawndale, Austin, Chinatown, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Little Village, and West Englewood.Please refer to the map for the nearest location if a box or pick up site was moved near you.

The City of Chicago operates a multi-rack newspaper box at Midway Airport that is maintained by the company JCDecaux. As of August 21, 2024, the city removed similar multi-rack newspaper boxes that they owned in the South Loop, downtown, and Near North areas. We have adjusted our drop-off amounts in the locations near where each multi-rack box used to be to ensure that the same amount of our newspapers are available for readers in those neighborhoods.

The Reader is stocked in all multi-rack boxes on the Wednesday and Thursday of the week an issue comes out, and restocked the following Tuesday with additional copies. These can be located on the Chicago Reader Distribution Map and are listed as “RDR MOD BOX Cross Streets, Address Zip Code”

The best way to insure you get a print issue is to subscribe! Go here to purchase back issues and/or start a new subscription.

Our next print edition will be the issue of February 27, 2025. Distribution to locations will begin on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Never miss a copy! Paid print subscriptions are available for 12 issues, 26 issues, and for 52 issues from the Reader Store.

The Chicago Reader is published in print every other week. Issues are dated Thursday. Distribution usually happens Wednesday morning through Thursday night of the issue date. Upcoming print issue dates through June 2025 are:

See our information page for advertising opportunities and editorial calendars of upcoming issues.

The Reader is free. Producing it isn’t. And without your support, we can't continue.

So we need you to chip in, even if it’s just a few bucks. The average donation is $45. Many new donors give $5. Every donation is just a fraction of what it costs to produce the Reader—but with support from thousands of Chicagoans like you, we get it done.

So please: take one minute right now to make a donation to the Reader. Then come back, read more stories, and know you’re making this incredible thing possible.

We need to be upfront with you.

The Reader is free. Producing it isn’t. And without your support, it will cease to exist.

So we need you to chip in today, even if it’s just a few bucks.

Bylines labeled “Chicago Reader Staff” are used for features that contain nonwritten, nonreported information like listings, for event and organization announcements by noneditorial personnel, and for advertiser content. Additionally, when multiple authors collaborate on an article, the byline “Chicago Reader Staff” is displayed, while individual contributions are credited throughout the feature.