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Chicago’s house music icon and triple Josie Music Award nominee returns to The Sanctuary for a festive night of music and holiday cheer
Irene Michaels is making a list, and Chicago is on it. The award-winning singer, actress and house music artist will headline “A Little Naughty, A Little Nice: A Holiday Celebration with Irene Michaels” on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at The Sanctuary inside Chicago’s Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Avenue. Doors open at 5:00 PM, with the show beginning at 7:30 PM.
The evening marks a welcome homecoming to one of Michaels’ favorite stages. She previously wowed audiences at Epiphany in November 2023 and again in March 2025, and this December she brings the same irresistible energy to a holiday setting, promising a night that is equal parts glamour, sparkle and seasonal fun. True to its title, the show invites the audience to embrace both sides of the season, the sweet and the cheeky, with a performer who has made a career out of refusing to play by anyone else’s rules.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early for Epiphany’s Golden Hour in the Café Bar, which begins at 5:00 PM and features a free performance by Luciano Antonio (RSVP required). Golden Hour offers a relaxed pre-show atmosphere, with the venue’s art galleries open to explore before the main event.
Michaels arrives at the holidays on the heels of a remarkable year. She was a triple nominee at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in September, released her empowering single “Timeless” in July, and was named one of Modern Luxury’s Dynamic Women of 2026. Her year also took her from an Earth Day appearance in Times Square to Chicago’s Family Pride Fest and on to London.
It is all part of one of the most inspiring second acts in music. A longtime fixture of the Chicago entertainment scene, Michaels has worked as a singer, dancer, model, equestrian, actress and author, with screen credits including “General Hospital,” “Home Alone 2” and “Killer Klowns From Outer Space.” Then, in her late 70s, she reinvented herself as a house music artist, scoring a hit with “I Like Rain,” which earned her a Josie Music Award and led to record deals. Today, at 81, she continues to sell out her one-woman shows in Chicago and New York.
Event Details
What: A Little Naughty, A Little Nice: A Holiday Celebration with Irene Michaels
When: Saturday, December 19, 2026. Doors and Golden Hour at 5:00 PM; show at 7:30 PM
Where: The Sanctuary at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60607
Tickets: $45 in advance, $55 day of show, plus fees, available at epiphanychi.com
Ages: 21+ with valid ID
About Irene Michaels
Irene Michaels is a Chicago-based singer, actress, author and house music artist. Her career has spanned modeling, dance, film and television, including roles in “General Hospital,” “Home Alone 2” and “Killer Klowns From Outer Space.” In her late 70s she launched a house music career with the hit “I Like Rain,” which won a Josie Music Award, and she has since earned multiple Josie nominations, including three at the 2026 ceremony. Her 2026 single “Timeless” is available on all major platforms. Learn more at irenemichaels.com.