Golden Ticket 2026

Three glorious weeks // Aug 3 – Aug 21

The Q101 Golden Ticket Returns.

One ticket. Everything Q101. For a whole year. Thirteen chances a day to get your hands on it.

MON AUG 3 → FRI AUG 21 Weekdays · 6A–7P

13Chances / Day

15Weekdays

3Shows Qualifying

1Golden Ticket

Step one

How you qualify

Every hour. Every weekday.

6:00am – 7:00pm · Aug 3 through Aug 21

Every hour we're giving away a pair of tickets to an upcoming Chicago show. Win a pair, and you're automatically qualified for the Golden Ticket. That's thirteen shots a day, three weeks straight.

Brian & KenzieMornings <3 LaurenWeekdays Brian PhillipsWeekdays

Step two

What the heck is the Golden Ticket ?$!?

A magical ticket that gets you access to everything Q101 does in an entire year. Not a discount. Not a chance to enter. Access.

Every show in The Lounge

Every performance. All of them. Walk in like you own the place.

Every Chicagoland concert*

Every concert we've got tickets to in the Chicago area. And let's be honest — we have a lot of tickets.

Riot Fest — 3-day VIP

VIP passes for this year and 2027. Two years of Riot Fest, handled.

Every night of Twisted

Not one night. Every night.

Yes, Riot Fest is included.
Twice.

The Golden Ticket includes 3-Day VIP passes to Riot Fest this year and again in 2027. Everyone who wins a pair of concert tickets during the qualifying window is automatically in the running.

How it works

Listen, Aug 3–21

Weekdays, every hour 6a–7p.

Win concert tickets

A pair every hour. 13 winners a day.

You're qualified

Automatically. No second step.

One gets the year

Lounge, concerts, Riot Fest VIP, Twisted.

Go turn the radio on.

Thirteen chances a day, fifteen weekdays, one Golden Ticket. The window closes Friday, August 21st.

▶ Listen Live All Q101 Contests

Call or text the studio · 312-967-8300

** Every concert in the Chicagoland area — well, as long as we have the tickets. But let's be honest, we have a lot of tickets.

Qualifying runs weekdays only, Monday August 3rd through Friday August 21st, 6:00am–7:00pm CT. Winners must be qualified per the official rules. See contest rules and Cumulus general contest rules for full details, eligibility and restrictions.