May Day 2026: Workers Over Billionaires — And Chicago Is Showing Up

May 1st is coming, and if you haven't heard about it yet, you need to pay attention — because this one is different.

On Thursday, May 1, 2026 — International Workers' Day — millions of people across the country are expected to walk off the job, pull their kids from school, and keep their wallets closed for the entire day. The rallying cry is simple: No Work. No School. No Shopping. And the message behind it is just as direct: Workers Over Billionaires.

So What Is This, Exactly?

May Day has a long history as a day of worker solidarity — and this year's action is being organized by May Day Strong, a national coalition of hundreds of labor unions, community organizations, faith groups, and civic advocates that came together with a single purpose: to push back against what they see as a systematic assault on working people, immigrants, public schools, healthcare, and democracy itself.

On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families are rallying, marching, and taking action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires. Their demands include taxing the wealthy to fund the programs working families depend on, protecting Medicaid and Social Security, fully funding public schools, stopping attacks on immigrant communities, and keeping democracy intact.

This isn't a fringe movement. May Day Strong is a network of hundreds of organizations and hundreds of thousands of working people standing together against what they describe as a billionaire-driven war on working people. Major unions including the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, SEIU, and the Chicago Teachers Union are all part of the coalition. So is Indivisible, which helped organize the massive "No Kings" protests earlier this year and is now turning its energy and membership lists toward May Day.

What's the Goal?

Beyond the march itself, organizers hope to bring much of the economy to a halt — demonstrating the collective economic power of working people when they choose to withhold their labor and their spending simultaneously. The idea draws inspiration from the historic 2006 Day Without Immigrants, which reshaped immigration policy conversations nationwide. Organizers are also clear that May Day is not the finish line — the coalition plans to host 75 planning sessions after the May Day marches through and beyond Labor Day, preparing not just for protest but to register voters and protect both the right to protest and the right to vote. They see May 1st as one powerful step in a longer movement.

What's Happening in Chicago?

Chicago has always had a special relationship with May Day — the holiday itself traces its roots to the 1886 Haymarket affair right here in this city, where workers fought and died for the eight-hour workday. This year, the city is at the center of the national action.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has made May Day a city holiday, allowing for wider participation. The Chicago Teachers Union, the Chicago Federation of Labor, SEIU, Jobs With Justice, Service Employees, National Nurses United, the Postal Workers, and the Government Employees will all be among the union participants, joined by numerous political and civic groups.

May Day participants will gather at their kids' schools starting at 8 a.m., followed by regional civics lessons and actions from 9 a.m. to noon, before the march downtown begins at 1 p.m. at Union Park on the Northwest Side.

What About Chicago Public Schools?

This one had a lot of back and forth, so let's be clear about where things landed. Chicago Public Schools will be in session on May 1, but CPS has agreed to declare it a day of civic action — transforming the school day to one focused on civic engagement and student voice. The district has agreed to work in good faith to provide at least 100 schools with bagged lunches and transportation to the 1 p.m. Union Park rally. CPS has also pledged no retaliation against students or staff who participate in May Day activities. Parents who prefer their children remain in regular instruction can do so — participation is voluntary.

How Can You Participate?

Whether or not you can take the full day off from work, there are ways to make your voice count:

The simplest thing? Don't shop on May 1st. Skip Amazon, skip the big box stores, skip the online cart. That one act, multiplied by millions of people, sends a message that is hard to ignore.

If you can, don't go to work — or if you can't do a full day, consider taking a long lunch break and showing up to a local action. You can sign the May Day pledge, host a May Day action in your neighborhood, or canvass local businesses to encourage their support. Text the word SOLIDARITY to 58910 to get updates and event information straight to your phone.

For Chicago specifically, show up at Union Park at 1 p.m. The march will head downtown from there. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring your voice.

You can also visit MayDayStrong.org to find events near you, download the host toolkit, sign the pledge, and connect with local organizers. The site has an interactive map of actions happening across the country, so if there's not yet something in your neighborhood, you can start one.

The Bottom Line

This country was built on the labor of working people — and right now, a lot of working people feel like the rules have been rewritten by and for those at the very top. May Day 2026 is a chance to say, loudly and collectively: enough. Whether you march, stay home from work, keep your wallet closed, or simply show up at Union Park at 1 p.m. — every act adds to the count.

A core principle behind all May Day events is a commitment to nonviolent action. Organizers expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation, and ask that no weapons of any kind be brought to events.

Visit MayDayStrong.org for the full event map, the pledge, and everything you need to participate on May 1st. Text SOLIDARITY to 58910 for real-time updates.