Editor’s Note: NBC Chicago offers a live feed of the evening and primetime speeches every day Monday through Thursday in the player above and on the 24/7 streaming channel NBC 5 Chicago News.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago on Monday with its four-day “DemPalooza” festival, which will feature major speeches, surprise artists, and much more.
Even though the event itself is not open to the public, viewers can still follow the congress live and unfiltered from start to finish.
Here’s how you can watch it live via streaming, on TV and more:
What time does the DNC start?
The 2024 DNC in Chicago begins on Monday, August 19th and runs through Thursday, August 22nd, with speeches expected on four consecutive nights.
Although there are numerous events taking place throughout the day, the “main program” begins at 5.30pm on Monday and at 6pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Below you will find a full daily schedule.
Schedule, speakers for the DNC
While the full list of speakers for this week has not yet been released, some of the Democratic Party’s biggest stars will be in attendance, including President Joe Biden, who will speak at the convention on Monday.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Jill Biden will also deliver speeches on Monday.
The keynote speeches on Monday are expected to begin at 5:30 p.m.
MORE: DNC speaker tracker: Kinzinger and Michelle Obama added to lineup
NBC News reported that Vice President Kamala Harris will be in attendance on Monday. President Biden and Vice President Harris are expected to appear onstage together after Biden’s speech.
How to follow the DNC
NBC Chicago will again offer a live feed of the speeches daily through Thursday in the player above and on the NBC 5 Chicago News 24/7 streaming channel.
In addition, viewers will also have access to expanded convention coverage via NBCChicago.com, Telemundochicago.com and their respective apps.
Streaming times include:
Monday: 5:15 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
NBC 5 will also carry NBC News’ live primetime coverage of the events, featuring the evening’s keynote speakers, interviews with prominent politicians and undecided voters, and a look ahead to next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the highly anticipated presidential election in November.
Primetime DNC coverage will air live from the United Center at 9 p.m. Monday.
What are the main topics of the congress?
The convention’s theme is “For the People, For Our Future” and the focus will be on moving the country forward and building on the work of the Biden administration.
According to convention organizers, the theme of Monday’s events is “For the People,” a nod to the motto of Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign and a phrase she has incorporated into her new campaign, starting with a fundraising email the night Biden dropped out of the race.
The phrase recalls her inauguration in 2019, when Harris – a longtime prosecutor and California’s first woman to serve as attorney general – recalled introducing herself in court as “Kamala Harris, for the people,” adding, “In my entire life, I’ve only had one client, the people.” Throughout the campaign, Harris returned to that phrase again and again, in speeches but also on signs and T-shirts and as part of the official nomenclature of her main campaign committee.
But much of the evening’s focus will also be on Biden’s political successes during his time in office, when he signed a flood of legislation that Democrats have dreamed of passing for a generation.
Monday – “For the people”
Tuesday – “A bold vision for America’s future”
Wednesday – “A fight for our freedoms”
Thursday – “For our future”
