Mahjong Is Having A Moment — And Uniting Chicagoans In Chinatown And Beyond

Block Club Chicago / by Carrie Jackson / February 17, 2026

CHICAGO — Some come for the community, some for the culture and still others for the competition. Whatever the draw, mahjong is having a moment right now — and the city has many ways for residents to pick up the hobby.

The Chinese game combines strategy, skill and luck, and it is connecting people from all over the city. A quick internet search yields dozens of meetups and lessons, and Eventbrite reported that mahjong event listings in Chicago increased 233 percent in 2024. Read More Here.