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 begins its fourth and final day in Chicago on Thursday with a host of special guests and possibly the biggest surprise yet.
From celebrity appearances like the Chicks, Pink and Kerry Washington to Vice President Kamala Harris’ highly anticipated acceptance speech, viewers can watch Thursday’s convention live and unfiltered from start to finish.
Day 4 follows an eventful start to the conference.
The first evening featured a surprise appearance by Harris, speeches by high-profile figures and an address by President Joe Biden.
The second evening featured a “dance party” with numerous prominent guests and speeches by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Highlights of the third evening included speeches by former President Bill Clinton and Oprah, performances by Stevie Wonder and John Legend, and a speech by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepting his party’s nomination for vice president.
Here’s how you can watch it live via streaming, on TV and more:
What time does the DNC start?
The “main program” is scheduled to begin again at 5:30 p.m., but several events are planned throughout the day. The event is scheduled to end shortly after 10 p.m.
To avoid repeated delays in the program, the convention has moved its start times forward throughout the week, although delays have occurred every night of the convention to date.
The celebrations on Wednesday evening ended shortly before 11 p.m.
Schedule, speakers for the DNC
The full speaker list and schedule for Day 4 have not yet been released, but a number of notable names will speak at the convention ahead of Harris’ highly anticipated acceptance speech.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy will deliver speeches. Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, the “Tennessee Three,” will speak. Jones and Pearson were expelled from the state legislature for participating in a protest against gun control at the state Capitol.
Other speakers include Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge; Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.); Representatives Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Colin Allred (D-Texas) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.); and former Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.).
Renowned civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton will also speak. Pop star Pink will perform, and on Thursday the Chicks could be heard preparing to sing the national anthem at the United Center.
Although Harris’s candidacy has generated a high level of enthusiasm and determination among Democrats, she is still in the process of defining her policy priorities and the ideological direction she will take the party in. Last Friday, she unveiled her first major goal when she announced a series of economic measures designed to lower the cost of living for America’s working and middle-class population.
DNC executive director Alex Hornbrook said Harris plans to “tell the country her story directly on Thursday.”
What special guests will be appearing at the DNC?
Sources have so far confirmed appearances by Pink and The Chicks, formerly known as Dixie Chicks. Kerry Washington is also expected to be the evening’s celebrity host.
But rumors are circulating about one of the biggest performances of the party conference so far.
Fans are wondering if one or two powerful female icons – Beyoncé and Taylor Swift – might take the stage for a grand finale to the convention, but organizers are keeping quiet about what’s to come.
White House policy director Emmy Ruiz shared a bee emoji on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday afternoon, causing an uproar on social media.
For those unfamiliar with Beyoncé’s fan base, they refer to themselves as the “Beyhive,” and Beyoncé is referred to as “Queen Bey” both in songs and by fans, which has led to a lot of speculation.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has returned to the US after the end of the European leg of her recent tour, leaving her with just enough time to travel to Chicago for a possible performance.
Check back later for updates as the lineup continues to develop.
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 on NBCChicago.com, Telemundochicago.com and their respective apps, as well as on YouTube.
Streaming times include:
Thursday: 17:30-22:00
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 8 p.m. Thursday.
What are the main topics of the conference?
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 the organizers, the theme for Thursday is “For our future.”
Hornbrook said the goal of the convention was to “use the last night at the United Center to show the American people how committed Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are to fighting for a better future for all.”
