The Chicago Bears have not officially finalized a move yet, but here’s where things stand as of early 2026: they are primarily weighing two main options for a future home stadium, with a new twist in Indiana.

Quick Scoop

  • The Bears bought a 326‑acre property at the old Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights, a northwest suburb about 30 miles from Soldier Field, and for a long time called it their likely “future home.”
  • They have since reopened the search and are now also seriously exploring a new stadium just across the state line in Northwest Indiana, including a proposed site near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.
  • An Indiana House Ways and Means Committee has unanimously approved creating a “Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority” to help finance and build a stadium to lure the Bears, a significant step but not a done deal.
  • Team president/CEO Kevin Warren has told fans they are keeping “every credible pathway open” across the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana, because Illinois leaders have not committed to the infrastructure and financing framework the team wants.

In other words, if you’re asking “where is Chicago Bears moving to,” the honest 2026 answer is:

They are trying to move out of Soldier Field and are most seriously looking at:

  • Arlington Heights, Illinois (Arlington Park site), and
  • Hammond/Northwest Indiana (near Wolf Lake),
    but no final stadium deal or firm relocation site has been fully approved and locked in yet.

Where the Bears want to move

For several years, the main plan was a domed stadium and entertainment district in Arlington Heights:

  • The Bears bought the Arlington Park land in 2023 to build an enclosed stadium plus mixed-use development.
  • In letters and public comments, Kevin Warren has referred to Arlington Heights as the team’s “future home,” framing the move as an expansion rather than abandoning Chicago.
  • The team’s vision: a modern, domed stadium, with surrounding development that they can control and monetize far better than cramped, city‑owned Soldier Field.

So if you see older articles saying “Bears are moving to Arlington Heights,” that reflects the stage when Arlington looked like the clear front‑runner.

Why Indiana suddenly matters

More recently, political and financial friction in Illinois opened the door to Indiana:

  • Illinois officials reportedly signaled that a stadium project at Arlington Heights is not a priority for 2026, especially around infrastructure commitments like roads and utilities.
  • In December 2025, Warren sent an open letter saying the Bears would expand their search beyond Cook County and even beyond Illinois, specifically mentioning Northwest Indiana as in play.
  • Indiana responded quickly: a bill to create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority passed committee 24–0 in the Indiana House, aiming to finance and lease a stadium for the Bears near Wolf Lake in Hammond, roughly 20 miles from Soldier Field.

This has turned Indy’s northwest corner into a real contender, not just “leverage talk.”

What’s actually decided (and what isn’t)

Decided:

  • The Bears are committed to leaving Soldier Field at some point and building a new stadium.
  • They own the Arlington Heights site and still treat it as a major option.
  • They are actively engaged in talks and legislative efforts in Indiana, especially around the Hammond/Wolf Lake concept.

Not decided:

  • No final relocation site has been officially chosen or approved by all necessary parties.
  • There is no confirmed opening year, construction start date, or signed stadium deal in either Arlington Heights or Indiana yet.

So, from a fan’s perspective: the Bears are “moving” in the sense that Soldier Field is on borrowed time, but the exact new address is still a live political and financial fight.

Mini FAQ

Are the Bears definitely leaving Chicago city limits?
Team leadership has “largely closed the door” on a new enclosed stadium within the city itself and spoken of the “future home” being outside Chicago, with Arlington Heights as the key example. However, because Indiana is now in the mix, what’s certain is that the next home is almost surely not Soldier Field.

Could they end up in Indiana instead of Illinois?
Yes, it is a real possibility. The creation of an Indiana stadium authority and Hammond’s Wolf Lake site shows that Indiana is actively trying to land the team, and the Bears have publicly acknowledged Northwest Indiana as a serious option.

What does this mean for timelines?
Stadium projects take years; even if a deal were finalized soon, you’d likely see the Bears in Soldier Field for multiple more seasons before any move actually happens. None of the publicly discussed plans suggest an immediate, one‑season‑away relocation.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.