Lollapalooza

Lineup

• Lorde — Thu
• John Summit — Thu
• Charli XCX — Fri
• The Smashing Pumpkins — Fri
• Olivia Dean — Sat
• JENNIE — Sat
• Tate McRae — Sun
• The xx — Sun
• Empire of the Sun — Thu
• Wet Leg — Thu
• Blood Orange — Thu
• 5 Seconds of Summer — Thu
• Little Simz — Thu
• Lil Uzi Vert — Fri
• Yungblud — Fri
• Major Lazer — Fri
• Zara Larsson — Fri
• Freddie Gibbs — Fri
• The Neighbourhood — Sat
• Ethel Cain — Sat
• Clipse — Sat
• Wolf Alice — Sat
• Turnstile — Sun
• beabadoobee — Sun
• aespa — Sun
• The Chainsmokers — Sun
• MUNA — Sun

Schedule

1. Jul 30 — Thursday: Gates 11am · Lorde and John Summit headline
2. Jul 31 — Friday: Charli XCX and The Smashing Pumpkins headline
3. Aug 1 — Saturday: Olivia Dean and JENNIE headline
4. Aug 2 — Sunday: Tate McRae and The xx close the festival

What to expect

Chicago's biggest festival. Four days, eight stages, 100+ artists across rock, pop, hip-hop, EDM, indie, K-pop, international. Gates 11am, music ends ~10pm. Grant Park with the Chicago skyline behind the main stage is one of the best festival settings in the country. Chow Town has 80+ food vendors. Official aftershows at Metro, House of Blues, The Vic, Lincoln Hall, Schubas, Concord. 2026 headliner highlights for you specifically: John Summit (your guy) is likely headlining a major slot — set times drop ~1 week before fest.

Tickets

GA, GA+, VIP, Platinum, plus 2026's expanded premium hospitality: Northside Suites, Suites at Perry's, Speakeasy Lounge. 4-Day passes typically best value if 3+ artists you want span multiple days. As of late April: most 4-Day GA on waitlist; single-day and secondary market are your best bets. Buy from official Front Gate, SOLDOUT.COM verified, or TicketMaster Verified Resale only — sketchy resellers are the #1 scam vector.

Transit

CTA Red Line → Roosevelt or Harrison; Brown/Orange/Pink/Green → Adams/Wabash. METRA Electric → Van Buren. Buses everywhere. NO driving recommended — Grant Park is locked down. Divvy if biking. Pedestrian-only streets within a wide perimeter all 4 days.

Bag policy

Clear bag policy strictly enforced. TSA-style search. No outside food/drink. Empty plastic water bottles okay. Hydration packs allowed if empty entering. Sealed sunscreen tubes allowed.

Family-friendly

Kids 10 and under are free with a ticketed adult, and there's a 'Kidzapalooza' area. BUT: not really an infant-appropriate environment between the heat, sound levels, and crowd density. If you go, this is a Victoria-and-mother-in-law-watching-the-baby, you-get-a-day-pass kind of move.

History

Lollapalooza began in 1991 as a traveling festival founded by Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, originally conceived as a farewell tour. After a late-1990s hiatus it was revived and reborn as a destination festival in Chicago's Grant Park in 2005, where it has anchored the city's summer — now four days and 100-plus artists — ever since.

Food and drink

• Lou Malnati's — deep-dish pizza
• Billy Goat Tavern — griddle burgers
• Tacotlan — birria tacos
• Soul Veg City — plant-based plates
• XO Marshmallow — gourmet marshmallow treats
• Ida's Artisan Ice Cream — small-batch ice cream

Local tips

1. John Summit will be at the Perry's stage (electronic) — get there 90 min before for front-of-rail; otherwise the back of Perry's is its own party
2. Use the Lolla app for real-time set conflicts and personal schedule
3. Stake out a spot at Bud Light (north end) for big pop headliners — sound is best there, exit faster
4. South stages (Bud Light) tend to have rowdier, higher-energy crowds; north stages are mellower
5. Aftershows at Metro/House of Blues/Concord are sometimes the best music of the week — separately ticketed, often headliners or surprise guests
6. Hot tip: free water refill stations are at every stage perimeter — bring an empty Camelbak

Frequently asked questions

Is Lollapalooza all ages?

Yes — Lollapalooza is an all-ages festival, and kids 10 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.

What's the bag policy?

Clear bags up to 12″ × 6″ × 12″ are allowed, as are small non-clear clutches or fanny packs up to 6″ × 9″ with a single pocket. Backpacks and large multi-pocket bags are prohibited — coming bagless is the fastest way in.

Can I bring water?

Yes — empty reusable water bottles and hydration packs are allowed through the gates; outside food and other outside drinks are not.

What time do gates open?

Festival entrances open at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. each day. First sets start around noon, and headliners go on between 8:30 and 9 p.m.

What is and isn’t allowed inside?

Point-and-shoot cameras, non-aerosol sunscreen, and baby strollers are fine. Professional cameras with detachable lenses, umbrellas, chairs, coolers, and outside food or drink are prohibited.

Can I watch Lollapalooza from home?

Yes — for 2026, all four days livestream globally on Disney+ and Hulu, the first time Lolla streams across both. The broadcast simulcasts performances plus backstage interviews and behind-the-scenes “Live Set” segments from Grant Park; a Hulu or Disney+ subscription is required. The full stream schedule and set times are announced closer to the festival.