REVIEW: Lollapalooza 2026 Celebrates the Artists Redefining Festival Culture
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
Photos By Audrey Hertel
MUD-SOAKED CROWDS, RELENTLESS RAIN AND GLOWING FULL MOONS — became part of the soundtrack to Lollapalooza 2026. Rather than sending festivalgoers searching for cover, the unpredictable weather only heightened the energy as fans danced through puddles, packed muddy mosh pits and waited hours to experience unforgettable performances. Returning to Chicago's Grant Park from July 30 through August 2, the iconic festival showcased one of its strongest female-forward lineups to date, while rock, indie and pop heavyweights collided across four days of nonstop music.
Headliners including Lorde, Charli XCX, The Smashing Pumpkins, Olivia Dean, Tate McRae, and The xx reflected the festival's diverse range, while nostalgia was alive with the return of 2010s staples such as The Neighbourhood, 5 Seconds of Summer and The Chainsmokers. Rock remained just as vital to the festival's heart, with standout performances from Die Spitz, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Wet Leg, Ecca Vandal and Geese.
The weekend's standout moment arrived Thursday night when Lorde closed the opening day by surprising the crowd by welcoming Charli XCX to the stage for a performance of “Girl, so confusing.” Rather than ending from the main stage, Lorde stepped onto a platform positioned in the middle of the audience to perform her beloved 2013 anthem “Ribs.”
Chicago's own The Smashing Pumpkins delivered another unforgettable headline performance filled with hometown pride and unexpected guests. Opening with the iconic “1979,” Billy Corgan powered through classics including “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and “Disarm” while playing material from their latest album, Aghori Mhori Mei. Midway through the set, pop songstress Olivia Rodrigo emerged for a heartfelt duet of “Thirty-Three.” The surprises continued as YUNGBLUD and former Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur joined the band in the closing performance of “The Everlasting Gaze.”
Fresh off the cultural phenomenon of Brat, Charli debuted Music, Fashion, Film live for the first time, blending together fan favorites and newer material into a performance that was a rave, runway and avant-garde theater. She closed with “No One Lasts Forever,” staring directly into the crowd while her dancers slowly gathered around her. The performance concluded with director David Cronenberg's voice reflecting on art, mortality and the notion that “oblivion is freedom.”
THURSDAY, JULY 30
Making her Lolla debut, Australian punk force Ecca Vandal wasted no time making her mark on Chicago. From the first guttural scream, Vandal had the crowd firmly in her grasp, delivering punk, hardcore and alternative rock that demanded complete attention. Midway through the set, Vandal called for an all-girls mosh pit, urging women to claim space at the front of the stage before dedicating the ferocious anthem “BLEED BUT NEVER DIE” to them. Vandal paused between songs to express genuine gratitude to the audience saying, “Thank you for welcoming us into your home.” Drawing heavily from her latest album, Looking for People to Unfollow, Vandal interlaced razor-sharp riffs, explosive rhythms and unapologetic lyricism. The newer material seamlessly intertwined with fan favorites including “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE,” “MOLLY,” and “BLEED BUT NEVER DIE.”
Performing to one of the weekend's largest daytime crowds, 5 Seconds of Summer reclaimed the “boy band” label that defined their early years. Rather than staying on the main stage, the band emerged on a platform in the middle of the crowd painted with the phrase, “Real Fans Save Bands.” Between songs, the video screens displayed a tongue-in-cheek montage showing the band's rise to “the world's greatest boy band,” complete with mock award show wins, swarms of screaming fans and over-the-top celebrity moments. “She's Kinda Hot” reignited the band's early pop-punk energy, while a stripped-back performance of “Amnesia” gave a nostalgic feel to fans. The band also delivered a nostalgic cover of Katy Perry's “Teenage Dream.” The band’s performance of “She Looks So Perfect” sent the crowd into its loudest singalong of the set. Released in 2014, the song instantly transported fans back to the band's breakout moment, with thousands shouting every word in unison.
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Wet Leg brought their signature infectious energy and offbeat charm to Lolla, transforming their set into a celebration of the band's acclaimed sophomore album, moisturizer. Led by Rhian Teasdale, the British indie rock duo opened with “Catch These Fists.” Teasdale commanded the stage with her vocal prowess. Tracks from moisturizer highlighted the band's continued experimentation, while fan favorites including “Oh No,” “Wet Dream,” and “Chaise Lounge” sparked some of the biggest reactions from the crowd.
Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys closed out the first night of Lolla with a performance that was chaotic, unpredictable and completely unapologetic. Bringing their signature blend of art punk, garage rock, and dark humor, the band delivered one of the most entertaining sets of the day, drawing out the festival's punk crowd for a cathartic late-night celebration. Frontman Sebastian Murphy commanded the stage with his unmistakable presence, leading the crowd through a set filled with explosive energy. The band tore through fan favorites including “Punk Rock Loser,” “Man Made of Meat,” “Sports,” and “Ain't No Thief.” By the end of their set, Viagra Boys had transformed Grant Park into a messy, energetic punk haven.
FRIDAY, JULY 31
Despite the pouring rain, Julia Wolf's Lolla debut proved that a dedicated fanbase will show up no matter the weather. As crowds gathered through the storm, the New York-born singer-songwriter delivered a heartfelt performance as she stepped onto the stage with a smile that never faded. The set featured fan favorites from across her catalog. Her hit “In My Room” became a defining moment of the performance.
Slayyyter officially transformed Lollapalooza into Slayyyterpalooza. Making her highly anticipated Lolla debut, the pop provocateur delivered one of the weekend’s most energetic sets, blending her signature hyperpop attitude with a rock n roll edge. Backed by a live band and dressed in a chic DIY fisherman-inspired look, Slayyyter leaned into the grit and intensity of a full rock performance, turning the afternoon crowd into a full-blown pop mosh pit. The set focused exclusively on songs from her WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA era, celebrating her third album. She delivered the festival debut of her newest single “brand new chanel$,” the sister track to “BEAT UP CHANEL$,” which reimagines the original song’s perspective and production. The performance continued with cuts including “OLD FLING$,” “CRANK,” “CANNIBALISM!,” “BROKE BITCH FREE$TYLE” and “YES GODDD.”
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Zara Larsson transformed Grant Park into a glitter-covered tropical paradise. With an audience dressed in dolphins, rainbows, sequins, and vibrant tropical prints inspired by Larsson’s signature feminine aesthetic, her set became a celebration of unapologetic pop. It was a moment made for the girls. Larsson opened her set with “Midnight Sun,” immediately setting the tone for a high-energy performance. She shared that it was her largest U.S. audience to date. “Lush Life” ignited one of the biggest singalongs of the performance, with the singer inviting a fan onstage to join her for the song’s viral choreography. Larsson also highlighted the confidence and self-love themes at the center of her music with “Pretty Ugly.” Leading the crowd in a chant of, “I’m so pretty. I can get ugly. I’m so ugly, that’s what makes me pretty.”
HorsegiirL made Lolla history as the festival’s first-ever horse to take the stage, bringing a packed crowd together for one of the weekend’s most unforgettable performances. Known offstage as Stella Stallion, the half-horse, half-human DJ ignited the festival with her maximalist blend of Eurodance and experimental hyperpop. Performing “My Barn My Rules,” HorsegiirL leaned fully into the playful world she has built around her music. Backup dancers dressed as horses joined her onstage, adding a layer of camp to the high-energy DJ set.
Pop heavyweight and cultural icon Charli XCX delivered Lolla’s most talked about performance from the entire weekend as she brought the drama of her first large-scale live performance since the release of her seventh studio album, Music, Fashion, Film. Fresh off the heels of her iconic Brat era, Charli delivered a 23-song setlist that had fans camped out in the mud for hours, undeterred by the downpour. From the bass-heavy anthems of BRAT to the sleek, experimental sounds of Music, Fashion, Film. The night kicked off with “Rock Music,” and Charli dived into Brat favorites such as “Von Dutch” and “Guess.” One of the most striking moments of the night came with the live debut of “House”, a dynamic and dramatic track from her Wuthering Heights soundtrack. The song’s intensity was palpable, its live performance amplified by the rain that began to fall harder. The set’s climax came with the set’s closer, “No One Lasts Forever.” As the song built to its haunting finale, Charli stood still and the voice of director David Cronenberg echoed through the speakers, sharing the idea that “oblivion is freedom.”
Photo By Henry Redcliffe
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
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Die Spitz set a powerful tone for the third day of Lolla, showing that neither rain nor mud could slow down the force of femme punk. As the rain poured down, girl-only mosh pits and muddy circle pits erupted throughout the set. Die Spitz opened with the grungy, explosive “Groping Dogs Gushing Blood.” Ava Schrobilgen delivered snarling, guttural vocals throughout the set, unleashing the crushing heaviness of “American Porn.” Lead singer Eleanor Livingston commanded the stage with relentless energy, roaring through the thrashing drum beats and blistering guitar riffs of “RIDING WITH MY GIRLS.”
The weather may have conspired against Wolf Alice at Lollapalooza, cutting their set short to just 30 minutes, but the English rock band still sparked with raw energy and an undeniable magnetic presence. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell, armed with nothing more than a bullhorn and a voice that commands the entire stage, transformed “Yuk Foo” into a moment of pure, unfiltered fury. Her vocals soared with a primal intensity. Wolf Alice launched straight into fan favorites, including “Formidable Cool,” “Play the Greatest Hits,” closing their set with “Don’t Delete the Kisses,” another standout from their critically acclaimed album Visions of a Life.
Photo By Dan Garcia of On Milwaukee
The Neighbourhood proved that some songs never lose their power. Returning to Lolla, the California alt-rock band drew a massive crowd to Grant Park. The performance came with an unexpected challenge when the band’s gear did not arrive on time, forcing the focus away from production and onto frontman Jesse Rutherford. With his signature presence and effortless charisma, he carried the set with a magnetic energy that kept thousands of fans locked in from start to finish. The Neighbourhood delivered a 13-song set filled with career-defining favorites, including “Cry Baby,” “Afraid” and “R.I.P. 2 My Youth.” The band also treated longtime fans to a rare moment, performing “Flawless” live for the first time in more than a decade. For a fanbase that has followed the band through every era, the deep cut’s return felt like a rarity. Of course, no Neighbourhood set would be complete without “Sweater Weather.” The band the breakout hit twice. While the band’s newest album, (((((ultraSOUND)))))+, was represented with only two songs, the set focused on the catalog that built The Neighbourhood’s devoted following. “Softcore” brought the night to a strong finish.
Trixie Mattel transformed her set into a glitter-covered, pink sci-fi disco universe. The iconic drag legend, musician, and pop culture powerhouse brought her signature humor and camp to the stage for a DJ set that became a must-see moment for the girls and the gays. Her vision felt like a futuristic dance party collided with a classic queer nightclub, complete with vibrant theatrics, playful commentary and over-the-top energy. Between tracks, Mattel’s sharp wit and comedic timing created an experience that felt less like a traditional DJ performance and more like her own campy universe.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
The sun blazed over Grant Park as MUNA took the stage for their third Lolla performance, and if there was ever a day to feel the heat, it was today. The band opened their set with “It Gets So Hot.” The crowd sang along to “Number One Fan,” “I Know a Place” and “Silk Chiffon.” With biting lyrics that criticized the current administration’s rhetoric, policing, and foreign policy decisions, “Big Stick” was a standout from the band’s set. Katie Gavin, MUNA’s lead vocalist and bassist, took a moment to reflect on the band’s roots and their commitment to keeping politics in their music. “I said I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and I learned so much about art here, but I also learned so much about segregation and inequality here,” she shared with the crowd. “I just wanna take a second to thank our fans for supporting us … keeping politics in our music.”
Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile closed Lolla with a set that matched the festival’s intensity. From the opening riff of “NEVER ENOUGH,” moshpits erupted instantly, filling the crowd with raw, unfiltered energy. Frontman Brendan Yates commanded the stage, his vocals cutting through the abrasive guitars and thunderous drums, while the venue’s big screen showcased the frenetic energy of the audience. The band’s set built to a fever pitch, culminating in their final song, “BIRDS.” The encore included “MYSTERY,” “BLACKOUT” and a final “BIRDS.”
