This year will make a decade of Lollapalooza coverage.
What a fascinating exercise it is to reflect on past lineups, seeing kids on TikTok posting wistfully about the mid to late 2010s. This year should be no different, and those of us patient enough to wait might just get a chance to ride the newly debuted ferris wheel.
As a dear friend of mine once mused, “Lollapalooza 2026 is for the girls and the gays”. I’d be inclined to agree with him, given the palpable excitement around acts like Charli XCX, Olivia Dean and Slayyyter.
Should you happen to fall outside of those categories, fear not! There’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’ll be unpacking some of the acts we’re most excited for below.
Thursday
Few days are forecasted to be quite as perfect as the opening day of the festival, and we’ll be enjoying the sunshine with Boys Noize, of whom I had the pleasure to see open for Nine Inch Nails late last year. Sweden’s own Viagra Boys are a must see, and have the potential to be one of the most boisterous sets of the weekend. We’ll close out the day with back to back performances by Blood Orange and Wet Leg, capping the evening off with a coveted headlining slot by Lorde.
Friday
We’ll be kicking off Day 2 with Slayyyter, a performance that could potentially rival the fever pitch around Chappell Roan’s mid-day show in 2024. Those wanting to keep the energy up would be encouraged to see horsegiirL and Freddie Gibbs while others who may want slower pace would delight in Maria Zardoya’s ethereal latest project, Not For Radio. In perhaps the most stark split of headliners in recent years, Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins will be beckoning those of us with bad backs and knees, unless you dare attempt to keep pace with those at Charli XCX.
Saturday
A slightly slower day, we’ll be kicking things off with Spacey Jane, followed by Geese. Weekend crowds who feel fresh and fit would be encouraged to catch Whethan, Allison Wonderland and Disco Lines. We’re thrilled to catch Ethel Cain again following her highly anticipated show last year. While it stands to reason that both headliners on Saturday will be a treat, few have had the meteoric rise and fervor that Olivia Dean has. Currently in the midst of a sold out U.S. tour (which followed her sold out O2 Arena run in London), Dean’s sophomore album, The Art of Loving, gained traction like few records have within the last several years. Her glamorous and truly timeless stage presence and artistic vision promise a performance that could (and dare I say, should) cement itself as the highlight of the weekend.
Sunday
Those of us that survive to the end will undoubtedly enjoy sets by beabadoobee or Turnstile, and we’ll be seated eagerly to see The XX return to Chicago after a many-year hiatus.
The best is yet to come.
