3 min readHas Lollapalooza become the It music festival? This past weekend, the massive four-day event returned to Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, where the roster of stars turned out headline-grabbing performances that have been causing the same amount of buzz we usually see reserved for events like Coachella and Primavera Sound.
In part, this excitement was thanks to a lineup that felt particularly stacked, with a mix of established names, like Lorde and Charli XCX (the latter of whom celebrated her birthday the same weekend), interspersed with rising stars that have been carving out their own following on the internet, like Adéla and Oklou.
The fashion was on full display, with stars embracing high luxury like never before. Jennie brought a military-inspired dose of elegance with a Fall 2026 ensemble from Ann Demeulemeester. Sombr was one of the best-dressed rock stars in a lacy black top and feathery jacket courtesy of Alessandro Michele’s Valentino. Newcomer—and Grammy winner—Olivia Dean sported a series of custom looks from Versace, including a sequined fringe minidress and a sparkling cream gown with ruffles along the hem of her puffy, undulating skirt.
Meanwhile, one surprise arrived in the form of another Olivia—Rodrigo, to be exact—who stepped out as a guest during the Smashing Pumpkins’ headlining set. She joined the alternative rock band for a performance of “Thirty-Three,” where she took the stage in an archival white babydoll dress from the Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2006 collection (clearly not deterred by the discourse around her wardrobe). She paired the look with matching knee-high stockings and Jimmy Choo Mary Janes.
Outside of the fashion, the stars brought plenty of other tactics primed for virality. Charli XCX and Lorde came together to sing their reconciliation anthem “Girl, So Confusing.” Tate McRae ended her set by dipping her body into a vat of liquid gold. SB19 made history as the first-ever Filipino act to perform at the festival. Zara Larsson continued to prove why she’s the queen of the summer season.
Of course, Lollapalooza has been going on since 1991, originally acting as a traveling festival, before finding its base in Chicago in 2005. Still, in the last few years, the event has begun to embrace more pop music, including stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Miley Cyrus, which has likely brought more exposure to the festival, which one focused more on alternative, hip-hop, and electronic subgenres.
Not to mention, the festival organizers seem to be paying attention to under-the-radar acts who are getting Gen Alpha excited, whether it’s Adéla making her Lolla debut a month before her first full studio album even hits shelves, or 2010s veterans like 5 Seconds of Summer and the Chainsmokers returning to the stage as their songs resurface across social media platforms like TikTok.
Perhaps it was even just the audience energy, with tens of thousands of fans arriving early to catch mid-day sets, concertgoers embracing the stormy weather with impromptu mud wrestling, and a new form of cool festival fashion taking over Grant Park.
Suffice it to say, this year just might have marked a turning point for the future of Lollapalooza. Don’t mind me as I go watch all the best clips on repeat.