Althea Legaspi
Contact Althea Legaspi on X View all posts by Althea Legaspi August 3, 2026
Sombr, Lorde, and Slayyyter at Lollapalooza 2026. Victoria Sanders for Rolling Stone, 2; Sacha Lecca for Rolling Stone Lollapalooza history was made this weekend when P-pop boy band SB19 became the first all-Filipino group to perform at the Chicago festival. That was just one of the memorable moments that helped define the 2026 iteration of the fest. On Day Two, the red-hot Slayyyter was bumped up to a bigger stage than originally planned, and on Day Three, headliner Olivia Dean paid homage to her grandmother and her Jamaican-Guyanese and English heritage with a song and impassioned speech for immigrants.
There were also a slew of surprise guests at this Lollapalooza. Lorde wowed fans at her headlining set with guest Charli XCX, who herself headlined later in the weekend. And Smashing Pumpkins invited guests Olivia Rodrigo, Yungblud, and former bandmate Melissa Auf der Maur to join them for their headlining turn.
Though rain caused a delay to the weekend festivities on Saturday, which resulted in a few acts being nixed and some abbreviated sets, there was still a lot to take in over the annual four-day event in Chicago’s Grant Park.
Here are 11 of the best moments and sets from Lollapalooza 2026.
Beabadoobee’s Penultimate Moment Impressed
Filipino musician Beabadoobee performed as the penultimate act leading into Tate McRae’s closing headlining set on the main stage on Sunday. By Beabadoobee’s set time, the area was already mobbed with a full crowd of people as far as the eye could see. “There’s so many of you, oh my goodness,” she remarked. But she easily rose to the occasion with a confidence that included multi-guitar switchups and new songs from her forthcoming album, Pylon, including her fiery kiss-off to a past relationship “Sun Has Set” and “Switchblade.”
Beabadoobee Sacha Lecca for Rolling Stone Bella Kay Has Tons of Fans, Keeping It Cool and Hot
Bella Kay drew a huge crowd, all of whom clung to her songs at the BMI stage. In a meta move, the fans fanned themselves with Bella Kay-branded fans handed out during her set. Traversing material from her debut album, My Reckless Abandon, and making her Lollapalooza debut, the rising star delivered an assured show, talking to audience members like they were close confidants and building a genuine rapport. From the smoldering “Tongue” and “Promise” (“Pinkies up, we’re all going to promise,” she declared) to the fan-favorite shout-along “iloveitiloveitiloveit,” she showcased the kind of spunk that now famous up-and-comers before her previously displayed from that same spot: Lady Gaga made her own Lolla debut on BMI.
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Charli XCX Brings Rock Music and Art to Lolla
Charli XCX opened her headlining set with “Rock Music,” signaling the start of her Music, Fashion, Film era, which is indeed a punk AF rock-leaning one. It’s also artful, and for her fourth time at Lolla, Charli delivered her best evolution yet, incorporating each element of her album’s name into her performance — from her fits to her musical range, to her film pursuits. The cinematic ending came with Charli singing “No One Lasts Forever,” featuring David Cronenberg’s repeated refrain, “They are dead, they are gone, no one lasts forever.” “Oblivion is freedom” was a powerful statement to cap off a Friday night.
Lorde Victoria Sanders for Rolling Stone Lorde Ushers in BFF Girl’s Weekend With Charli XCX
Lorde was feeling herself, physically and metaphorically, and the voyeuristic vibes of her set freed both performer and audience alike on Day One of Lollapalooza 2026. She’s a Lolla vet, and during her first headlining appearance at the fest, Lorde offered cathartic material from her fourth LP, 2025’s Virgin. While festivals aren’t a typical venue for intimate moments, she managed to create a closeness amid the tens of thousands dancing and singing along. The BFF vibes continued when she brought out Charli XCX, who headlined the next night, for their remix of “Girl, So Confusing.” Let the best girl’s weekend begin.
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Olivia Dean Speaks Out for Immigrants
Olivia Dean returned for her second time at Lolla, moving from a side stage to headliner in just two short years. It was an impressive feat and she delivered a show to match. During one powerful moment, the Jamaican-Guyanese and English singer dedicated the song “Carmen” to her maternal grandmother, who was part of the Windrush generation. “This is a song for any immigrant, anyone who’s brave enough to do something for the people coming after them. And I don’t understand how we’ve become so fearful of each other. We’re all just people. We’re just people,” she said. “So, I hope you feel the love in it.” Indeed, we did.
SB19 Victoria Sanders for Rolling Stone SB19 Get A’Tin and Benny the Bull to Boogie in the Heat
“We are all A’TIN here,” SB19 said, welcoming their fans (Atin means “ours” in the Filipino language). And A’TIN were out in full force, waving Filipino flags to greet the band, who made history when they became the first all-Filipino group to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago. The P-pop quintet — Josh Cullen Santos, John Paulo “Pablo” Nase (writes lyrics), Stellvester “Stell” Ajero (works on choreography), Felip Jhon “Ken” Suson, and Justin de Dios — took the stage alongside several energetic dancers for some perfected, acrobatic choreography during “Dam” and “Gento.” They also debuted new banger “Lawless.” Chicago’s Benny the Bull joined them to dance during “Dungka!”. The Rolling Stone Philippines May cover stars are poised to grow even bigger as they proved onstage, just like fellow Filipina group, Bini, whose history-making set rocked at Coachella. “This is our first time here and it definitely won’t be the last,” Santos declared. Judging from this performance, they’re destined for a bigger stage.
Slayyyter Slays at Last-Minute Move to Main Stage
You know you’re killing it when your festival slot moves from a smaller stage to the main a few days before the fest commenced. That’s what happened for Slayyyter, who easily filled the bigger area. It was a similar situation to when Chappell Roan performed at Lolla, a signal that Slayyyter is blowing up. The Wor$t Girl in America purveyor delivered one of the best moments of the entire festival. Emerging from a trailer-like home and dressed in a flannel cropped-top and short-shorts adorned with fishing tackle, with her bandmates matching the trash-chic vibes, she rocked the crowd, complete with metal-tinged screamed vocals and headbanging. “Crank,” in particular, was bonkers.
Billy Corgan and Olivia Rodrigo Sacha Lecca for Rolling Stone Smashing Pumpkins Bring Out Olivia Rodrigo, Yungblud, Melissa Auf de Maur
Beloved hometown heroes Smashing Pumpkins delivered a hits-filled set comprising Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness favorites alongside classics from Siamese Dream, and more. The band has been celebrating Mellon Collie’s anniversary — it turned 30 last October — with a series of shows. On Friday, surprise guest Olivia Rodrigo joined frontman Billy Corgan for a graceful, acoustic performance of “Thirty-Three.” Yungblud also came out with the band to perform Siamese Dream’s “Luna.” Together, they showcased Smashing Pumpkins’ resonance with the next generation of rock stars. In a full circle moment at the finale, former bandmate Melissa Auf der Maur appearead for “The Everlasting Gaze.”
Sombr Is Ready to Rock & Roll
Sombr made a playful entrance that matched his delivery, looking every bit the rising rock star as he rolled up in a car backstage with a drink in hand. But he was serious when it came to engaging fans, confidently strutting and sharing stories. “You hit like a cigarette,” he sang on the raucous “Homewrecker,” and also got vulnerable, discussing having “body issues my whole life” before performing “My Body Isn’t Ready.” He later confessed he’d been in a “really dark mental state” of late, and was grateful for the big fan reception at Lolla, and then in another rock star move, took a swig from a bottle of wine and was gone.
