The schedule for Lollapalooza 2026 is here, and as expected, the conflicts are stacked. However, as most festival goers know, that’s nothing a few aftershows can’t fix. I’ve never attended Lollapalooza, and this likely won’t be the year, but I still wanted to make up my own schedule as if I were going.

Thursday

I’d begin Lolla with Between Friends at Bud Light at 2:45, running straight to Ninajirachi, who hits Airbnb at 4:00, fully sold after streaming her wildly fun Coachella set.

I know the name change is new this year, so for many people, this will always be known as The Grove.

Seeing Chalk slotted at the BMI stage at 5:40 made me excited. I caught them at SXSW this year, and their album Crystalpunk remains my favorite of 2026. I’m happy to see them booked at such a massive festival.

There is a main stage conflict around 4:30 between Blood Orange and 5 Seconds of Summer, but Little Simz, performing at 5:45 on Tito’s, would be my pivot. I caught her at ACL 2023, and she’s still one of the best live rap performers out there today.

I’ve seen Empire of the Sun a few times now, but their shows are so full of life and color that I’d happily run it back at Bud Light at 6:45. I already know that the crowd on the other end of the park for Sombr will be chaos, though.

Around 7:30, Wet Leg and Snow Strippers overlap, and I’d lean towards the latter, as they’d be the rowdier choice. John Summit would be the perfect way to end the night, as I caught him at ACL last year, and that communal, high-energy atmosphere feels built for a Lolla closer. I can easily see Lorde, however, deliver an understated yet special performance for her headlining slot.

Friday

I’d kick off my day with Day We Ran at 12:50 at Airbnb; their music has been coming up on my playlists recently, and their vibes are immaculate. The 2:30 timeslot, however, is absolutely loaded with 54 Ultra, Balu Brigada, and i-dle all stacked within minutes of each other. I’d lean towards Balu Brigada at Bud Light as they’ve been one of my favorite bands to listen to this year, but I can personally vouch for 54 Ultra’s live set being worth it for those curious to go to the Airbnb stage at 2:50.

The biggest non-headline crowd of the festival will no doubt be for Zara Larsson’s 4:40 T-Mobile slot. There’s a lot of genre overlap around 5:40, with Sidepiece, Oklou, Loathe, and Suki Waterhouse all around the same time. I’d choose Suki for her ethereal stage presence, but this stretch of the schedule best represents what makes Lolla special: genre diversity, something few festivals at this scale match.

The painful part of this day is not any conflict; it’s Slayyyter at Airbnb. It’s not the roomiest stage at the fest, and although Lil Uzi Vert and Yungblud will draw huge crowds on their own, this is bound to be insanely packed. I’d be going crazy seeing Uzi, though.

I fully expected Not for Radio to close the Grove; her moody, gothic sound feels tailor-made for a nighttime set. The Allianz, formerly known as Lakeshore, stage placement makes sense, but she would have been such a good festival closer there. It will instead be Freddie Gibbs closing that stage, with Major Lazer, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Charli XCX closing out Friday night. There’s no way I’m passing up Brat Summer: Lolla edition.

Saturday

Saturday is another exciting day at Lolla, kicking off with Die Spitz at Airbnb at 1:50; there’s no better early start than with the explosive energy they bring. I’d be tempted to stay after for Frost Children, but I’ve been vibing with CORTIS recently, so I’d head to T-Mobile at 2:55 instead.

Leon Thomas is worth camping for at 4:30 before trekking across the park for Clipse’s 5:15 slot. Around 6:30, an indie-heavy stretch takes over the festival with The Neighbourhood at T-Mobile, and Ethel Cain and Geese continuing their rise.

The group of closing acts for Saturday is fascinating to me, with DJ Trixie Mattel at Airbnb, Disco Lines, Olivia Dean, and Jennie, still fresh in her Ruby era and reveling in her insanely viral remix of Tame Impala’s “Dracula.”

Sunday

I still have to research the artists for Sunday’s grand finale, but I’d start strong with ADÈLA performing at T-Mobile at 3:00. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her return as a headliner in a few years.

My most anticipated set of the weekend, though, is Turnstile, hitting Bud Light just before dark at 7. Lolla’s about to get some of its biggest mosh pits yet. They’re not without conflicts, though, with Beabadoobee around the same time as Aespa, beginning a short bit after, and they’d be an electrifying group to catch live.

To wrap up the festival, The Chainsmokers are closing, alongside Tate McRae and my personal pick, The xx. I still watch clips of their recent Coachella set, and I couldn’t imagine any better way to close things out at Grant Park.

I’ll try to follow as much of this schedule as I can from the comfort of my couch on Hulu, but whether you’re there for indie, pop, rock, or electronic music, this 2026 schedule proves Lollapalooza does genre-bending like no other. The conflicts are brutal, and the walks from stage to stage even more so, but the music won’t disappoint, and the experience of seeing it live will be unlike any other.