CHICAGO (WLS) -- Lollapalooza kicked off Thursday at Grant Park in Chicago.
This year's headliners include Charlie XCX, Tate McRae, Lorde, Olivia Dean, John Summit, Jennie, The Smashing Pumpkins and The XX.
Follow along with ABC7 Chicago for live updates.
Chicago officials say weather shelters are available ahead of possible rain this weekend.
Emergency evacuation shelter sites are located in the Grant Park North, Grant Park South and Millennium Lakeside Garages.
The evacuation shelter sites can be accessed through the vehicle entrance on Michigan Avenue.
"The Office of Emergency Management and Communications works closely with the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Park District and C3 Presents to plan well in advance of the popular event to ensure the safety of performers, music fans and residents", said Frank Velez, OEMC executive director. "Safety remains our top priority and participants are urged to be familiar with the surrounding area and to heed all warnings."
- Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6" x 9" or smaller are allowed. They do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket.
- All other bags larger than 6" x 9" must be smaller than 12" x 6" x 12" and clear.
- Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear but must be emptied of all liquid and with no more than two total pockets. One for the reservoir and one additional pocket.
- Aerosol containers, including sunscreen and personal beauty products
- Blankets, sheets, towels
- Coolers
- Frisbees
- Any and all professional audio recording equipment
- Any and all professional video equipment. No video recording will be allowed
- Professional cameras and professional recording (photo, video, audio) equipment (NO large professional detachable zoom lenses, stands, monopods, tripods, attachment sticks (selfie sticks) or other commercial equipment.
- Drones or any other remote flying device
- Hammocks
- Glass containers of any kind
- Inflatables of any kind
- Outside food or beverage (including alcohol) of any kind
- Umbrellas
- Pets (except service animals)
- Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts or any personal motorized vehicles
- Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind
- Totems or flag poles
- Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors are not allowed. No unauthorized solicitation and materials including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, giveaways, samples, etc.
- Fireworks
- Large chains or spiked jewelry
- Bicycles
- Chairs of any kind
- All Chicago parks prohibit smoking of any kind, including vaping
- Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 1 - Aug. 9
- Jackson Boulevard from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 21 - Aug. 8
- Balbo from Michigan Avenue to Columbus: July 27- Aug. 3
- Jackson from Michigan to Columbus: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Columbus from Monroe Street to Roosevelt Road: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Columbus (northbound, two center lanes), from 13th Street to Roosevelt: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Congress Plaza Drive from Michigan to Columbus: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Monroe, from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Michigan from Jackson to 11th Street Bridge: July 28 - Aug. 2
- Balbo (both sides, from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 15 - Aug. 9
- Columbus (Northbound side), from Roosevelt to Ida B. Wells Drive: July 15 - Aug. 7
- Columbus (Southbound side), from Ninth Street Yard to South Ida B. Wells: July 20 - Aug. 8
- Jackson (both sides), from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 20 - Aug. 8
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 22
- Monroe (Eastbound side), from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 18 and July 20 - Aug. 8
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Southbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 25 - Aug. 8
- Balbo (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Jackson (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Congress Plaza Drive, from Michigan to Columbus: July 27 - Aug. 3
- Congress Plaza (westbound and eastbound side), from Michigan to Columbus: July 25 - July 26
- Columbus (both sides), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 27- Aug. 4
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive (northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: Aug. 4
The Chicago Transit Authority and Metra will add service and capacity to existing train routes to serve the tens of thousands of music fans expected for the four-day event.
Starting Thursday, July 30, and running through Sunday, Aug. 2, Metra will provide extra trains on seven of its 11 lines and add railcars for expanded capacity to accommodate the anticipated demand for ridership. Detailed Metra schedules for Lollapalooza weekend can be found at metra.com/schedules.
CTA customers can rely on the Red and Blue lines, as well as the elevated lines in the Loop, to get to the festival. Yellow Line service will be extended until 1 a.m., each night, and various bus routes will connect to Metra trains at Chicago Union Station or Ogilvie Transportation Center with Grant Park.
From Union Station, take the No. 126 Jackson, No. 130 Museum Campus or No. 151 Sheridan buses.
From Ogilvie Transportation Center, take the No. 20 Madison, No. 56 Milwaukee, or No. J14 Jeffery Jump buses.
Zara Larsson will be performing at the Vic Theatre on Thursday, July 30, and Major Lazer will perform at Sound-Bar that day, as well.
Five Seconds of Summer will perform at Salt Shed on Saturday, Aug. 1.
See the full lineup at www.lollapalooza.com/aftershows.
The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Grammy-winning spoken word poet J. Ivy will perform at Lollapalooza at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday.
They joined ABC7 on Thursday to preview the concert.
Music fans are descending on Grant Park for day one of Lollapalooza 2026.
The four-day festival is drawing hundreds of thousands of people with over 170 acts, performing on eight stages around the park through Sunday, including Lorde, Charlie XCX, Olivia Dean and international superstar DJ John Summit.
Not only has the event become a Chicago summer tradition, but also a massive moneymaker for the city.
Last year, organizers say the festival generated more than $480 million for Chicago's economy and $3.6 billion since 2010.
Thousands of music fans streamed into Grant Park on Thursday as Lollapalooza 2026 got underway, launching the four-day music festival that runs through Sunday.
Festival organizers opened the gates at 11 a.m., beginning what has become a summer tradition for many attendees. The event is sold out, with 115,000 people expected on site.
For some festivalgoers, the opening day marked a long-awaited return. For others, it was their first chance to experience Lollapalooza.
"This is my first time too. What took you so long? I don't know. We just love the lineup today," said Kate Jenkins, a first-time attendee.
Chicago police officers were patrolling the festival grounds as crowds filled Grant Park. The festival features eight stages spread throughout the park, with two main headliners performing each night at opposite ends of the venue.
One of Thursday night's headliners, DJ John Summit, made a stop at Lurie Children's Hospital before his scheduled 8:30 p.m. performance. The international music star met patients, posed for photos and signed autographs ahead of taking the stage.
Festival attendee Jerry Dohemy of Barrington said he was especially looking forward to Summit's performance.
"Tonight I'm going to John Summit. I love Lorde, but I'm gonna be at Perry's smiling my face off having a good time," Dohemy said.
Sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s welcomed attendees on opening day, though hydration remained a concern for festivalgoers spending hours outdoors.
"It's just fun. Show up, walk around enjoy music, some drinks, food Just a good time," said Rodrigo Gomez of Chicago.
For Kevin Motschman, the festival was the centerpiece of a family trip from Toronto.
"We told them last summer, ok, this is the plan for this year. So we've been counting down since school started last September," Motschman said.
While Thursday's weather conditions were favorable, officials warned that conditions could change later in the weekend. The Office of Emergency Management earlier issued a statement urging attendees to be aware of evacuation shelter sites. Signs identifying those locations are posted throughout the festival grounds.
Lollapalooza continues through Sunday in Grant Park.
Chicago officials say weather shelters are available ahead of possible rain this weekend.
Emergency evacuation shelter sites are located in the Grant Park North, Grant Park South and Millennium Lakeside Garages.
The evacuation shelter sites can be accessed through the vehicle entrance on Michigan Avenue.
"The Office of Emergency Management and Communications works closely with the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Park District and C3 Presents to plan well in advance of the popular event to ensure the safety of performers, music fans and residents", said Frank Velez, OEMC executive director. "Safety remains our top priority and participants are urged to be familiar with the surrounding area and to heed all warnings."
