Lollapalooza, Chicago’s popular four-day music festival, is set to take place from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 3, with a fresh lineup of over 170 acts across eight stages. 

We feel this year’s lineup boasts a much stronger program than last year’s festival, as many artists are award-winning and hold massive audience appeal. Nearly every headliner is in the upper echelon of the music industry, while the emerging artists are making waves in their own regard. However, this makes tickets highly coveted, despite their high prices that rise each year. 

Lollapalooza began as a traveling festival in 1991 as a farewell tour for the rock band Jane’s Addiction. From there, it became a space dedicated to showcasing countercultural punk and alternative cultures. Lollapalooza became an annual festival after Grant Park was made its home in 2005 and has returned almost every August since, evolving from its roots to feature pop, country, hip-hop and, in recent years, K-pop artists. 

This summer will see headlining artists like Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, TWICE and Sabrina Carpenter. Due to the festival’s more recent, packed lineup, it is undeniable the event has somewhat strayed from its original state of catering to a more niche audience. Despite this, we can’t help but be excited to see such widely recognized performers prepped for Lollapalooza.

This excitement is reiterated as, on average, 400,000 people attend the festival each year. People travel from all over the U.S. to experience Lollapalooza, which in 2023 was reportedly the third most popular music festival in the U.S. We believe the evolution of Lollapalooza’s audience is worthy of applause, while also acknowledging the genres that have been neglected in the process. Changing the festival’s image allows for a broad, welcoming culture to cultivate in Chicago.

This year, we are excited to see pop queens Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo headlining and representing women in the industry. TWICE will also be the first K-pop girl group to headline Lollapalooza, with male groups like TXT and Stray Kids having headlined in recent years. Additionally, we’re thrilled to see a new genre expansion, with Luke Combs serving as the first country artist to headline the festival. 

Lollapalooza’s ticket price has also evolved with its artistry. Tickets in the festival’s early years only cost around $31.50 for two-day admission. In 2025, general admission, four-day presale tickets started at $415. Ticket presale opened the morning of Thursday, March 20 with the intention of opening to the general public only an hour later. Unfortunately, four-day passes sold out before the general sale even began because early-bird fans and panic-buyers filled the queue.

While we recognize the steep price and the barriers created for those who cannot afford skyrocketing prices, we also view Lollapalooza as an investment to see a variety of admired artists. Unsurprisingly, the high cost of tickets is a deterrent for many, while other music fans are more than happy to spend hundreds of dollars to see a variety of their favorite artists. Regardless, this year’s program features massive stars from popular genres, making it clear Lollapalooza has immensely evolved and is cultivating a culture that celebrates a range of musical styles.