Here’s what to know as Lollapalooza kicks off in Grant Park.
Getting in:
The gates are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Main gates are located at Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive and the North Entrance is located at Monroe Street and Columbus Drive. For more information about your wristband, travel and what to bring, check our top 10 tips for attending, as well as Lollapalooza’s bag policy and wristband assistance and activation pages.
What’s the CTA and Metra game plan?
Metra is adding extra trains with added railcars daily on most lines. For details on your CTA route, visit the CTA Lollapalooza page and consult their website for up-to-date information on delays and closures. Lollapalooza also has a travel guide.
Who is on the Thursday schedule?
Tyler, the Creator (T-Mobile stage at 9 p.m.) and Luke Combs (Bud Light stage at 8:30 p.m.) are the opening day headliners. As for artists not to miss, Tribune music writer Britt Julious also recommends Durand Bernarr (T-Mobile stage at 3 p.m.) and Ratboys (Bud Light stage at 1:30 p.m.). Her music guide has critic’s picks by day through Sunday.
Luke Combs will be Lollapalooza’s first-ever country music festival closer.
Other artists playing Thursday include Gracie Abrams, Dom Dolla, Cage the Elephant, Role Model and Mau P.
Official Lollapalooza aftershows Thursday night include Gigi Perez at Bottom Lounge, Still Woozy at House of Blues, Bleachers at Metro, Djo at Salt Shed and Amaarae at Thalia Hall. Lollapalooza has a full list of official aftershows.
What are fans buzzing about?
Fans on social media are eager to bust through the gates and officially commence Lollapalooza 2025. TikTok users are sharing their top tips, favorite footage from previous years, weather predictions and outfits. A trending overall festival topic is the strong female lineup this year, with performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams.
Today specifically though, Tyler, the Creator’s headlining set has been a big topic of conversation, with fans saying his performance should have been scheduled for Saturday or Sunday.
Weather outlook:
Rain is not predicted during festival hours and overall the weather outlook is pleasant, with a high of 74 and a low of 65 degrees. Humidity will be moderate and depending on early morning precipitation, there’s a possibility for a frequent staple of Lollapalooza: mud.
What’s the must-wear item?
With North Carolina-born Luke Combs performing Thursday night, there’s likely to be no shortage of country-inspired outfits: cowboy hats, denim and cowboy boots.
Any smart moves for navigating crowds?
Gracie Abrams (7 p.m. on T-Mobile) and Cage the Elephant (6:45 p.m. on Bud Light) have overlapping sets this afternoon, so be sure to plan accordingly. Other bands such as Glass Beams (5:15 p.m. Grove) clash times with higher-profile artists, so plenty of traffic should be anticipated across those stages.
Reddit users have expressed frustration about other clashing sets on Saturday, including Doechii and Clairo and Rüfüs Du Sol and Mk.gee.
Festivalgoers will be choosing between country music and hip hop Thursday night. Exits, surrounding streets and the CTA will be packed when those performances end at 10 p.m.
This story is updating.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/31/lollapalooza-day-1-chicago-grant-park/