Lollapalooza 2026 Predictions & Rumors

Is it the start of a new year if Staged Haze doesn’t post a premature list of Lolla predictions and rumors? I think not!

As per usual, we come up with these guesses based on our own research as well as intense sifting through the Lollapalooza Reddit Thread: Staged Haze will never take credit for everything listed below as the members of said thread do an incredible job sleuthing. I always make updates to this post as time goes on and you’ll be able to see the dates I’ve made updates as they come in! Check out our previous Lolla coverage HERE.

LAST UPDATED ON FEB 16., 2026

HEADLINERS

If you’re looking for a TLDR on the rumored headliners, here’s where I’m at with predictions:

The only headliner I’m 99% sure will be playing at Lollapalooza 2026 is Lorde.

A couple sub-headliners (meaning they’re the artists who play the main stage before the headliners) are Olivia Dean, Sombr, and Turnstile. A couple others that are towing the line between headliner and sub-headliner status are The Neighborhood and 5 Seconds of Summer.

LIKELY

[HEADLINER] 5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS are embarking on a massive world tour in March 2026 that 1) does not have a Chicago stop and 2) lands in the midwest during Lolla weekend (dates aren’t officially announced, but it’s looking like it’ll be July 30-August 2). 5SOS is in Michigan on 7/29 and Toronto on 8/5. I’d say they’re basically a lock-in.

Addison Rae – Considering the year she’s had, along with a Best New Artist nomination at The Grammys and a slot performing at Coachella, she’s pretty much a shoe-in. It also helps that she’s playing Lollapalooza Chile, Argentina, and Brasil.

[Updated Jan. 16] Audrey Hobert – I will personally be destroyed if I don’t see Audrey Hobert on the Lolla lineup. Who’s The Clown? was Staged Haze’s #1 album of 2025, and she’s also playing Hinterland Iowa the same weekend as Lollapalooza. Update – She announced more shows in the spring into summer and is notably skipping Chicago. This is definitely a lock.

[Updated Feb. 7] Chris Stapleton – This blurb previously stated that Chris was pretty much locked in to perform at Lolla, but he recently updated his touring schedule, which includes shows on July 29, July 30, and August 1, meaning that a performance at Lolla (heavily likely to be during July 30-August 2) would have him doing 4 shows in 5 days. That would be a lot for anyone..which is why I’m now convinced he’s probably not attending.

Chloe Qisha – I wrote about Chloe Qisha for Staged Haze’s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, and this year, she’ll be making her debut in North America, performing a handful of shows across several cities and already selling out a few of them. This may be a premature prediction for her, but Lollapalooza is obviously known for getting undercards before they make it big, so I’m making a bet on Chloe.

CMAT – CMAT is set to have a massive 2026: touring a LOT in Australia, debuting at Coachella, and even opening up for Florence + The Machine on a handful of dates. She’s also playing Hinterland Iowa during Lolla weekend, making it a perfect opening for a Lolla debut.

Dijon – Dijon’s playing Coachella and is open during Lollapalooza weekend.

Geese – Pretty self-explanatory: Geese had an insane 2025, and would have an epic return to Lollapalooza after performing back in 2024. They’re also playing Hinterland Iowa the same weekend.

[Updated Feb. 9] Holly Humberstone – OUT. announced a tour and hits Chicago in June.

[Updated Feb. 16] [HEADLINER] J. Cole – I have no problem admitting that I’m not the expert on anything rap related, but the streets (and Reddit) are saying that J.Cole is heavily favored to be Lolla’s rap headliner. He also just officially announced a new album out on Feb. 6. He was last at Lolla in 2022, so a return four years later isn’t anything crazy. UPDATE – J.Cole is OUT. He’s playing Chicago on 8/11.

[HEADLINER] Lorde – Hinted to Chicago crowd during the Ultrasound Tour that she’ll “be back soon,” last performed at Lolla in 2017 and was rained out after three songs, also performing at Lolla Chile and Brazil in March 2026. Also playing Hinterland.

MUNA – The band has been teasing that their new album is dropping in 2026, plus they’re playing Hinterland Iowa. Also! Katie Gavin is from Chicago. Fingers crossed.

Oklou – Got added to Hinterland lineup and is touring in the Spring with no Chicago date

Olivia Dean – Dean was at Lollapalooza in 2024, performing just before Chappell Roan and therefore didn’t seem to get the crowd she deserved, considering everyone was already queueing for the stage directly across from Dean’s. She’s touring North America starting in July, and conveniently skips Chicago. I’d say this is pretty much a lock.

Pinkpantheress – Touring across North America in April and is notably skipping Chicago.

Sofia Isella – Like CMAT, Sofia is touring on a handful of dates with Florence + The Machine, touring Europe in the spring, and playing Hinterland Iowa during Lolla weekend.

Sombr – 2025 has been a huge year for this 20-year-old. He’ll continue touring across the world in the beginning of 2026 and is performing at Coachella in April (booked sixth on his day).

[Updated Feb. 7] Tame Impala – There is a leaked image of supposed tour dates HERE that places Tame Impala in Toronto just a few days ahead of Lolla. The last time they were at Lollapalooza was in 2019.

The Neighbourhood – Just released a new album, their first since 2020. They shockingly have 50 million monthly listeners, making them actually a contender to headline. They’re also playing Bonnaroo.

The Two Lips – The Two Lips is a quintessential Lollapalooza booking, and they’re also performing at Coachella.

Turnstile – Turnstile is playing Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Kilby Block Party. They’re hitting Europe in Mid-August. I’d say they’re highly likely.

Wet Leg – Wet Leg has been touring extensively in 2025 and has several international dates in 2026, including their Coachella performance in April and a few shows in the UK in July. They last appeared at Lolla in 2022, making a return 4 years later perfectly reasonable. They’re also playing Hinterland Iowa the same weekend as Lollapalooza.

Wisp – Got added to the Hinterland lineup

[Updated Feb. 10] Wolf Alice – They just announced a show in NYC on July 29. Their website says they’re playing a festival in Belgium on July 30, but Reddit has confirmed that is a typo. The NYC show is the only US date as of right now but it’s pretty easy for them to get to Chicago from July 30-August 2. Their last appearance was in 2022.

Yungblud – Yungblud is playing Bonnaroo and is touring across the US from May-June, notably skipping Chicago.

Zara Larsson – Zara made a big splash in 2025 with her album Midnight Sun, including a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording with the title track. I can see her getting the Lakeshore stage treatment that many female pop stars have received at Lollapalooza over the years, including Dua Lipa, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Sabrina Carpenter. She’s playing The Riviera in March, but she can still come back in August.

POSSIBLE/TOSS-UP

Conan Gray – He was at Lolla in 2024 as a sub-headliner, I don’t think he’s headliner-status just yet, but he is doing more touring in 2026 and doesn’t have a Chicago date (despite being there in September 2025). But artists have come back 2 years later, so I don’t think it’s impossible.

HAIM – I’ve been dying for HAIM to return to Lolla for years, but they currently have zero tour dates scheduled for 2026. Plus, Este just got married, and they toured a lot in 2025, so I’d say it’s unlikely but not impossible.

[Updated Feb. 7] [HEADLINER] Harry Styles – Since I first wrote this, a lot of things have changed. Harry is now doing a 30-day residency at Madison Square Garden and is performing in Mexico City just right up until Lollapalooza weekend. It would be a huge haul for him to get to Chicago, making it highly unlikely, but not impossible.

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard – Playing a handful of shows in August in Colorado and New York, open during Lolla weekend.

King Princess – King Princess returned to music with a new album this year, touring extensively and performing at Austin City Limits. She last performed at Lolla in 2022, making this an easy open for her to return to Grant Park. She currently doesn’t have any tour dates listed on her website, so I will say I think this booking is a toss-up.

[HEADLINER] Lady Gaga – I’ve been reading speculations of Gaga’s return to Lollapalooza, but the general consensus is that she’s just too big (and likely too expensive) to be booked at Lolla. I’d be more inclined to believe it if this was Lolla 2027, considering she performed at the BMI Stage in 2007…which would be a 20-year reunion of epic proportions.

[Updated Feb. 11] Mitski – New album dropping at the end of Feb. I don’t believe she has ever played Lollapalooza. Update – She has a handful of US tour dates announced currently but no Chicago dates.

[Updated Feb 4] Mumford & Sons – They’re playing Hinterland the same weekend (Saturday) and haven’t been at Lollapalooza since 2013 (which was also the first year I ever went). However, I am unsure if we get Mumford AND Chris Stapleton, because they both take up a similar genre spot.

[Updated Feb. 2] OUT – NOAH KAHAN ANNOUNCED A SHOW AT WRIGLEY FIELD IN JULY [HEADLINER] Noah Kahan – I’ve seen Noah’s name thrown around quite a bit as a rumored headliner, and he’s certainly big enough to pull it off. He’s headlining the closing night of Bonnaroo, which means he’s definitely in the conversation for summer festivals. He last played in 2023, making his return entirely possible.

UNLIKELY

[HEADLINER] Florence + The Machine – She just announced a tour and is playing Chicago in April. Is it possible she comes back four months later? Yes. Unlikely? Bigger yes.

Lola Young – Lola was last at Lolla in 2024 and had her breakout just a couple months later. I was expecting her back in 2026, but she canceled the rest of her shows at the end of September. It’s possible she’s touring again this year, but I’d say it’s a small chance she hits the Lollapalooza lineup. Slight update, she’s playing a SXSW show in March. I still think she’ll probably do her own tour before Lolla, sadly.

OUT:

Ariana Grande – Playing United Center 8/3 and 8/5.

Bruno Mars – Out, he’s playing Soldier Field in May 2026.

BTS – Playing Soldier Field at the end of August 2026.

Foo Fighters – Performing at Soldier Field on August 8, 2026.

Madison Beer – Playing The Aragon in June 2026.

Morgan Wallen – First off, thank god. Second off, he’s playing Soldier Field in June.

Noah Kahan – Playing Wrigley field in July

Robyn – Playing United Center in September

Zach Bryan – Playing in San Diego during Lolla weekend.