Lollapalooza 2025 returns to Chicago’s Grant Park on Thursday, July 31.
The Chicago Tribune has a cheat sheet for all festival-goers. First and foremost, the gates are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with the main entry located at Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive, and a north entrance at Monroe Street and Columbus Drive.
Attendees should review Lollapalooza’s wristband activation and bag policies, as well as travel tips, before heading out.
Metra is adding extra trains and railcars on most lines. The CTA has a dedicated Lollapalooza page with route updates, delays, and closures. Additionally, the festival has posted a travel guide for navigating between stages and aftershows.
Thursday’s schedule is headlined by Tyler, The Creator (T-Mobile Stage, 9 p.m.) and Luke Combs (Bud Light Stage, 8:30 p.m.). Combs will make history as Lollapalooza’s first-ever country music festival closer. Beyond the top line, notable sets include Gracie Abrams, Dom Dolla, Cage the Elephant, Role Model, and Mau P. Tribune critic picks to catch early include Durand Bernarr (T-Mobile, 3 p.m.) and Ratboys (Bud Light, 1:30 p.m.).
Official Lollapalooza aftershows on Thursday span the city: Gigi Perez at Bottom Lounge, Still Woozy at House of Blues, Bleachers at Metro, Djo at Salt Shed, and Amaarae at Thalia Hall.
Buzz online centers on the strong female presence this year, featuring artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Gracie Abrams. Tyler, The Creator’s opening-night headline is trending, with some fans wishing his set landed on Saturday or Sunday.
The outlook for the weather is favorable during festival hours: no rain expected, a high around 74°F, a low near 65°F, and moderate humidity. Depending on early morning showers, mud may appear.
Expect crowds to thicken around overlapping sets. Gracie Abrams (7 p.m., T-Mobile) and Cage the Elephant (6:45 p.m., Bud Light) conflict, while Glass Beams (5:15 p.m., Grove) overlaps with higher-profile acts. Saturday brings more choices, including Doechii vs. Clairo and Rüfüs Du Sol vs. Mk.gee. Festivalgoers will have to choose between country and hip-hop on Thursday night.
