The time has come for our annual speculation post! With Bonnaroo, Coachella, and a handful of other festivals already announced for next year and plenty of tours out there, it's time to start breaking down who we might or might not be seeing next Summer in Grant Park. Feel free to comment on this post with any info you find if we don't have the artist included in our speculation. Anyone user claiming to have inside information will be contacted by a mod and asked to provide proof. If the proof checks out, we will add it to the post.
Confirmed: This is our highest level reserved only for artists explicitly confirming themselves (leaking a date on their website) or a reputable publication such as Variety or Rolling Stone confirming an artist.
Rumored: This is for when Reddit or Discord users bring us legitimate information.
Likely: An artist is on tour and skips Chicago, has a gap in their scheduled during Lolla weekend and is in the Midwest around the Lolla dates.
Possible: An artist is touring, might hit Chicago early in the year (<June) but is open Lolla weekend and didn't play 2025. Playing other festivals that share artists with Lolla historically.
Unlikely: Artist plays Chicago pretty close to Lolla (>June), has dates around Lolla not in the Midwest.
Out: Artist plays Chicago on tour, has dates during Lolla weekend pretty far from Chicago, or is playing another Chicago festival in the same Summer.
| Confirmed | Artist/Reason |
|---|---|
| Rumored | Artist/Reason |
|---|---|
| Likely | Artist/Reason |
|---|---|
| 5 Seconds of Summer | 2026 tour skips Chicago with the band playing MI and Toronto around Lolla weekend. |
| Chris Stapleton | Last played 2016. Has hit a number of C3 festivals over the years. 2026 tour leaves 3 out of 4 Lolla dates open while he's in OH, MI, and Toronto around Lolla. |
| Clipse | Playing Coachella + Bonnaroo + Gov Ball |
| Geese | Playing Minnesota Yacht Club + Bonnaroo + Hinterland + Gov Ball |
| Hot Mulligan | Playing Coachella + Bonnaroo + Gov Ball |
| The Neigbourhood | Last played 2018, skips Chicago on 2026 tour with large gap during Lolla weekend. |
| NMIXX | Announced a 2026 NA tour (LN) that hits NY and CA but skips Chicago. No dates during Lolla. |
| Olivia Dean | Last played 2024, skips Chicago on 2026 tour with MN and Toronto dates around Lolla weekend. |
| Wet Leg | Playing Coachella + Bonnaroo + Hinterland + Gov Ball |
| Yungblud | Playing Bonnaroo + 2026 Tour skips Chicago and ends in June, leaving Lolla open |
| Possible | Artist/Reason |
|---|---|
| Alabama Shakes | Playing Bonnaroo |
| Amyl & The Sniffers | Playing Gov Ball but plays Salt Shed 6/14 |
| Audrey Hobert | Playing Bonnaroo + Hinterland + Gov Ball |
| Baby Keem | Playing Gov Ball |
| Blood Orange | Playing Gov Ball |
| Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist | Playing Bonnaroo + Gov Ball |
| Frost Children | Playing Hinterland |
| GRiZ | Playing Bonnaroo and Electric Forest |
| Japanese Breakfast | Playing Gov Ball |
| Jennie | Playing Gov Ball |
| Jessie Murph | Playing Bonnaroo + Hinterland |
| Kali Uchis | Playing Hinterland + Gov Ball |
| King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard | Playing shows in August in the US, open Lolla weekend with no Chicago shows |
| Lorde | Playing all the South American Lollapalooza Festivals plus Hinterland and Gov Ball |
| Lord Huron | Playing Innings Festival + Minnesota Yacht Club |
| Madeon | Playing Electric Forest |
| Mumford & Sons | Playing Innings Festival + Hinterland |
| MUNA | Last played 2022, Playing Hinterland |
| Noah Kahan | Playing Bonnaroo |
| Passion Pit | Playing Bonnaroo + Electric Forest |
| PinkPantheress | 2026 tour skips Chicago (did play Chicago on the first leg), playing Coachella |
| Snow Strippers | Playing Hinterland + Gov Ball |
| The Beths | Playing Gov Ball. Tour skips Chicago in June. |
| The Strokes | Playing Bonnaroo and Minnesota Yacht Club |
| Turnstile | Playing Bonnaroo |
| Twenty One Pilots | Playing Innings Festival |
| The XX | Playing Coachella + Kilby Block Party |
| Zara Larsson | Last played 2017, Playing Lolla Berlin with a gap in tour dates during Lolla. Tour stops in Chicago but before the Lolla lineup gets announced (March). |
| Unlikely | Artist/Reason |
|---|---|
| Mannequin Pussy | Opening for Foo Fighters 8/8/26 |
| Queens of the Stone Age | Opening for Foo Fighters 8/8/26 |
| Out | Artist/Reason |
|---|---|
| Alex Warren | Played 2025, United Center - 6/29/26 |
| Avenged Sevenfold | Tinley Park, IL - 7/30/26 |
| Ariana Grande | United Center - 8/3/26 and 8/5/26 |
| Bruno Mars | Soldier Field - 5/16/26 |
| BTS | Soldier Field - 8/27/26 and 8/28/26 |
| Ed Sheeran | Soldier Field - 6/27/26 |
| Foo Fighters | Soldier Field - 8/8/26 |
| Good Charlotte | Tinley Park, IL - 7/30/26 |
| Guns N' Roses | Tinley Park, IL - 7/29/26 |
| Zach Bryan | Playing San Diego, CA during Lolla |
Lolla season is always in effect!
Zara Larsson just got announced yesterday for Lolla Berlin, she played Chicago in 17. Has a gap in July and August on her EU tour.
PinkPantheress is playing Primavera Sound Spain and Coachella.
and she just announced another tour across the US that skips Chicago!
Lorde more and more likely
I know that this sub doesn’t consider these things factors, but Lorde said in Chicago (I was there) That she will be seeing Chicago very soon. So it really does make you wonder…
Hoping for Tame Impala
I think they are possible!
No
Why not?
Addison Rae is likely! She's playing SA Lolla, Primavera Sound, and Coachella in 2026. Definitely gearing up for a major festival run.
Tame Impala is possible. He said at his United Center show back in September that he would be back to Chicago. That could only mean one thing....
The XX last played / headlined in 2017, working on a new album, and are playing Coachella, Kilby Block Party, and Glastonbury, so seemingly hitting festivals & coming to the US this summer with no conflicts.
I would dieeee and be so happy!!! They were amazing in 2017 😍
They aren't playing Glastonbury. There's no Glastonbury in 2026.
Ah you are correct, I probably saw Primaveras lineup and misspoke, good catch
NMixx announced their US leg of their tour for the spring and it’s missing Chicago (for now.)
i’ll cry if nmixx is there!!! how exciting. sucks that that’s the only possible midwest stop tho
Thoughts on possibly of David Byrne? He had an amazingly well received 2025 tour and just announced 2025 dates. He’s going to Milwaukee, Indiana and St Louis but skipping Chicago. He’s doing several festivals including Coachella, Big Ears and several European festivals. Last show as of now is in the UK late July.
Turnstile is a lock
I’m hoping for Conan gray I know he was there a few years ago butttt he has gotten a lot more popular and released wishbone since then so I think it’s unlikely but a girl can dream 🤣😭
girl he's on world tour now 💔💔 I WAS HOPING TOO!! maybe 2027???
Oh I know but if you look at his world tour he has a 3 month break during fest season he has a show June 7th then nothing till sept 26th def seems like he intentionally left those months out for potential festival dates
Yea idk im hoping!!! he did say Chicago is his favorite city to play in! he said this at Tinley when I went
Anyone think we’ll see gorillaz? I find it interesting that they’ve never played Lolla. They seem to be making the festivals rounds in 2026, could this be the year?
Hot Mulligan is playing Coachella and Bonnaroo, I expect them to show up at Lolla also.
They’re more likely to play Riot Fest, no?
Maybe. They played Riot in 2024, so unless they headline Riot (unlikely) Lolla would be a bigger exposure.
they also played Riot Fest in 2022. but also do you think they are big enough to headline Riot Fest? I think at Riot Fest they would probably only have like the 5pm slot at the latest
Gambino is heavily rumored for Osheaga.
He is
Kind of hopping for Charli XCX
She was so good at Coachella this year
I really really hope so!
I really need to see BRAT one more time, or new music, whatever it is, but need to see Charli in 2026
King Gizz have announced 6/7 of their shows for next year, all of which are in August. It’s likely the last show is a festival slot they can’t announce yet
They do play festivals on occasion, and Bonnaroo was a bust this year. So I’m really hoping they play Lolla next year. Chicago always shows Gizz a lot of love.
Florence and the Machine would be incredible - new album out, hasn’t been since 2015, touring through May without stopping in Chicago
Florence is stopping in Chicgao twice in April
O my bad guess I can’t read
I really think that Twenty One Pilots will play. Right before Tyler The Creator’s set this past year, Tøp came up on the big screen. They have pretty much booked out their summer almost every weekend except Lollapalooza weekend !! I’m hoping they will play Lolla!
https://preview.redd.it/3kf5pqqlx77g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30e08a0489bb09920498e562536dd833fe9d07be
I 100% they’re gonna be there
yesss, they also showed TOP on the big screen at the stage where cage the elephant played
Wednesday are out. Playing Chicago July 12. They are playing Bonnaroo which is why I’m including them here, even though they are out.
I wanna bring up lady gaga for this list, tho idk if it'd go under likely or possible. Her first leg of her tour she stopped in Chicago in September, but nothing announced for the second leg of the tour. She also has nothing scheduled for July/August. Also, she's playing coachella. Not sure how likely it is she plays lolla but I would LOVE to see her live
Manifesting 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
Those Chris Stapleton dates look suspicious.
My Chemical Romance - tour skips chicago and they are playing in the US in august right after lolla. They are too big for Riot fest based on the size of venues they are playing on tour.
They played Riot a few years back so I wouldn’t say they’re too big for Riot but I could definitely see them expanding to Lolla. I’d love to see Fall Out Boy do Lolla too!
They just played soldier field on the same tour last year. They’re out.
Can I ask why this means they are out?
It doesn't. I wouldn't say it points to anything either way. It helps that they don't have a Chicago show at this point but it's possible they just don't play Chicago.
is kygo possible? doing lolla in south america and nothing for the summer yet
rlly rlly hoping for twenty one pilots since they will be going on hiatus again
They never said that
Curious if Twenty One Pilots is going to be at Lolla or Riot. One of the Riot hints had TOP capitalized but people were brushing it off. I see it very likely that they will be at one of the two.
they were at Tinley too!! id be so hyped for TOP
p1harmony mentioned it on their past tour in chicago that they might see us at lolla
Ed Sheeran at Soldier Field in June. I’d consider him out
I love Jade’s (from Little Mix) debut album and I hope she can play Lolla 🥹
ninajirachi @ perry’s? also would love love to see grimes but idk if that’s likely
I think she would close Grove or get the 7:45-8:30 spot. She was at Perry’s last time and is bigger than she was then, but her set would benefit from being at night so that’s why I’m saying Grove.
Chances of mac demarco being there?
Slim to none. He has a show at the Salt Shed in May
John Summit! Chicago boy, hasn’t played since 2022, but has blown up since he last played. Has released a lot of new music since then, and new album in 2026. Has his Vegas residency so easy flight over to Chicago
The xx are out, they have a headlining show in Chicago at may 21
I can’t find this anywhere?
I pray for XG!!!!! They are in the States starting May on their 2nd world tour, so maybe?
I reserved a hotel room just in case.... hahaha
They also did Coachella so it’s very possible!! I need them there!!!
Avenged Sevenfold are out with a tinley park date 7/30
Good Charlotte also since they are together.
Laundry Day - touring in Feb and not coming to Chicago. Haven’t been to Lolla since 2021.
Wha about Lily Allen? Is there potential?
She has two dates in April in Chicago so I personally doubt it
https://pitchfork.com/news/alex-g-unveils-2026-tour-dates/
Maybe? No Chicago date. These are mostly west coast dates tho.
What about Justin Bieber. Just dropped two albums and playing Coachella also. Might be shooting for the stars thou.
Probably too expensive. I think he got a rumored 20mil for Coachella?
10
Gunna had no Chicago date and it is a live nation tour, with his rebrand these past 3 years I could see Lolla having him
does anyone think enhypen might be going? they did coachella last year but weren’t announced this here so im kind of hoping
Tool?
Fred again 🙏
We need Fred there, he played 2023 but would love to have him back. That would be huge.
What do yall think about Kim Petras, Cobrah, Horsegirl, and or Major Lazer?!?!?!?
I feel like Major Lazer can be a likely - the only tour dates they have are festivals for 2026 with the last one posted being Bonnaroo!! So I think there is a huge possibility they will play?
anyone think role model could?
Not gonna say it’s impossible but it’s very unlikely since he played last year. They have had artists repeat years but it’s not very common.
Anyone think Tame Impala will be a headliner?
Idk if governors ball is another festival to bring up but Lorde and Kali Ushis were previously mentioned here and are headlining that festival if that changes anything
BTS out. Touring all summer including lolla weekend with Chicago stops in late August.
For the best, lol. The campers would be the most surreal thing to see compared to all the other acts Lolla’s had previously.
What rock headliner we Will have besides The Strokes? ( cmon they are already a lock )
I have no inside info, but my best guess today would be My Chemical Romance. From what I heard, they have had a lot success with touring: heavy demand for tickets in large venues. They also headlined some festivals last year, including Shaky Knees, which is a rock-oriented festival.
Normally they would be a Riot Fest act, but maybe they’ve now surpassed that? I’m not particularly a fan, but I’d give them a shot if they were booked.
I think Ladytron is possible, I love that band. They have a new album and there is no Chicago date on their tour, plus they have a big Chicago fan base and always stop through each tour….with Chi missing it seems like a possibility. They were at Lolla a few years ago.
Oh, I didn't even think of that... but hell yeah!
haim said at their last chicago show that lolla is their favorite fest
Stray Kids seem likely. They announced they're going to participate in more 2026 music festivals in their yearly plans video and it looks like the run has already started with Gov Ball NYC and Rock in Rio headlining news plus they seem to have an opening time for Lollapalooza
https://preview.redd.it/dmbjehvllecg1.png?width=1158&format=png&auto=webp&s=94de2463702f82a37b7a1a0470e9181251abf18d