If someone told me months ago to stand outside for hours, pressed against a barricade in the rain, as the crowd around me grew into the thousands for a few artists, I would’ve said no. But I did exactly that at Lollapalooza 2026 in Chicago, and I would do it again.
Music festivals never interested me before, but I love concerts and traveling, so when my older sister offered to take me to Lollapalooza in Chicago, I agreed.
We skipped the first day of the festival and went for the other three days. On the two days we went, we had VIP access, and on the last day we had general admission.
All I can say is that VIP was worth every penny. Not only was there a private area with food, water stations and bathrooms, but it also gave us access to a good spot near the stage.
Because of a change in the artists’ schedule, my sister and I ended up camping at the barricade of the VIP area. I usually would mind standing for hours in the rain as the crowd behind me turned into thousands, but once I saw i-dle, Zara Larsson and Charli XCX, any complaints I had vanished.
The moment Charli XCX started playing “Pink Diamond,” the rain poured down on everyone. It should’ve been uncomfortable considering I didn’t even have space to put on my rain poncho, but I didn’t mind. Charli was literally performing “Pink Diamond,” so the rain was an afterthought.
On the second day, I was either at the barricade again or one person behind it for all the artists I saw: Cortis, The Neighbourhood and Jennie. Again, it did rain, but the rain, if anything, just elevated everything.
Now that I reflect on my time at Lollapalooza, several factors made the experience great. However, one of the main aspects was the community.
The artists were great, but it was also amazing to be surrounded by people willing to put up with rain and mud just to share music.
Even on the third day, when I wasn’t near the stage and was separated from my sister in a crowd for Beabadoobee and aespa, I didn’t mind because everyone around me was there for the same reason: fandom.
What made Lollapalooza unforgettable wasn’t necessarily the VIP tickets or the best view. Sure, those were great and shaped my experience, but what made it truly special for me was the collective fan experience.
Fandom brings everyone together, and I’m grateful I got the privilege of sharing that fan culture with my sister and everyone else at the festival.
