History of Lollapalooza in Timeline
Lollapalooza is a major four-day American music festival held annually in Grant Park, Chicago. Originating in 1991 as a touring event, it has become a permanent fixture in Chicago. The festival showcases a diverse range of genres, including alternative rock, heavy metal, hip hop, and electronic dance music, alongside visual arts and displays from nonprofit and political organizations. Drawing approximately 400,000 attendees each year, Lollapalooza consistently sells out and is recognized as one of the world's largest and longest-running music festivals in the United States.
1990: Lollapalooza Conceived as Farewell for Jane's Addiction
In 1990, Perry Farrell, Ted Gardner, Don Muller, and Marc Geiger conceived Lollapalooza as a farewell for Farrell's band, Jane's Addiction.
July 18, 1991: Lollapalooza Premiere in Phoenix
On July 18, 1991, Lollapalooza premiered in Phoenix, Arizona, receiving coverage on MTV with journalist Dave Kendall predicting it as "the tour of the summer".
August 1991: Lollapalooza toured across US and Canada
From mid-July to late August 1991, Lollapalooza toured across the United States and Canada.
August 28, 1991: Lollapalooza Tour Ends in Washington
On August 28, 1991, the inaugural Lollapalooza tour concluded at King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw, Washington, near Seattle.
1991: Lollapalooza Started as a Touring Event
In 1991, Lollapalooza began as an annual touring music festival.
1991: Inaugural Lollapalooza tour
In 1991, Lollapalooza toured across the United States and Canada.
1991: Inaugural Lollapalooza a Massive Success
The inaugural Lollapalooza in 1991 was a massive success, changing mentalities in the music industry.
August 29, 1992: Lollapalooza at Alpine Valley Festival
On August 29, 1992, Lollapalooza took place at the Alpine Valley festival in East Troy, Wisconsin.
1993: Lollapalooza Leans on Grunge and Alternative Acts
In 1993, Lollapalooza continued to lean heavily on grunge and alternative acts, featuring an additional rap artist.
1993: Steve Albini Criticizes Lollapalooza
In a 1993 interview, Steve Albini criticized Lollapalooza for its corporatization of popularized "alternative" music.
April 7, 1994: Nirvana Drops Out of Lollapalooza
On April 7, 1994, Nirvana officially dropped out of Lollapalooza after Kurt Cobain declined the headlining offer.
1995: Lollapalooza returned to Great Woods
In 1995, the Lollapalooza tour returned to Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts, after relocating its New England stop to Quonset Point for two years.
1996: Lollapalooza included a third stage
In 1996, Lollapalooza included a third stage for up-and-coming bands or local acts.
1996: Farrell Focuses on ENIT, Metallica Added to Lollapalooza
In 1996, Perry Farrell focused on his new festival project, ENIT, and did not participate in producing Lollapalooza, also Metallica was added to the lineup.
1996: Lollapalooza Books Waylon Jennings
Responding to the controversial Metallica incident, Lollapalooza booked country superstar Waylon Jennings in 1996.
1997: Lollapalooza Emphasizes Electronica Groups
In 1997, Lollapalooza heavily emphasized electronica groups such as the Orb and the Prodigy.
1997: Lollapalooza Runs Annually Until 1997
Lollapalooza ran annually until 1997, touring North America.
1998: Lollapalooza's Cancellation Signifies Alternative Rock's Decline
Lollapalooza failed to find a suitable headliner in 1998 and was canceled, symbolizing the declining popularity of alternative rock.
1999: Farrell Performance at PurimPalooza
In 1999, Perry Farrell performed at PurimPalooza, a Purim celebration hosted by Rabbi Josef Langer at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.
2003: Farrell Reconvences Jane's Addiction and Schedules Lollapalooza Tour
In 2003, Perry Farrell reconvened Jane's Addiction and scheduled a new Lollapalooza tour, though it achieved only marginal success due to high ticket prices.
2003: Lollapalooza Revived in 2003
Lollapalooza was revived in 2003 and toured North America.
2004: Lollapalooza Tour Cancelled After Poor Ticket Sales
In 2004, organizers expanded Lollapalooza to two days per city, but the tour was cancelled after poor ticket sales.
2005: Kidzapalooza Debut
In 2005, Kidzapalooza, a child-centered version of the music festival, debuted in Chicago. Conceived by Tor Hyams, it features various activities such as art stations, music areas, and raffles for children.
2005: Lollapalooza Retooled as Annual Festival in Chicago
In 2005, Perry Farrell and the William Morris Agency partnered with Capital Sports Entertainment to retool Lollapalooza as an annual festival in Chicago.
2005: Lollapalooza Resurrected as Chicago Destination Festival
In 2005, Perry Farrell partnered with Capital Sports & Entertainment to resurrect Lollapalooza as a two-day destination festival in Chicago's Grant Park.
October 25, 2006: Lollapalooza to Stay in Chicago Until 2011
On October 25, 2006, the Chicago Park District and Capital Sports & Entertainment agreed to a deal to keep Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago until 2011.
2006: Farrell Performs at PurimPalooza
In 2006, Perry Farrell performed at PurimPalooza, hosted at the Ruby Skye in San Francisco. The event featured artists such as Matisyahu and Chutzpah.
2007: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 3–5, 2007, in Grant Park, Chicago.
2008: Kidzapalooza at the Hollywood Bowl
In 2008, Kidzapalooza expanded beyond its usual venue, with the Hollywood Bowl hosting its own stand-alone Kidzapalooza event.
2008: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 1–3, 2008, in Grant Park, Chicago.
2009: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 7–9, 2009, in Grant Park, Chicago.
April 2010: Antitrust Investigation Launched
In April 2010, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan launched an antitrust investigation into Lollapalooza for imposing radius clauses on acts.
2010: Lollapalooza Announces South American Debut
In 2010, it was announced that Lollapalooza would debut in South America, with a festival staged in Santiago, Chile.
2010: Lollapalooza to Remain in Chicago and Debut in Chile
In 2010, it was announced that Lollapalooza would remain in Chicago and would debut outside the United States in Santiago, Chile.
2010: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 6–8, 2010, in Grant Park, Chicago.
2011: Lollapalooza in Santiago, Chile
In 2011, Lollapalooza partnered with Lotus to stage a festival in Santiago, Chile on April 2–3.
2011: Brazilian Version Confirmed
In 2011, a Brazilian version of Lollapalooza was confirmed.
2011: Lollapalooza Chile Inaugural Event
On April 2–3, 2011, the inaugural Lollapalooza Chile took place in Santiago, featuring artists such as Jane's Addiction, Thirty Seconds to Mars and The Killers.
August 7, 2012: Lollapalooza Announces Tel Aviv Debut
On August 7, 2012, Perry Farrell announced that Lollapalooza would be debuting in Tel Aviv, Israel.
2012: Brazilian Version of Lollapalooza
In 2012, Geo Events confirmed the Brazilian version of Lollapalooza, held in São Paulo on April 7–8.
2012: Antitrust Investigation Closed
In 2012, the antitrust investigation into Lollapalooza was closed with no action taken.
2012: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 3–5, 2012, in Grant Park, Chicago.
2012: Inaugural Lollapalooza Brazil
On April 7–8, 2012, the inaugural Lollapalooza Brazil was held at the Jockey Club in São Paulo.
September 10, 2013: Argentine Lollapalooza Announced
On September 10, 2013, it was announced that the Argentine version of Lollapalooza would be held in Buenos Aires.
2013: Lollapalooza Tel Aviv Postponed
In 2013, Lollapalooza Tel Aviv, originally scheduled for August 20–22, was postponed to an unspecified date, reportedly due to financial challenges.
2013: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 2–4, 2013, in Grant Park, Chicago.
April 2014: Argentine Lollapalooza Started in Buenos Aires
In April 2014, the Argentine version of Lollapalooza started in Buenos Aires.
November 4, 2014: First European Lollapalooza Announced
On November 4, 2014, the first European Lollapalooza was announced to be held in Berlin, Germany.
November 2014: First European Lollapalooza Announced for Berlin
In November 2014, the first European Lollapalooza was announced and held at the former Berlin Tempelhof Airport.
2014: Live Nation Buys Controlling Interest in C3 Presents
In 2014, Live Nation Entertainment bought a controlling interest in C3 Presents, the company that produces Lollapalooza.
2014: Lollapalooza Brazil Moved to Autódromo José Carlos Pace
In 2014, the third edition of Lollapalooza Brazil was moved to the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo's borough of Interlagos, taking place on April 5 and 6.
2014: Lollapalooza in Grant Park Chicago
Lollapalooza ran August 1–3, 2014, in Grant Park, Chicago.
2015: Lollapalooza Berlin Scheduled
In 2015, Lollapalooza Berlin was scheduled for September 12–13 at the Berlin-Tempelhof airport grounds.
2015: Lollapalooza Weekend Passes Cost $275
In 2015, Lollapalooza weekend passes cost $275.
2015: Lollapalooza Brazil Held at Interlagos
On March 28–29, 2015, Lollapalooza Brazil was held at Interlagos.
October 12, 2016: Lollapalooza Announces Paris Festival
On October 12, 2016, Lollapalooza announced that they would be hosting a festival in Paris, France.
2016: Lollapalooza 2016 Passes Sold Out Quickly
For the 2016 Lollapalooza event, the four-day general passes sold out in about one day after the sale began.
2016: Lollapalooza Berlin Held in Treptower Park
In 2016, Lollapalooza Berlin took place in Treptower Park on September 10–11, drawing 70,000 visitors each day.
2016: Lollapalooza Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Four-Day Event
In 2016, Lollapalooza celebrated its 25th anniversary with a four-day event from July 28 to 31.
2016: Lollapalooza Weekend Passes Cost $335
In 2016, Lollapalooza weekend passes cost $335.
2016: Lollapalooza Brazil Held at Interlagos
On March 12–13, 2016, Lollapalooza Brazil was held at Interlagos.
January 17, 2017: Lollapalooza Paris 2017 Lineup Announced
On January 17, 2017, the lineup for Lollapalooza Paris 2017 was announced, including Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Weeknd as headliners.
2017: Lollapalooza Brazil Held at Interlagos
On March 25–26, 2017, Lollapalooza Brazil was held at Interlagos.
2018: Lollapalooza to Stay in Chicago Through 2018
After a successful 2008 festival, a deal was signed to keep Lollapalooza in Chicago through 2018.
2018: Lollapalooza Sales Slower, Lineup Released Early
In 2018, Lollapalooza experienced unusually slower sales, so they released the lineup about eight hours earlier.
2018: Lollapalooza Weekend Passes Cost $335
In 2018, the price for Lollapalooza weekend passes remained the same as in 2016, at $335.
2018: Lollapalooza Chile Held
On March 16–18, 2018, the eighth edition of Lollapalooza Chile was held, with Pearl Jam, Lana Del Rey, The Killers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and LCD Soundsystem as headliners.
2018: Lollapalooza Brazil Held at Interlagos
On March 23–25, 2018, Lollapalooza Brazil was held at Interlagos.
2018: Lollapalooza Held at Olympiapark Berlin
Since 2018, Lollapalooza has been held at the Olympiapark Berlin.
2019: First Scandinavian Lollapalooza
In 2019, the first Scandinavian edition of Lollapalooza was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from June 28–30.
2019: Lollapalooza Brazil Held at Interlagos
On April 5–7, 2019, Lollapalooza Brazil was held at Interlagos.
2020: Kidzapalooza Cancellation
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 installation of Kidzapalooza was canceled.
2020: Lollapalooza Canceled Due to COVID-19, Livestreamed Event Offered
In 2020, Lollapalooza was officially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a livestreamed event was offered with acts such as A$AP Rocky and Outkast.
2020: Lollapalooza Weekend Passes Cost $340
In 2020, Lollapalooza weekend passes had a slight increase of five dollars, making them $340.
2020: First Lollapalooza Rated Best Concert of the Last 35 Years
In 2020, Spin rated the first Lollapalooza as the best concert of the preceding 35 years.
2020: First Edition Rated Greatest US Tour in 35 Years
In 2020, Spin rated the first edition of Lollapalooza as the greatest US tour in 35 years, highlighting its role in ushering alternative music into the mainstream.
2020: Lollapalooza Paris Cancelled
Lollapalooza Paris was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Lollapalooza Brazil 2020 Cancelled and Rescheduled
The 2020 edition of Lollapalooza Brazil, originally planned for April 3–5 with headliners Guns N' Roses, Travis Scott, and The Strokes, was canceled a week before due to COVID-19 lockdowns. It was rescheduled to December 4–6 of the same year but was once again shut down due to COVID.
May 18, 2021: Lollapalooza to Return at Full Capacity
On May 18, 2021, it was announced that Lollapalooza would return at full capacity from July 29 to August 2, 2021.
August 2, 2021: Lollapalooza Returns at Full Capacity
Lollapalooza returned at full capacity from July 29 to August 2, 2021.
2021: Lollapalooza Brazil Rescheduled Again
In 2021, Lollapalooza Brazil was rescheduled to September 10–12 due to continued COVID restrictions. The headliners and other attractions were not confirmed at that time.
March 2022: Lollapalooza Brazil Finally Returns
In March 2022, Lollapalooza Brazil returned with headliners The Strokes and Miley Cyrus. Foo Fighters were scheduled to close the event on March 27, but their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, died two days prior. Various Brazilian artists paid tribute to the musician.
May 2022: Hulu to Exclusively Stream Lollapalooza
In May 2022, it was announced that Hulu would exclusively stream Lollapalooza, alongside Austin City Limits and Bonnaroo.
July 27, 2022: Lollapalooza Announces Mumbai Debut
On July 27, 2022, Lollapalooza announced their debut in Mumbai, India, scheduled for January 28–29, 2023.
October 2022: Lineup Announced for Following Year's Lollapalooza Chile
In October 2022, the lineup for the following year's Lollapalooza Chile was announced. The lineup is set to include headliners Blink-182, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Drake, Rosalía, and Tame Impala.
2022: Lollapalooza Returns to Stockholm
In 2022, Lollapalooza returned to Stockholm on July 1–3 after being canceled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was attended by over 70,000 people.
2024: Lollapalooza Paris Cancelled
Lollapalooza Paris was cancelled in 2024 due to logistical, administrative, and security constraints.
2024: Lollapalooza Brazil 2024
The 2024 edition of Lollapalooza Brazil happened on March 22–24, with Blink-182, SZA, Kings of Leon, Sam Smith, Arcade Fire, Limp Bizkit, and Titãs headlining. Kings of Leon replaced Paramore, who canceled two months before the festival.
2025: Lollapalooza Brazil 2025
The 2025 edition of Lollapalooza Brazil is scheduled for March 28–30, headlined by Olivia Rodrigo, Rüfüs Du Sol, Shawn Mendes, Alanis Morissette, Justin Timberlake, and Tool.
