Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Aug 1
Smashing Pumpkins, Charli XCX Command Lollapalooza Night 2 as Rain Fails to Dampen 2026 Chicago Sets
Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Aug 1

Smashing Pumpkins, Charli XCX Command Lollapalooza Night 2 as Rain Fails to Dampen 2026 Chicago Sets

3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Aug 1

Summary

  • Lollapalooza’s second night turned into a four-way headliner squeeze, but Smashing Pumpkins and Charli XCX drew the sharpest focus across Grant Park despite steady rain.
  • Smashing Pumpkins made their official Chicago Lollapalooza debut by leaning on 30-year-old Mellon Collie material, mixing in Siamese Dream staples and newer songs from Aghori Mhori Mei.
  • Yungblud and Olivia Rodrigo joined Billy Corgan onstage for “Luna” and an acoustic “Thirty-Three,” underscoring the band’s reach across more than 3 decades of rock.
  • Charli XCX used the T-Mobile stage to launch her Music, Fashion, Film tour, opening with “Rock Music” and driving through new tracks including “SS26” and “Camera.”
  • David Cronenberg’s spoken refrain closed Charli’s cinematic finale, capping a night that highlighted both a hometown legacy act and a pop star’s new era.

Insights

Why did hometown legends Smashing Pumpkins wait decades for this Lollapalooza debut, and how did a pop star rival their massive crowd?
How did organizers prevent a severe storm disaster while hosting two monumental, simultaneous headlining sets in Chicago's Grant Park?
What hidden meaning lies behind Charli XCX’s dramatic freeze-frame finale, and will this cinematic climax define her upcoming fall tour?