Lorde Headlines Lollapalooza Chicago Opening Night, Charli XCX Joins for Surprise 'Girl, So Confusing'

Lorde closed out the opening night of Lollapalooza Chicago on Wednesday, July 30, 2026, delivering a 21-song set at Grant Park. The night's biggest surprise came when Charli XCX — set to headline the following day — appeared onstage to perform their 2024 collaboration "Girl, So Confusing" together. This year's festival runs four days, July 30 through August 2, with eight headline acts across the run.

The Set: Four Albums, One Surprise Guest

Lorde opened with the unreleased "Don't Look For Me Now That I'm Gone," then moved into "Royals" and "What Was That." Tracks from Pure Heroine included "Team," "Buzzcut Season," and closer "Ribs." Melodrama supplied six songs: "Supercut," "Green Light," "The Louvre," "Hard Feelings," "Liability," and "Perfect Places." Only "Oceanic Feeling" represented 2021's Solar Power, while her 2025 album contributed "Favourite Daughter," "Shapeshifter," "Hammer," "Man of the Year," "Current Affairs," and "David."

According to Far Out Magazine, the setlist structure closely mirrored her headline performance at Governors Ball in New York last month, including the choice to open with an unreleased track.

Full Setlist (Lollapalooza Chicago, July 30)

1. "Don't Look For Me Now That I'm Gone"
2. "Royals"
3. "What Was That"
4. "Broken Glass"
5. "Perfect Places"
6. "Shapeshifter"
7. "Buzzcut Season"
8. "Favourite Daughter"
9. "The Louvre"
10. "Current Affairs"
11. "Hard Feelings"
12. "Oceanic Feeling"
13. "Liability"
14. "Hammer"
15. "Supercut"
16. "Team"
17. "Man of the Year"
18. "Girl, So Confusing" feat. Charli XCX
19. "Green Light"
20. "David"
21. "Ribs"

Rest of Day One and What's Next

Also performing on July 30 were Blood Orange, Wet Leg, Empire of the Sun, Little Simz, Viagra Boys, CMAT, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Kettama. Lollapalooza Chicago continues through its full four-day run ending August 2.

Lorde heads to Hinterland and Osheaga this coming weekend before moving on to European summer festivals. UK dates include August 22 (Saturday) at All Points East in London — sharing the bill with PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, and Djo — plus Forwards (Bristol) and Edinburgh Summer Sessions.