The Ultimate 2026 Lollapalooza Guide

Hotel Options for Lollapalooza 2026

Chicago has no shortage of hotel options for fans traveling to Lolla. The three closest hotels to Grant Park are the Fairmont Chicago, Hilton Chicago, and the Kimpton Hotel. All three are within easy walking distance of the festival entrance.

Other great options nearby include:

• Best Western Grant Park Hotel
• Congress Plaza Hotel
• Hilton Garden Inn Downtown South Loop
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown South Loop
• Hotel Essex Chicago
• Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel
• Silversmith Hotel

Book your hotel early, as Chicago fills up fast during Lolla weekend. TickPick’s Lollapalooza hotel guide has even more tips on the best places to stay.

What You Can Bring Into Lollapalooza 2026

Here’s what festival-goers are allowed to bring through the gates:

• Clear bags no larger than 12″ × 12″ × 6″; small clutch purses/fanny packs with no more than 1 pocket (max 4.5″ × 5.5″)
• Baby strollers
• Frisbees
• Binoculars
• Blankets, sheets, and towels
• Cameras without detachable lenses or professional accessories
• Empty reusable water bottles, hydration packs, and plastic or aluminum water bottles
• Non-aerosol sunscreen in containers of 3.4 oz or less
• Personal-sized hand sanitizer

What You Cannot Bring Into Lollapalooza

There are plenty of prohibited items that Lollapalooza attendees may not bring into the festival, which we’ve outlined below. However, you can visit the Lollapalooza website for more FAQs and info.

• Any bags that are NOT CLEAR, small clutch purses and fanny packs with more than 1 pocket, clutch purses that are larger than 4.5″ x 5.5
• Aerosol containers
• Coolers of any kind. (Except for medical use)
• Framed backpacks, multiple pocket backpacks, and any pack that is not aligned with the allowed backpacks above
• Any and all professional audio recording equipment
• Professional cameras and professional recording or other commercial equipment
• Any and all professional video equipment. No video recording
• Drones or any other remote flying device
• Hammocks
• Glass containers of any kind
• Illegal and Illicit substances of any kind
• Outside food or beverage
• Pets (except service animals)
• Selfie sticks
• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts, or any personal motorized vehicles
• Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind
• Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors
• Weapons or explosives of any kind
• Fireworks
• Large chains or spiked jewelry
• Bicycles inside festival grounds
• Carts of any kind (including Red Wagons)
• Chairs of any kind
• Smoking and Vaping of any kind

How to Be Safe at Lollapalooza 2026

Here are some top safety tips to keep in mind to avoid any mishaps at the festival.

• Alternate alcoholic drinks with water
• Carry snacks with you to keep your energy up
• Have a designated driver or use a rideshare service for transportation to and from Chicago’s Grant Park
• Stay in a group
• Add an emergency contact to your wristband
• Have a backup form of communication in case there isn’t adequate phone reception
• Identify the emergency exits (when in doubt, consult the festival organizers)
• Identify the location of medical, fire, and law enforcement personnel

Buy 2026 Lollapalooza Passes

Lollapalooza 4-Day Festival passes are currently on sale. Though passes sold out within the hour they were released, fans can still enter the waitlist or purchase Lollapalooza tickets on TickPick.

We suggest not waiting too long past the on sale date to purchase your Lolla passes. These festival tickets historically sell out quickly on every ticket market there is. Follow the link below to the Lollapalooza festival pass of your choice and you’ll be directed to access tickets from there!