Lollapalooza Paris was the French edition of the global Lollapalooza festival brand, held annually at Longchamp Racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne. Founded in 2016 as an expansion of the Chicago flagship, it brought international headliners and local French acts to Paris for two days each summer. The 2026 edition has been cancelled, with organizers announcing a return in 2027.
The 2025 edition (July 18 to 20) drew 160,000 attendees across three days, with headliners Olivia Rodrigo, David Guetta, and Justin Timberlake. Stray Kids headlined the first night of the 2023 edition, becoming the first K-pop group to headline Lollapalooza Paris. The group documented their performance and rehearsal process in an official docuseries on their YouTube channel:
How Lollapalooza Paris Worked
Lollapalooza Paris typically ran for two days in late June or July at the Hippodrome de Longchamp, a historic horse racing venue in the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge of Paris. The site offered multiple stages, food vendors, art installations, and family-friendly programming. The festival was organized by Live Nation France in partnership with C3 Presents, the same team behind the Chicago edition.
Tickets were sold through the official Lollapalooza Paris website and partner platforms. Pass types included single-day, two-day, and VIP options. Prices typically ranged from approximately 95 EUR for a single-day GA pass to 250 EUR for a two-day GA pass, with VIP packages reaching 500 EUR or more.
The festival programmed a mix of international headliners and French artists. Past lineups included Travis Scott, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Snake, A$AP Rocky, Lana Del Rey, and Daft Punk side projects. The festival also featured emerging French electronic and hip-hop artists on smaller stages.
Real-World Example: Past Editions
The 2019 edition featured Travis Scott, The Strokes, Billie Eilish, and Vampire Weekend as headliners, with French acts like DJ Snake and Christine and the Queens on the undercard. That year drew approximately 60,000 attendees across two days.
The festival went on hiatus during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2022 with Imagine Dragons and A$AP Rocky headlining. Subsequent editions continued to draw strong crowds, but the 2026 edition has been cancelled. The reasons for cancellation have not been publicly detailed, though rising production costs and increased competition in the European festival market likely played a role.
Other Lollapalooza international editions (Berlin, Stockholm, and Santiago) continue to operate. The Paris cancellation does not affect the broader Lollapalooza brand, which remains one of the largest festival franchises in the world.
Lineup History
Lollapalooza Paris ran for seven editions between 2017 and 2025 (with cancellations in 2020, 2021, and 2024). Here is a year-by-year look at the headliners:
| Year | Dates | Day 1 Headliner | Day 2 Headliner | Day 3 Headliner | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jul 18-20 | Olivia Rodrigo | David Guetta | Justin Timberlake | 160,000 |
| 2023 | Jul 21-23 | Stray Kids | Rosalia / Lil Nas X | Kendrick Lamar | 170,000 |
| 2022 | Jul 16-17 | Imagine Dragons / A$AP Rocky | Pearl Jam / David Guetta | - | 65,000/day |
| 2019 | Jul 20-21 | The Strokes | Twenty One Pilots / Martin Garrix | - | 60,000 |
| 2018 | Jul 21-22 | Depeche Mode | The Killers / Gorillaz / Travis Scott | - | - |
| 2017 | Jul 22-23 | The Weeknd | Red Hot Chili Peppers | - | - |
The 2017 inaugural edition featured Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Weeknd as headliners, with Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey, and Skepta on the undercard. The 2018 edition expanded the lineup with Depeche Mode, Gorillaz, The Killers, and Travis Scott, plus French acts Nekfeu and Vald. The 2019 edition booked The Strokes, Twenty One Pilots, and Martin Garrix, with Billie Eilish and Vampire Weekend on the undercard.
The festival went on hiatus during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2022 with Imagine Dragons, A$AP Rocky, Pearl Jam, and David Guetta headlining across two days. Pearl Jam's Sunday headline set was their first Paris show in 16 years.
The 2023 edition expanded to three days and drew 170,000 attendees. Stray Kids headlined Friday night, Rosalia and Lil Nas X headlined Saturday, and Kendrick Lamar closed the festival on Sunday. Aya Nakamura, Damso, Kygo, and OneRepublic also performed. Lindsey Stirling, who performed on the Friday, released an official live video of her Led Zeppelin cover "Kashmir" filmed during her Lollapalooza Paris 2023 set on her YouTube channel:
The 2024 edition was cancelled due to the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The 2025 edition returned with a three-day format (July 18 to 20) and drew 160,000 attendees. Olivia Rodrigo headlined Friday, David Guetta brought his Monolith Tour on Saturday, and Justin Timberlake closed the festival on Sunday. Benson Boone, RAYE, TEMS, and FLO also performed. The 2026 edition was cancelled on October 20, 2025, with Live Nation France director Angelo Gopee citing a lack of available headliners and rising production costs. The festival is planned to return in 2027.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The cancellation of Lollapalooza Paris highlights the volatility of the European festival market. For independent artists, the loss of a major booking platform means fewer opportunities to reach French and European audiences. However, France still hosts major festivals including Festival de Nimes, We Love Green, and Hellfest, which offer alternative booking opportunities.
If you were planning to submit to Lollapalooza Paris, redirect your efforts to other European festivals. The French festival circuit is large, with over 1,600 festivals held annually. Building relationships with French booking agents and European festival bookers remains the most reliable path to international exposure.
For artists targeting European tours, use our Tour Revenue Calculator to estimate what a European run could earn you. Check our music festival strategy guide for tips on getting booked at international festivals.
Related Resources
- Music Festivals Directory - Explore other European and international festivals
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan your European touring budget
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming growth that attracts festival bookings
- Music Festival Strategy: Get Booked and Make It Count - Tips for international festival bookings
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Festival performances as a revenue stream
Similar Festivals
- Lollapalooza - The Chicago flagship festival, held annually in Grant Park
- Lollapalooza Chile - South American edition held in Santiago, Chile
- Lollapalooza Brazil - South American edition held in Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Coachella - Major US festival held in Indio, California
- Mad Cool Festival - Multi-genre festival held in Madrid, Spain
- Osheaga - Multi-genre festival held in Montreal, Canada
