A Disco Ball Over Berlin: 50,000 Attendees Celebrate the Kickoff of Lollapalooza Berlin Presented by essence with Pitbull, Ayliva, Zara Larsson, and Lily Allen

Berlin, July 18th, 2026 – Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence is back and once again transformed the Olympic Park into a place filled with music, creativity, and unforgettable festival experiences on Saturday. Starting at 11 a.m., tens of thousands of visitors, buoyed by the first warm rays of sunshine, streamed onto the festival grounds. Between the main stages—the Essence Stage and the TK Maxx Stage—the reimagined Perry’s Stage, the New Horizon Stage, and the various experience areas, the unmistakable “Lolla Berlin” moments that have defined the festival for over a decade began to unfold right from the first concert.

A festival kickoff full of international highlights
Even the first acts made it clear just how diverse the festival’s musical spectrum is. From pop to Latin and indie to electronic music, Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence showcased a lineup featuring global stars and hot newcomers right from the very first day of the festival.

Among the musical highlights of the day was British pop icon Lily Allen, who wowed the crowd with her latest album, “West End Girl,” and transformed the stage into an open-air theater. Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson also created the perfect summer and dance vibe with her viral hit “Midnight Sun” and invited a female audience member on stage for her song “Lush Life.” Together, they performed the viral TikTok dance—a true fan moment that sparked excitement. Singer-songwriter Tom Odell took the stage with an impressive live band: The audience listened to his intimate performance in awe-inspiring silence and let themselves be swept away by the unique concert atmosphere. Puerto Rican Latin rap sensation Young Miko captivated the audience with high-energy beats and a charismatic stage presence. Likewise, the Japanese girl group Atarashii Gakko!, known for their extraordinary dance choreography, generated excitement as they celebrated with their fans right in the middle of the crowd. On the Perry’s Stage, Artbat, Korolova, Victor Ruiz, and Lovefoxy transformed the new space into a nonstop open-air rave area. Electronic beats and the impressive 360-degree sound system kept the festival atmosphere at its peak well into the evening. Ayliva provided an emotional highlight with her impressive show and her acclaimed songs in front of thousands of fans on the TK Maxx Stage. When she launched into “Renn,” the audience sang along at the top of their lungs—one of the moments many fans had been especially looking forward to. Pitbull ultimately provided the grand finale to the first day of the festival. At his only festival show in Germany, “Mr. Worldwide” turned Lolla Berlin into a massive party with his global hits. But it wasn’t just his hits—his inspiring words also moved the audience. Numerous fans showed up for the performance sporting shaved heads and sunglasses—in the iconic Pitbull look—and made the end of Saturday night perfect.

Festival Director Fruzsina Szép offers a positive assessment of the festival’s opening day:
“The first day of the festival exceeded our expectations. Right after the gates opened, the anticipation and positive energy were palpable throughout the entire grounds. Berlin and Lollapalooza are simply a perfect match: openness, diversity, and the coming together of people from all walks of life define the festival’s special atmosphere. Every year, it’s surprising and impressive anew to see how many people and generations attend Lollapalooza. Witnessing fans of all ages celebrating together and discovering music here is what makes the festival unique.”

Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence celebrates diversity, creativity, and community
Even offstage, the festival offered plenty of experiences for all visitors. At Fashionpalooza, interactive performances—such as those by mentalist Jack Wilde, the ballroom show “Bring It To The Floor,” and the Bald Cap Dance, tailored to today’s headliner—thrilled the audience. The Grüner Kiez invited visitors to explore and try out hands-on activities centered on sustainability—such as the Power2Change energy mobile. At Kidzapalooza, presented by Plan E Kids, the festival’s youngest guests enjoyed creative indoor and outdoor activities. From the Baby Oasis and the Creative Paradise—quiet retreats—to hands-on activities like the Zwergstadt Spielmobil and SchminkySchminky, there was plenty of play, creativity, and adventure to be had. A special highlight was the Walking Act Parade, which took place several times a day, winding its way through the festival grounds and culminating each time in a grand finale at the Marathon Gate. The artists on site shaped the entire festival experience: whether through dance workshops at Fashionpalooza, interactive activities, or group photo opportunities—they repeatedly invited visitors to become part of the program themselves.

Berlin Celebrates with Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Teddy Swims, and Anitta on the Second Day of Lollapalooza Berlin Presented by essence

With international superstars, acclaimed newcomers, and thousands of music-loving fans, the festival Sunday served as the grand finale to an unforgettable Lolla Berlin weekend

Berlin, July 19th, 2026 – On its second day, Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence once again impressively demonstrated why it’s a staple of the European festival summer. From the first concerts at noon to the final beats of the evening, superstars from around the world, up-and-coming artists, and thousands of fans once again transformed the Olympiapark into the pulsating heart of the festival. Around 100,000 visitors attended the Berlin festival over the weekend.

From pop to techno—Festival Sunday showcases the full diversity of Lolla Berlin

The lineup showcased its full range as early as the morning: Turkish superstar Edis kicked off the day on the TK Maxx Stage with his modern Turkish pop hits. Along with the first rays of sunshine, he created a lively festival atmosphere right from the start. Rapper Vicky then took over the essence Stage and captivated the audience with her unmistakable Viennese attitude, sharp-tongued lyrics, and an energetic performance. Meanwhile, on the Perry’s Stage, trance master Krause provided the perfect start for all fans of electronic music with hypnotic techno beats. On the New Horizon Stage, Pia Klein, The Snuts, Sofia Camara, and Don West delivered compelling performances that showcased special live moments. The stage offered a platform for up-and-coming artists and impressed with a mix of melancholy, Scottish indie rock, emotional ballads, and “Coastal Soul.” It attracted not only fans of the performing acts but also numerous festivalgoers who made a point of stopping by to discover new music and exciting newcomers.

German artists also delivered some special moments: For Berlin-based Zartmann, performing at Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence in his hometown must have been a very special experience. Before his set, he stopped by the “Claire on Air” podcast at Fashionpalooza and revealed that the gig felt like a home game to him. With his unmistakable blend of indie, rap, and pop, he was loudly cheered on by his fans.

Afterward, Brazilian singer, songwriter, and dancer Anitta brought the stage to life. As one of the most influential artists of the new generation of Latin American music, she transformed Lolla Berlin into a massive dance floor with her Brazilian funk. Not even the rain could stop the festivalgoers: clad in colorful rain capes, they celebrated the electrifying performance right until the end.

Midway through Teddy Swims’ set, the rain finally let up—and the entire festival grounds turned into a massive choir. With his powerful voice and songs like “Lose Control” and “The Door,” the American singer delivered one of the most emotional performances of the day. His interaction with fans also contributed to the atmosphere, as he signed several signs and photos.

The next highlight followed immediately afterward: Lorde returned to Berlin for her first German festival show of 2026 and wowed the crowd with her signature blend of intimacy and grand pop gestures. Alternating between soulful ballads and iconic pop anthems, she created an atmosphere that captivated the audience from the first song to the last.

Lewis Capaldi took the stage for the finale on the essence Stage, bringing the entire festival weekend to an emotional close. With his self-deprecating humor, approachable demeanor, and a setlist full of global hits, the Scottish superstar created a moment that many attendees won’t soon forget. When thousands of voices echoed through the Olympic Park in unison during “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go,” it became clear once again what makes live music so special. In addition to his own songs, he also performed numerous well-known hits from the Lolla Berlin lineup and invited the audience to sing along.

Meanwhile, Funk Tribu shook the newly redesigned Perry’s Stage with driving electronic sounds. His trance-inspired set served as the grand finale on the dance floor and kept the crowd moving right up until the very last minutes.

Celebrate, Discover, and Experience Together – The “Lolla Way”
On the second day of the festival, Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence offered far more than just a diverse lineup. Away from the main stages, visitors could also get involved and put their skills to the test—whether at workshops, talks, or interactive activities centered on style, individuality, and self-expression at Fashionpalooza. The Grüner Kiez once again invited visitors to discover sustainability in a playful way and demonstrated how social engagement and the festival experience can go hand in hand. The offerings from the festival’s partners were also among the most popular stops on the festival grounds. These included, in particular, the various stations set up by presenting partner essence. With a large booth on the Maifeld and numerous activities and photo spots spread across the entire grounds, the brand provided plenty of beauty and fun moments. Even the youngest visitors got their money’s worth at Kidzapalooza, presented by Plan E Kids. For the first time this year, the family area offered both outdoor and indoor activities, creating even more space for playing, exploring, and getting involved.

Festival director Fruzsina Szép looks back on the weekend with satisfaction:
“Lollapalooza Berlin thrives on its openness, its diversity, and above all, on the people who bring the festival to life year after year. Artists from a wide variety of genres, a wonderful audience, and a unique atmosphere make this weekend something truly special. Together, we create moments that will be remembered long after the festival is over. Our heartfelt thanks go to all the fans, artists, partners, and our entire team who made this unforgettable weekend full of music, creativity, and community possible.”

See you in 2027!
After another successful festival weekend, Lollapalooza Berlin presented by essence bids farewell until next year. The date for 2027 has already been set: Lolla Berlin will return to the Olympiapark on July 17 and 18, 2027. Advance ticket sales start now. The first strictly limited ticket allocation is now available at www.lollaberlin.com.

@LukeBPhotographyKassel