Lollapalooza India 2026 kicks off in Mumbai with power-packed performances from YUNGBLUD, Playboi Carti

Yungblud brought his electric energy to the stage while performing some of his biggest hits. Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement

Lollapalooza India 2026 roared to life at Mahalaxmi Racecourse today as Day 1 unfolded into a bold celebration of sound, community and culture, drawing tens of thousands of fans into a world where genres blurred and the energy never dipped.

Hip-hop maverick Playboi Carti led the charge with his first major India appearance, joined by the Opium collective Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang. Their set tore through ‘FE!N!', ‘Pop Out' ‘Timeless' and the explosive ‘If Looks Could Kill' as the crowd turned the main stage into a moving sea. British disruptor YUNGBLUD followed with a fearless performance built on ‘Zombie' and ‘Hello Heaven', while Japanese star Fujii Kaze delivered a poignant, piano-driven moment with ‘Shinunoga E-Wa', that became one of the day's emotional peaks.

Electronic powerhouse Knock2 unleashed festival edits of ‘Dashstar', synth favourites The Midnight wrapped the evening in neon nostalgia with ‘Sunset' and ‘Los Angeles' and Canadian icons Mother Mother sparked mass singalongs to ‘Hayloft'. UK acts Hamdi and Hot Milk added punch with ‘Push' and ‘Breathing underwater' respectively.

Indian artists owned the stages with Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family performing ‘Gehraiyaan', MU540 firing up the dance arena with ‘USD, e USD' and Gauley Bhai winning hearts with ‘Sanglanga Dooby'. Sets from Zoya, Pho, Still in Therapy, Nate08, Rounak Maiti, Sijya and Sunflower Tape Machine kept discovery at the centre of the experience.

The Lolla Food Park steals the show, featuring over 70 food brands across stalls, carts and trucks. Fans flocked to specially curated Lolla India Dishes including Bheja Roll by Bademiya, Strawberries and Cream by Bachelors, Lolla Lava Noodles by Bang Bang Noodles and Pushpa Pizza by Bad Boy Pizza, turning meal breaks into headline moments of their own.

The festival, co-produced and promtoed by BookMyShow Live for the festival's Indian edition along with global producers, Perry Farrell and C3 Presents also showcased a design marvel. From the towering Lollapalooza Inflatable and Perry Farrell's iconic Shaman to the kinetic Lolla Garden and Lolla Buddies photo stops, the venue transformed into an art playground. The Alternative Stage stood out as a creative landmark. The merchandise zone buzzed all day with fans picking up lineup tees, raglan fits, hoodies, jerseys, bucket hats and picnic mats inspired by the collection theme of aliens, freaks and dreamers.

Sustainability and inclusivity shaped the day with waste management, EV vehicles for internal movement, PWD viewing decks, trained accessibility teams and Tag Your Kid safety support. Metro, train and Cityflo connectivity kept travel seamless.

As night fell, the city carried one conversation, if this was the opening chapter, Day 2 would be historic with Linkin Park's debut performance in Mumbai setting the bar.