Olivia Rodrigo Joins Smashing Pumpkins Onstage at Lollapalooza 2026

Olivia Rodrigo made a surprise guest appearance with the Smashing Pumpkins at Lollapalooza 2026 in Chicago, stepping out to sing "Thirty-Three" from the band's landmark 1995 double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. It was only the second time the Pumpkins had played the track since 2018, the first being their Lollapalooza aftershow at the Riviera just two nights earlier.

The comparison between Rodrigo and the Pumpkins has been building for a while. Her recent single "the cure" has drawn widespread comparisons to Siamese Dream standout "Disarm," and the Chicago airport sighting of Rodrigo on TikTok Friday morning had people speculating she was heading to the fest. She was.

The Pumpkins were already delivering a historically loaded set. It marked the band's first appearance at their hometown festival in 32 years, which alone made it a moment worth paying attention to.

What Else Happened During the Smashing Pumpkins Lollapalooza Set

Yungblud also joined the band, coming out for "Luna" following his own set earlier in the day. The British artist had previously stated his song "Zombie" was intentionally channeling the Siamese Dream era, and he collaborated directly with the Pumpkins on a rerecording of it earlier this year. His appearance carried extra weight given that he had recently canceled a separate festival date for mental health reasons.

Former Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur closed things out, joining for the final song "The Everlasting Gaze." Auf der Maur, who recently announced her first new music in 16 years, had already appeared with the band at the Riviera aftershow and in Montreal last year. Hole's Courtney Love publicly celebrated the moment and the full lineup from the sidelines.

For anyone tracking Rodrigo's creative influences in real time, this appearance is worth noting. She has not named the Pumpkins among her cited references, but the sonic connections are there and now so is the onstage history. When artists of her level show up for a legacy act's hometown moment, it tends to mean something beyond a single guest spot.

For independent artists and creators watching the festival circuit, moments like this are a reminder of how collaboration across generations still carries genuine cultural weight. It is not nostalgia for its own sake. It is a live conversation between eras happening in front of 100,000 people. Check our [events page](/events) for LA shows and festival coverage coming up this season.