Transit agencies are providing additional service to accommodate increased ridership for the hottest music festival in the Midwest
Whether you’re planning to be there for the entire weekend or just for a day or two, public transit is the easiest and most economical way to enjoy your favorite musical acts at Lollapalooza 2026 in Grant Park.
Attendees are encouraged to avoid the stress of traffic and sky-high downtown parking fees and take advantage of Chicago’s affordable and convenient public transit system. Making the choice even easier, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra will add service and capacity to existing train routes to serve the tens of thousands of music fans expected for the four-day event.
Starting Thursday, July 30, and running through Sunday, Aug. 2, Metra will provide extra trains on seven of its 11 lines and add railcars for expanded capacity to accommodate the anticipated demand for ridership. Detailed Metra schedules for Lollapalooza weekend can be found at metra.com/schedules.
Meanwhile, CTA customers can rely on the Red and Blue lines, as well as the elevated lines in the Loop, to get to the festival. Yellow Line service will be extended until 1 a.m., each night, and various bus routes will connect to Metra trains at Chicago Union Station or Ogilvie Transportation Center with Grant Park.
To help Metra riders locate CTA buses at Union and Ogilvie stations, CTA and Metra will post sign boards directing riders to the appropriate bus routes. Buses serving those routes will also have signs in their windows indicating they serve Lollapalooza.
CTA bus service to the festival includes:
- From Union Station, take the #126 Jackson, #130 Museum Campus, or #151 Sheridan.
- From Ogilvie Transportation Center, take the #20 Madison, #56 Milwaukee, or #J14 Jeffery Jump.
Pace also provides a convenient and cost effective way to access one of the summer’s biggest music events. Pace ADA Paratransit riders attending Lollapalooza will be dropped off and picked up at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Pace also provides fixed‑route bus service across the Chicago suburbs that connects with CTA and Metra rail lines, making it easy to reach the festival from across the region. Pace also operates its signature I‑55 Bus-on-Shoulder Express weekday service, which allows buses to bypass traffic congestion and provide faster, more reliable trips between the southwest suburbs and the city.
“Over the past two decades, public transportation has been the most affordable and convenient way to travel to Lollapalooza,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “Metra and CTA are again working together to make the trip as easy as possible with added service as well as Day and Weekend Passes that make public transit the easiest choice to get to the festival.”
“Lollapalooza is one of Chicago’s signature summer events, and CTA will be at the heart of ensuring attendees travel to and from the festival smoothly and reliably,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “We’re excited to welcome Lolla-goers aboard to make sure they don’t miss a beat on their travels during this fun-filled weekend.”
“Pace is committed to making major events like Lollapalooza more accessible by providing reliable travel options for riders across the region, including ADA Paratransit, fixed-route service, and express connections into the city,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.
This coordinated service reflects the goals of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act to enhance the region’s ongoing commitment to improving service for public transit riders. Beginning this fall, NITA will work with CTA, Metra, and Pace to continue to coordinate service ahead of major events as part of its broader work to align priorities and ensure future actions reflect the governance and oversight structure established under the NITA Act.
CTA riders can take advantage of the agency’s low-cost, multi-day unlimited ride passes: $5 for a 1-day; $15 for a 3-day; $20 for a 7-day— ideal for those attending Lollapalooza for multiple days or attending Lollapalooza after-show concerts. CTA riders also can use Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay or any contactless credit or debit card for pay-as-you-go rides ($2.25 for bus, $2.50 for train).
Metra offers a variety of tickets that can be used by festivalgoers. These include Day Passes, good for unlimited rides on weekdays between your selected Metra zones, $7 Saturday or Sunday Day Passes for unlimited travel on those days, and a $10 Weekend Pass available for purchase only on the Ventra App allowing unlimited travel across the Metra system on both Saturday and Sunday. Ventra App users can save even more money with the new Regional Day Pass option that allows Metra Day pass buyers to add unlimited travel on CTA and Pace for an additional $2.50. Concertgoers are highly encouraged to use the Ventra app for all tickets – but make sure your phone is charged.
All riders must have a ticket to ride Metra trains, and tickets will be checked. On outbound trains, riders may be asked to show their ticket before boarding at downtown stations. Those purchasing student and reduced fare tickets at vending machines must be prepared to show IDs to verify their eligibility for these fares. All customers are encouraged to buy their tickets either through vending machines or the Ventra App before boarding trains.
Customers attending the festival are asked not to bring backpacks or water bottles on Metra trains throughout the event and to review Lollapalooza’s list of allowed and prohibited items. Metra riders should also be advised that due to the expected increase in ridership, Metra trains may not be able to accommodate bicycles and conductors can refuse boarding to bicyclists.
For more information on service offered by Metra, CTA, and Pace visit metra.com, transitchicago.com and pacebus.com.
About Metra
Metra is an essential resource that safely and reliably connects individuals to the things
that matter most in their lives — their work, their homes and their families.
About CTA
The CTA operates one of the nation's largest public transportation systems and covers the City of Chicago and 35 surrounding suburbs. CTA provides more than 1 million weekday rides on average.
About Pace
Pace Suburban Bus safely and efficiently moves people to work, school, and other regional destinations with its family of public transportation services. Pace offers affordable and environmentally responsible transit options for the residents of 274 municipalities in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. The backbone of Chicago's suburbs, Pace serves tens of thousands of daily riders. One of the largest bus services in North America, Pace covers 3,677 square miles, an area about 15 times the size of the City of Chicago. Pace's innovative approach to public transportation gives the agency a national reputation as an industry leader.