On Friday, July 31st, an audience made up of nearly 100,000 people brought in a new era of Charli XCX's career: music, fashion, and film. It was Charli's biggest crowd to date, stretched out across Chicago's Grant Park during Lollapalooza 2026.

The album, titled “Music, Fashion, and Film”, features a creative holy trinity through the eyes of Charli XCX: John Cale (music), Marc Jacobs (fashion), and Martin Scorsese (film). While “Brat” had a dinner table display of the It Girls of 2024, this album's personality takes a narrower approach. Both reflect Charli XCX’s greater vision as a creative, with the importance of acknowledging the ones who've shaped your perspective at the front and center.

The album is accompanied by its own 50-minute film, introduced by a tousled Charli speaking directly into the camera, attempting to let viewers in on the elusive life of what creating art really looks like at that level of fame. She’s ironic and honest at the same time, speaking the same language that our generation does.

Shortly after "Music, Fashion, Film" was released, Charli XCX tweeted about the rise of "anti-marketing," where artists will rely less on big labels and traditional tactics, and more on their own unique tactics. She promoted her album by holding various secret shows around New York City, and this confidence paid off, when every single one of them sold out.

“Secret shows” were also seen popping up from musicians like Phoebe Bridgers, who similarly came to fame at a remarkable speed. Artists in 2026 want to harness the fame that often feels like an untameable beast, and Charli XCX is proving what it takes.

I think my special attachment to Charli XCX stems from hearing "I Love It" by Icona Pop on a bus ride in middle school. It did what pop music does best: allowed me take myself a bit less seriously. Charli has continued to give listeners permission to roll their eyes at mundane things, with the reassurance that your authentic self doesn't go unnoticed.