Olivia Rodrigo has described the success of her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival as the “greatest joy” of her career, after the all-female music event raised $20 million for organisations supporting women and girls.
The festival took place at Great Park in Irvine, California, on Saturday 29 August 2026, with Rodrigo leading a lineup that included Chappell Roan, Garbage and Doechii. Special guests included Alanis Morissette, Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks.
Inspired by the 1997-founded Lilith Fair, Daisy Chain Fields combined live music with charitable fundraising and partnerships with organisations working across reproductive rights, maternal health, domestic workers’ rights and other causes.
Olivia Rodrigo reflects on Daisy Chain Fields
Rodrigo, 23, shared her reaction to the festival on Instagram the following day, saying she was still processing what had happened.
“Seeing daisy chain come to fruition yesterday was the greatest joy of my career. I am still in a bit of disbelief that it happened and I still feel incapable of properly expressing the gratitude that I feel for every person who believed in this vision and fought so hard to make it a reality.”
The singer-songwriter also recalled visiting Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree installation at the festival entrance with friends. Festival attendees were invited to write wishes on tags and attach them to the tree’s branches.
Rodrigo said the messages gave her a reminder of the common hopes shared by people attending the event.
“But by and large almost every tag said the same thing. Everyone hoped for the world to be more peaceful, they all hoped that the people they loved were happy, they all hoped to make a difference.”
She said the installation reinforced the wider purpose behind Daisy Chain Fields.
“It made me so emotional and I realized that was exactly why daisy chain meant so much to me. The artwork reminded me of how we are all much more alike than we are different. And how deep down, we all just want to help each other and make the world a better place.”
Daisy Chain Fields raises $20 million
Alongside its music programme, Daisy Chain Fields partnered with a number of nonprofit organisations.
Partners for the inaugural event included Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Institute for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center and Planned Parenthood.
Melinda French Gates also announced a $10 million donation through her organisation Pivotal Ventures during the festival. The contribution brought the event’s total fundraising to $20 million.
The funds will support organisations working on issues affecting women and girls.
Daisy Chain Fields could return in 2027
Rodrigo ended her message by thanking everyone who attended and suggesting that the festival could become an annual event.
“Thank you to everyone who came yesterday who showed me that joy is a part of the solution.”
She also appeared to confirm that Daisy Chain Fields will return next year, writing:
“next yearrrrr”
If the festival returns in 2027, it would establish Daisy Chain Fields as a recurring music and charitable event rather than a one-off concert.
The inaugural edition brought together artists from across pop, rock and alternative music, with Rodrigo’s vision drawing clear inspiration from Lilith Fair while creating a new platform for contemporary artists and charitable organisations.
