A quarter century since the first tent went up on the Empire Polo Club grounds. The desert has not changed. The festival very much has. Here is everything you need to know about the 25th edition.
Anniversary: 25th (Edition since 1999)
Weekends: Apr 10-12 + Apr 17-19
Headliners: 4 (Carpenter · Bieber · Karol G · Anyma)
Artists on Bill: 130+ (Across all genres)
SOLD OUT: <1 week after lineup reveal
Twenty-five years ago, Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen turned a polo field in the California desert into something that had no name yet.
Today it has many names: cultural institution, fashion event, career-maker, trendsetter, pilgrimage. In 2026, Coachella celebrates its quarter century, and it sold out in less than a week.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2026 takes place over two weekends – April 10-12 (Weekend 1) and April 17-19 (Weekend 2) – at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, as it has every year since 1999.
The lineup was announced on 15 September 2025 and passes went on general sale four days later. By 22 September, both weekends were sold out.
The festival was co-founded in 1999 by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen, and is organised by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents.
The 2026 edition marks the 25th time the festival has taken place – a milestone that would have seemed improbable in the early years, when the inaugural 1999 edition lost money and the organisers briefly considered cancelling the whole experiment.
Who’s on the Bill
The four official headliners for 2026 are Sabrina Carpenter (Friday nights), Justin Bieber (Saturday nights), Karol G (Sunday nights), and Anyma, who presents the world premiere of his new audiovisual project Æden in the coveted late-night DJ headliner slot.
Karol G makes history as the first Latina artist to headline the main stage. The Colombian superstar, whose fifth studio album Tropicoqueta was released in June 2025, announced her headliner slot on Instagram with the caption “LA BICHOTA ES HEADLINER – Nos vemos en el desierto.”
Friday
Sabrina Carpenter HEADLINER
The XX · Disclosure · Ethel Cain · Teddy Swims · KATSEYE COACHELLA DEBUT · BINI COACHELLA DEBUT · Central Cee · Sexyy Red · Devo · Dijon · Turnstile · Nine Inch Noize
Saturday
Justin Bieber HEADLINER
The Strokes · Addison Rae · David Byrne LEGEND · PinkPantheress · Sombr · Swan Lee · Royal Otis · Labrinth · Little Simz · Wet Leg · Boys Noize · Interpol
Sunday
Karol G HEADLINER – FIRST LATINA TO HEADLINE
Anyma presents Æden · Young Thug · BIGBANG · Laufey · Major Lazer · Iggy Pop LEGEND · FKA Twigs · Kaskade · Subtronics · Clipse · Alex G · Lykke Li
Nine Inch Noize: The collaboration billed as “Nine Inch Noize” on the Friday lineup likely brings together Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize – a genuinely unexpected pairing of industrial rock and electronic music. Both acts are separately listed on the full lineup, which adds credence to the collaboration reading.
Tickets: Both weekends are sold out. General admission started at $649 (Weekend 1) and $549 (Weekend 2) including fees. A resale waitlist is available via AXS Official Resale at coachella.com.
Where the Music Happens
Coachella Stage
MAIN STAGE
The festival’s central outdoor stage. Home to all four headliners. Capacity: approximately 100,000. The backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains makes it one of the most visually dramatic main stages in festival culture.
Sahara Stage
ELECTRONIC & DANCE
The festival’s second-largest stage, historically associated with electronic and dance acts. Rapid-fire DJ sets and some of the festival’s most energetic crowds. Where Anyma’s Æden premiere takes place.
Yuma
UNDERGROUND ELECTRONIC
The dark, air-conditioned indoor tent for serious electronic music. Known for sets that run until sunrise. Where Coachella’s underground credibility lives – curated by experienced bookers who prioritise musical substance.
Gobi
INDIE & ALTERNATIVE
Mid-sized outdoor tent stage, typically associated with indie rock, alternative, and left-field bookings. Often where the best-value sets happen – artists on the verge of mainstream breakthrough performing for intimate crowds.
Mojave
ROCK & HIP-HOP
One of the festival’s original stages – historically strong for rock acts and hip-hop. Some of Coachella’s most celebrated sets have happened here: the intimate staging creates intensity that the main stage cannot replicate.
Sonora
INDIE & EMERGING
The smallest of the main stages – where early afternoon sets often feature acts who will be headlining festivals within three years. The most reliable place to discover new music at Coachella.
A Quarter Century in the Desert: Key Moments
1999
The inaugural festival – and near-death
The first Coachella took place over two days in October 1999. Beck, Rage Against the Machine, and Tool headlined. The festival lost money. Paul Tollett nearly abandoned the concept entirely.
2002-2007
Finding its identity
After a two-year hiatus, the festival returned in 2001 and gradually established itself as a premier event. The reunion of The Pixies (2004), Daft Punk’s legendary 2006 set, and Prince’s 2008 headliner performance are among the defining moments of the early era.
2012
The Tupac hologram and global virality
The appearance of a Tupac Shakur hologram during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s set made global headlines and established Coachella’s capacity to create moments that transcended music journalism.
2018
Beyoncé’s Homecoming – the benchmark for headliners
Beyoncé’s performance – later documented in the Netflix film Homecoming – is widely regarded as the greatest Coachella set in the festival’s history. A 120-piece marching band, a full reunion of Destiny’s Child, two hours of choreographed precision. Every subsequent headliner has been measured against it.
2024
Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator, Doja Cat
The 2024 edition saw Sabrina Carpenter play an afternoon set – during which she told the crowd she would be back as a headliner. Two years later, she was right.
2026
The 25th anniversary – sold out in a week
The milestone edition. Four headliners, 130+ artists, a world-premiere audiovisual project, and the first Latina artist to headline.
The Desert Runway: Fashion Trends for 2026
Coachella has functioned as a fashion event almost as long as it has functioned as a music festival. The combination of a photogenic setting, a dress code that rewards creativity, and an enormous social media audience has made it one of the world’s most influential platforms for trend-setting – particularly for brands and designers whose target demographic skews toward the festival’s attendee profile.
2026 TRENDS
Futuristic Boho
The meeting point between desert-festival aesthetic and space-age materials: airy, flowing fabrics in natural tones paired with metallic accessories, reflective sunglasses, and embroidered or beaded detailing. Practical for the desert heat without sacrificing visual impact.
Western-Core 2.0
The cowboy aesthetic that first arrived at Coachella continues to evolve. In 2026, leather fringe, wide-brim hats, and folk-inspired embroidery are elevated by colour and material choices that bridge vintage and contemporary. The Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey influence on festival fashion continues to echo.
Growing Movement: Sustainable Fashion
Upcycled outfits, vintage finds, and the rejection of fast-fashion festival wear continue to gain ground – partly as a genuine values position, partly because thrifted looks increasingly outperform their mass-produced counterparts on social media. Coachella’s fashion culture is evolving faster than the fast-fashion brands chasing it.
Practical and Chic: Head Coverings
Headscarves, bandanas, and wraps – practical protection against the Coachella Valley’s notorious dust storms and direct sun, reframed as fashion statements. Versatile enough to transition from afternoon heat to night-time warmth.
Surviving (and Thriving) in the Desert
Where to Stay
On-site options range from basic car camping to the premium Coachella Safari Tents (fully furnished glamping with beds, electricity, and shade). Off-site, Palm Springs – 45 minutes west – is the traditional base for non-campers, with a strong hotel and vacation rental market. Book 6+ months ahead; Coachella weekend rates can triple normal prices.
Getting There
The official Coachella Shuttle – departing from multiple LA-area locations – is the most stress-free option: pre-booked, efficient, and eliminates parking fees ($150+ per day). If driving, plan to arrive before 10am to avoid peak traffic. Rideshares from Palm Springs are reliable but expensive after headliner sets end.
Desert Survival
April in Coachella Valley means 35-40°C (95-105°F) by afternoon and a dramatic drop to 10-15°C (50-60°F) after midnight. Pack both sunscreen and a warm layer. Hydration is not optional – drink water before you feel thirsty. Free water refill stations are available throughout the grounds.
The App
The official Coachella app releases the full set-time schedule approximately one week before the festival opens. This is the only way to plan stage conflicts in advance. Charge your phone fully each morning; battery drain at Coachella is severe. Portable power banks are essential equipment.
Group Camping New for 2026
Coachella 2026 introduces a new group camping option for parties of 10 or more – a direct response to attendees who prefer to camp with their entire group in a single designated area rather than in general camping.
The Non-Headliner Strategy
Coachella’s best experiences are often not at the main stage. Yuma’s underground electronic sets, Gobi’s indie discoveries, and Sonora’s emerging acts offer the festival’s most intimate and often most memorable performances. The Sahara stage at sunset – when the mountains behind glow orange – is consistently one of the great visual spectacles in live music.
Twenty-five years. The polo grounds are the same. The mountains have not moved. What has changed is everything else: the scale, the cultural reach, the fashion dimension, the social media layer, and the lineup ambitions.
Paul Tollett’s initial experiment in October 1999, which lost money and nearly didn’t happen again, turned out to be the beginning of one of the most enduring cultural institutions in modern entertainment. The desert has a way of making things last.
COACHELLA 2026 · 25TH ANNIVERSARY · APRIL 10-12 & 17-19 · EMPIRE POLO CLUB, INDIO, CALIFORNIA
Sources:
coachella.com – Official festival website
Rolling Stone – Coachella 2026 lineup announcement (Sep 2025)
Rolling Stone – Coachella 2026 sells out (Sep 2025)
Hollywood Reporter – Full lineup with day breakdown
Time Out Los Angeles – Coachella 2026 lineup guide
Biography.com – Karol G makes history as first Latina headliner
E! Online – New group camping option confirmed
Relix – Full artist billing including Iggy Pop, David Byrne
/Important: This article is an editorial guide for informational purposes. Coachella 2026 is sold out; passes are available via AXS Official Resale at coachella.com. Set times and stage assignments are released by the festival approximately one week before opening weekend. All facts verified against official sources as of March 2026./
