Music festivals have become a phenomenon over the past several decades. Since Woodstock in the late 1960s, these events have been drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to experience performances by talented artists in outdoor locations. While there are thousands of music festivals in the U.S. alone, none can match the sheer hype and buzz brought on by the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, better known as Coachella. This world-famous festival brings performances from top musicians, incredible art and dining, and unique experiences to the desert, and this one-of-a-kind event is now just around the corner.
Coachella is a huge festival in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert at the Empire Polo Club venue, roughly a half-hour drive from Palm Springs. This event has been running since the late 1990s, having grown from an event attended by just tens of thousands to a massive two-weekend showcase with hundreds of thousands of attendees. About 250,000 people attend Coachella across the two weekends it is held to see diverse lineups of musical talent across genres.
This year’s festival is scheduled to run from Friday, April 14th to Sunday, April 16th on the first weekend, then run again from April 21st to April 23rd. The lineup will remain the same for both weekends, as will all the features and amenities that make Coachella such a hot ticket.
Typically, there are seven stages at Coachella. There are two outdoor stages, including the Coachella Stage, where the biggest artists perform; open-air tents, where DJs and other acts mix it up; and air-conditioned tents with smaller shows. Every year brings a top-of-the-industry lineup of musical performers to Coachella, including some of the biggest names in genres ranging from rap, pop, and electronic to indie and reggaeton. This year is certainly no different.
The three primary headliners this year are Bad Bunny, the reggaeton legend and one of the biggest artists in the world; Blackpink, the South Korean group that is Spotify’s most-streamed female group; and Frank Ocean, the elusive neo-soul artist with a rabid fanbase. Outside of the headliners, electronic fans will be excited about Fisher, Chris Lake, Eric Prydz, and Porter Robinson. Rap fans will not want to miss Pusha T, The Kid Laroi, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. Pop and Indie fans will celebrate seeing Labrinth, Charli XCX, 070 Shake, and Dominic Fike on the schedule. There will also be performances from legends such as Blondie, The Gorillaz, and The Chemical Brothers.
While the musical lineup draws in the crowds, there’s much more to Coachella than its concerts. Coachella is an all-encompassing experience, with art, food and drink, activities, and more. For art lovers, there will be large-scale art installations from world-renowned artists serving as iconic landmarks of the event. Foodies can enjoy the cocktails, beers, juices, and smoothies served at venues across the festival, along with delicious meals encompassing an array of international flavors at the Indio Central Market. Activities and other amenities include contests, lounges, arcades, yoga and fitness areas, sports, and even a Ferris wheel.
Coachella is a highly sought-after event, so tickets are expensive. Tickets for Weekend 1 are no longer available, but Weekend 2 passes are still for sale. A General Admission ticket to this one-of-a-kind festival costs $549, plus additional fees. Other packages come with additional benefits for buyers that are at a higher price.
