It’s that time of year again, when people travel far and wide to see hundreds of their favorite artists perform in the middle of the desert.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, held over two consecutive three-day weekends, has become something of a cultural landmark — known for sparking trends and promoting over-commercialization.
The festival debuted in October 1999 in Indio, California, created by concert promoters Rick Van Santen and Paul Tollett. Since then, Coachella has come a long way from its $50 ticket price and 20,000-person audience.
Today, Coachella is one of the most prominent music festivals in the U.S. — and the world. This year’s dates were April 11-13 and April 18-20.
I always know summer is just around the corner when I see influencers’ packing hauls and their “get ready with me” videos for each day of the festival.
One of my favorite things is judging the questionable outfits, reveling in bold fashion choices and watching a variety of tent setups — not to mention the mile-long bathroom lines and outrageous food prices.
Coachella has evolved into a festival with a massive social media presence. With diverse lineups and celebrity-packed crowds, it offers brands opportunities to promote themselves and launch new products.
Naturally, all that exposure brings a flood of social media posts that have viewers wondering whether it’s worth experiencing the “festival of a lifetime.”
HEADLINERS & HIGHLIGHTS
Coachella’s lineup has always featured some of the biggest names in music alongside rising talent — bridging mainstream appeal and the independent scene.
Lady Gaga set the bar especially high on Friday of Weekend 2, delivering what should be recognized as one of the best headline sets in Coachella history.
She performed songs from her newest album, “Mayhem,” along with fan favorites, showcasing her passion and artistry through pyrotechnics, bold costume changes and a top-tier setlist.
She opened with “Bloody Mary,” but experienced mic issues during “Abracadabra.” Not missing a beat, she quickly transitioned to a handheld mic and later returned with a working headset.
“I’m sorry my mic was broken for a second. At least you know I sing live … ,” Gaga joked. “I guess all we can do is our best, and I’m certainly giving you my best tonight.”
And she delivered. Fans chanted, “Mother Monster is back,” as her performance doubled as a celebration of her career.
Another standout moment came from singer-songwriter Clairo’s set — not just for her music, but for her surprising opener: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
He walked onstage to roaring cheers and gave an impassioned speech, encouraging young people to fight for justice, telling the crowd that the future depends on their generation.
“Now, you can turn away and you can ignore what goes on, but if you do that, you do it at your own peril,” Sanders said. “We need you to stand up, to fight for justice. To fight for economic justice, social justice, and racial justice.”
He closed by praising Clairo for her support of women’s rights and ending the war in Gaza, thanking her for using her platform to speak out in recent months.
What better way to reach a young audience than at one of the most influential music festivals in the world?
And Sanders wasn’t the only political voice of the weekend.
American punk rock band Green Day has never shied away from politics, often channeling their anger and frustration at the world into their music.
They opened with “American Idiot,” the title track from their Grammy-winning 2004 album — originally a critique of George W. Bush’s Iraq War politics, now a pointed jab at Donald Trump.
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made his stance unmistakable, tweaking the lyrics to say he’s “not a part of the MAGA agenda,” and altered “Jesus of Suburbia” to include the lines: “running away from pain like the kids from Palestine.”
Green Day managed to transport the crowd into a cathartic, high-energy space. Punk rock, after all, is all about standing up for what you believe in.
SURVIVAL GUIDE
While Coachella brings fans closer to their favorite artists than ever before, the downside becomes clear pretty quickly: just surviving the weekend can take a serious toll.
With intense heat and constant crowds, the environment can be overwhelming — and it’s easy for things to go wrong. Many influencers now include their non-negotiable festival essentials in packing videos, right alongside their iconic outfit hauls.
Tiktoker @cricketelva, who has attended Coachella five times — four of those times while working and camping on the grounds — shares her go-to list based on personal experience.
From lidocaine spray to numb sore feet after hours of walking, to KN95 masks (thanks to the infamous dust), she recommends vapor inhalers to clear your sinuses and electrolyte packets, like Celsius or Gatorade, to mix into water and stay hydrated. Other essentials include heavy-duty moisturizer to combat dry, cracked skin.
Food is another challenge. There is no outside food or beverages allowed in the venue, according to the website, which creates some controversy, given that a general admission ticket costs $599. On top of that, guests are expected to purchase all of their meals and drinks; nothing is included in the ticket price unless you have a VIP pass.
While there are a variety of vendors offering vegan and gluten-free options, the prices aren’t exactly budget-friendly.
One guest, Jackie Tanti, went viral in 2024 after revealing the contents of her food bill: two burritos and a cucumber water went for $64 — that’s not even two full meals.
At the start of Weekend 1 this year, some attendees reported waiting up to 12 hours just to enter the camping area — with no access to restrooms and little direction from staff on what to do or where to go.
The chaos even sparked complaints from local residents and was discussed at the La Quinta City Council meeting, where festival organizer George Cunningham made a statement.
“We didn’t expect that many people to arrive at once. We are making adjustments for this weekend,” Cunningham said.
All of this might sound daunting — and, in part, it is — but it’s also part of the Coachella experience. Preparing is crucial if you want to have fun and actually stay sane while you’re there.
BEYOND THE MUSIC: ART, FASHION & CULTURE
Though Coachella has a reputation for tough conditions, people continue to show up because it has become more than just a music festival. It’s a culture hub, a space where entertainment, lifestyle, art and opportunity meet under the desert sun.
It is just as valuable for brands to launch new products and immersive experiences as it is for rising musicians to make their mark. When going to Coachella, it’s for the whole experience, not just the music, as 67% of festivalgoers report, according to Variety.
Brand activation events have taken over, from Neon Carnival to Revolve Festival, where invite-only collaborations bring together celebrities, influencers and industry insiders.
Coachella has evolved, and will continue to evolve, as new forms of art and expression emerge.
It’s easy to roll your eyes at the influencer culture or the obvious monetization of it all, but there’s no denying that Coachella creates a space where artists and audience connect in ways that go far beyond the stage.
At this point, Coachella is more than just an event, it’s a cemented cultural moment in society. One that sparks debate about what we wear, who we listen to and how we show up.
And year after year, Coachella continues to be the festival that the world watches, listens to and inevitably posts about.
