It began in 1993 when Pearl Jam, boycotting Ticketmaster, sought an alternative venue. The Empire Polo Club in California’s Coachella Valley hosted their gig for about 25,000 people, inspiring promoters to stage an outdoor festival there.
In October 1999 the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival debuted as a calmer alternative to the chaotic Woodstock revival earlier that year. Acts from Rage Against the Machine to the Chemical Brothers and Morrissey performed; despite success, promoters lost money. Coachella returned in 2001 as an annual event and over its 26 years has become one of the world’s biggest outdoor music festivals. Around 125,000 people attend daily across consecutive three-day weekends. The main stage has hosted artists such as Beyoncé, Madonna, Prince, Drake, Lady Gaga, Radiohead and Harry Styles.
The 2026 festival, starting April 10, will be headlined by pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Justin Bieber.
Influencers have shifted many attendees’ focus from music to the broader experience. A 2025 Variety interview of 100 festivalgoers found 66% attended for the “experience” rather than the music, especially outfits. The grounds have become a billboard for corporate brands including Heineken, Amex and Neutrogena.
Many festivalgoers push back: a US survey reported by The London Standard found 75% believed Coachella’s musical purpose had been “overshadowed” by influencers and 68% criticized the event’s corporatization. Concerns were amplified after 2025 logistical failures that forced some attendees to queue for 12 hours and revealed an inadequate number of portable toilets. Reports also noted that Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar declined headline slots, prompting debate about the festival’s cultural standing.
Critics have long highlighted a lack of artist diversity. The first Black female headliner was Beyoncé in 2018, nearly two decades after Coachella began. In 2026 Karol G will become the festival’s first Latina headliner. Controversy has also surrounded owner Philip Anschutz, whose past donations to conservative causes prompted calls for boycotts; Anschutz denied related claims.
Although the festival generates more than $100 million a year, many local Latino farmworkers face hardship: The Los Angeles Times reported nearly 40% living in poverty.
Despite criticisms and operational issues, the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is sold out.
Edited by: Jennifer Neal