Every early April since 2007, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has been held in Indio, California, serving as a global stage that blends music, art, and pop culture while continuing a decades-long legacy that began as a bold experiment in live performance and in strike of Ticketmaster Pricing.
The festival was founded in 1999 by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen under the promotion company Goldenvoice. It was originally inspired by the success of a 1993 Pearl Jam concert held at the Empire Polo Club, which proved the desert venue could host massive crowds. The first official Coachella took place in Indio and featured alternative rock and electronic acts, setting the tone for the genre-blending persona the festival is known for today. Over time, it has grown into one of the most influential music festivals in the world, known for creating new trends and spotlighting both major stars and emerging artists.
This year’s lineup sparked debate about how 2016 Coachella is the 2026 Coachella vibe, bringing together a mix of famous artists and rising performers. Headliners included Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter and Swae Lee, each delivering singing their old best hits from the 2010s and interacting with their fans. Their performances reflected Coachella’s signature blend of mainstream appeal and underground artists, drawing massive crowds of influencers the first weekend and regular people the second weekend.
Beyond the headliners, the festival featured standout appearances from artists like KATSEYE who became one of the most talked-about moments of the event due to Manon, seen on stage with Pinkpanthress and caught leaving the venue with Malcom Todd. Disclosure and Major Lazer brought those 2016 vibes playing their old classics that are still listened to to this day. Meanwhile, underground and alternative performers filled out the lineup, offering festival-goers a diverse range of sounds across multiple stages including Kettama, Addison Rae, Blood Orange, Ethel Cain, Labrinth and SOMBR.
The 2026 or 2016 edition also emphasized collaborations and surprise guest appearances such as Swae Lee bringing out French Montana to sing their hit song Unforgettable. Artists frequently brought out special guests, creating mass debate over Tiktok about this year’s lineup topping every other year.