Coachella weekend is coming up: Here is everything you need to know

Coachella (Instagram:@its.hark, @jacksonsvisual

Yes, it's that time of year again... Coachella season is approaching, with show dates set for April 10–12 and April 17–19, 2026. To recap for those who need it, the California desert festival spans two weekends every April, with the first weekend being the main event, featuring the most exciting performances, fashion, influencers, and hottest celebrities.

What is Coachella?

Coachella, officially known as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, is an annual event hosted at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The festival is widely celebrated for its music and art installations, such as the “Rainbow Tower,” and its seven large stages.

The festival attracts, on average, around 125,000–130,000 people per day, with a total attendance across the two weekends estimated at roughly 650,000 people.

Hundreds of high-profile public figures—from the biggest names in music and social media sensations to the typical festivalgoer—attend to watch performances, explore the food courts, embrace art installations, and show off their chic outfits (which many wait all year to see).

Many of those who attend may camp on-site in cars or tents, or even rent nearby houses (if it's within their budget, of course!).

The iconic festival has grown significantly since its inception back in 1999, with millions across the world recognizing it by name alone. Thousands even consider it one of the most well-thought-out events.

Who are the headliners for the 2026 season?

There are three headliners this year spanning the two weekends. These include top artists with extremely large fan bases and massive followings.

Sabrina Carpenter

The sensation Sabrina Carpenter is a singer, songwriter, and actress. Despite typically being labelled an “overnight sensation,” she first gained prominence starring in the Disney Channel reboot series Girl Meets World, despite making her acting debut years before. Meanwhile, she was working hard to achieve what you could consider quite the opposite of her character’s dreams (the rebellious Maya Hart) as she began producing her own music.

Carpenter released her debut album, Eyes Wide Open, back in 2015. While it secured her a fan base and she went on to release multiple albums, it wouldn’t be until around eight years later that she would truly rise to worldwide fame.

In September 2024, she embarked on her largest tour to date, lasting over a year and completing a total of 72 shows. She is now headlining Coachella 2026 on Friday, April 10th and 17th, on the main stage.

Justin Bieber

You don’t have to be a believer to know who Justin Bieber is. The Canadian singer shot to fame in the late 2000s with his debut EP, My World, receiving international recognition and establishing himself as a “teen idol” that thousands across the world still adore.

Many albums, songs, collaborations, and tours later, Justin returned from his unannounced break, making a comeback with the release of an album in July 2025 named SWAG, followed by SWAG II in September 2025, marking his name on the charts once again.

The icon is performing as a headliner on the Coachella main stage on Saturday, April 11 and 18, sparking tons of exciting conversation.

This performance will surely be life-changing and will undoubtedly be marked as an iconic moment within 2020s pop music.

Karol G

Carolina, known professionally as Karol G, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Her first album to achieve major viral success was her debut studio album, Unstoppable. She then rose to further fame when she was recognised as Woman of the Year in March 2024.

Karol G is set to perform on the main stage at Coachella on Sunday, April 12 and 19, with hundreds of fans thrilled to see her performance.

When and where can you watch?

The festival is live-streamed across the official Coachella YouTube account, @Coachella. Each stage has its own livestream running from April 10–12 and April 17–19, all day and night. Enjoy a front-row view of the performances of your favourite artists across all seven stages.

Plus, I wouldn’t be feeling too left out—I’ve heard the California crowds don’t hit anywhere near as hard as the UK. Fun idea: why not throw your own Coachella?

What other artists are preforming?

The festival has over 130 artists performing across various genres. You can see performances from artists and groups such as Katseye, Addison Rae, Sombr, FKA twigs, CMAT (one of our favourites!), and hundreds more!

How is fashion involved in the festival?

If you didn’t already know...

Fashion is a large part of Coachella, with influencers, celebrities, and artists all having themed outfits for the weekend. People such as Charli D’Amelio, Emma Chamberlain, and Alix Earle are all known for posting “OOTDs,” short for “outfits of the day,” for each day at the festival. Many people spend thousands on outfits, stylists, and hair and makeup artists for the perfect look.

Fans are already guessing the 2026 fashion trends at Coachella, with some saying fringe or faux pony fur is going to be popular. Many others say they don’t want to see “clean girl makeup” or the overused coin belts this year, as they are now out of trend.

Can you predict any of this year’s trends?

What celebrities are planning to attend?

While non-performing guest lists are rarely official until the festival begins, certain celebrities are frequent attendees and are expected to be spotted at various VIP parties. Expect to see “Coachella veterans” like Kendall Jenner and Irina Shayk, who attend every year and are staples at the event. Hailey Bieber is also, of course, expected to attend to support her husband, Justin Bieber, who is a headliner for the festival this year.

If you’re a YouTube (or what now seems to be podcasts) fan, then I’m sure you’ll know all about which influencers typically attend the festival, from Tara Yummy to Tana Mongeau.