Coachella is a two-weekend music festival held each April in the California desert
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place in Indio, California, about 120 miles east of Los Angeles. The festival runs for two consecutive weekends in April, with the same lineup performing both weekends. Each weekend typically spans Friday through Sunday, with music starting in the afternoon and continuing into the early morning hours.
The festival grounds occupy the Empire Polo Club, a 78-acre venue in the Coachella Valley. The layout includes multiple stages, art installations, food vendors, and camping areas. Attendance typically ranges from 100,000 to 125,000 people per weekend, making it one of the largest music festivals in North America.
Key Takeaways
- Coachella runs two identical weekends in April at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, with the same artists performing both weekends.
- Ticket prices vary by tier and release date, with early-bird passes selling out before general admission opens, and prices rising as the festival approaches.
- You can attend as a day visitor, overnight camper, or glamping guest, each with different parking and accommodation arrangements.
- The festival includes music across multiple genres, art installations, and themed areas that change year to year.
- Parking, camping, and vehicle passes are separate purchases from admission tickets and sell out independently.
Ticket types and pricing structure
Coachella sells tickets in multiple tiers released at different times. Early-bird passes go on sale first, usually in January, at the lowest price. General admission passes release next at a higher price point. VIP passes cost significantly more and include perks like exclusive viewing areas, shorter bathroom lines, premium food options, and access to VIP-only lounges.
Prices increase with each release and as the festival date approaches. A ticket that costs $400 in the early-bird phase might cost $500 or more by the time general admission opens, and prices continue climbing through spring. Three-day passes (one full weekend) are the standard offering; single-day passes are not typically sold.
Ticket prices vary year to year based on the lineup and demand. Resale tickets through official channels like StubHub or the festival's official resale platform often cost more than face value, sometimes significantly more for popular artists or closer to the festival date.
Camping and accommodation options
Most Coachella attendees camp on the festival grounds rather than staying in hotels. Standard camping means bringing your own tent and gear; you receive a camping pass separate from your admission ticket. Camping passes sell out independently and cost less than glamping but require you to provide all equipment and handle setup yourself.
Glamping (glamorous camping) offers pre-set tents or cabins with beds, electricity, and sometimes air conditioning. Glamping passes cost significantly more than standard camping but eliminate the need to bring gear. Both standard and glamping passes include parking for one vehicle in the campground.
Some attendees stay in nearby hotels in Indio, Palm Springs, or Coachella and drive to the festival each day. This option costs more than camping but avoids the festival grounds overnight. Parking for day visitors is separate from camping passes and requires its own purchase.
What to bring and what is prohibited
The festival allows camping gear, coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages, sunscreen, and personal hygiene items. You can bring your own alcohol into the campground but not into the festival grounds themselves; alcohol is sold inside the venue. Chairs, blankets, and shade structures are permitted in camping areas.
Prohibited items include weapons of any kind, illegal drugs, professional cameras with detachable lenses, drones, glass containers, and large bags or backpacks inside the festival grounds. The festival conducts bag checks at entry points. Specific rules change year to year, so checking the official Coachella website before you pack is necessary.
Pets are not permitted at the festival or in camping areas, with the exception of service animals. The festival does not provide pet care or boarding services.
Getting to Indio and parking logistics
Coachella is accessible by car from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix. The drive from Los Angeles is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic and your starting point. From San Diego, the drive is about 2.5 to 3 hours. Parking at the festival grounds requires a separate vehicle pass purchased in advance.
If you are camping, your camping pass includes one vehicle parking spot in the campground lot. Additional vehicles require additional parking passes. Day visitors must purchase day parking passes, which are separate from admission and camping passes and often sell out before the festival date.
Some attendees use ride-sharing services or charter buses to avoid driving and parking hassles. The festival does not operate an official shuttle from nearby towns, but private shuttle services sometimes run during the festival weekend.
The festival schedule and what happens each day
Each day of Coachella runs from afternoon through early morning, typically opening gates around 11 a.m. and closing around 2 a.m. or later. The main stages feature headliners in the evening and night hours, while smaller stages host artists throughout the day. The schedule is released a few weeks before the festival, showing which artists perform on which days and approximate times.
The festival includes art installations scattered throughout the grounds that are free to explore. Themed areas and experiences change year to year. Food vendors operate throughout the day and night, though prices are significantly higher than outside restaurants. Bringing your own food into the campground is permitted and common.
Both weekends feature the same lineup and schedule, so artists do not perform different sets or surprise performances between weekends. This means you see the same festival experience whether you attend weekend one or weekend two.
How to purchase tickets and what happens after
Tickets are sold through the official Coachella website and through authorized resale platforms. You create an account, select your ticket tier and quantity, and complete payment. Tickets are typically delivered as digital passes that you scan at entry, though some years physical wristbands are mailed in advance.
Once you purchase a ticket, you receive a confirmation email with instructions for entry. If you buy camping or parking passes, those are separate transactions with their own confirmations. You will need to bring all confirmations or digital passes to the festival.
Tickets are non-transferable in some years and transferable in others; the festival's policy changes annually. Check the terms at purchase to understand whether you can transfer your ticket to someone else if your plans change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a single-day ticket to Coachella?
Single-day passes are not typically sold. The festival sells three-day passes for one full weekend only. If you want to attend only one day, you would need to purchase a full weekend pass and attend only that day, which means paying for three days of access.
What is the difference between weekend one and weekend two?
The lineup, schedule, and experience are identical both weekends. The same artists perform at the same times on the same stages. The only difference is the date and which attendees are present. Some people choose one weekend over the other based on their schedule or to avoid crowds.
Do I have to camp, or can I stay in a hotel?
You can stay in a hotel in Indio, Palm Springs, or nearby towns and drive to the festival each day. This requires purchasing a day parking pass for each day you attend. Many attendees prefer this option to avoid camping setup and breakdown, though it costs more overall and involves a daily commute.
What happens if I lose my ticket or wristband?
If you lose a digital ticket before the festival, contact the official Coachella support team through the website to request a replacement. If you lose a physical wristband at the festival, the venue has a lost and found, but replacement wristbands are not may provide. Keep your confirmation email and digital pass backed up on your phone.
Can I bring my own food and drinks into the festival grounds?
You can bring non-alcoholic beverages and food into the campground. Inside the festival grounds, outside food and beverages are not permitted; you must purchase food and drinks from festival vendors. Alcohol is not permitted inside the festival grounds but is allowed in the campground.