Coachella Festival 2026 Weekend 2 Recap

"Visage Brut" by the Los Angeles
Design Group

What: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Who: The xx, Lykke Li, David Byrne, Sombr, Alex G, Foster the People, more 

When: April 17-19, 2026

Where: Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA

Review and photography by Robert Kinsler

Editorial note: You can read coverage on the Desert Local News website that includes writer George A. Paul's favorite performances of Weekend 2 HERE

Additionally, George A. Paul's complete coverage of his experience at Weekend 2 of Coachella is available on his Music Minded blog HERE

Artist Kyriakos Chatziparaskevas' "Starry Eyes" art installation made quite an
impression with Coachellagoers this year.

Friday, April 17

My Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Weekend 2 experience began with a chance to get an authentic flavor of the Coachella Valley's rich history via an outstanding performance by Cahuilla Bird Singers and Dancers (as seen in the image above). While a large group of men stood on stage and sang/chanted and told stories behind the selections sung in their original language, about a dozen women stood in the area in front of the Gobi Stage and danced throughout the 30-minute performance.

Following that, the Bob Baker Marionettes brought bona fide fun to the Gobi Stage. The fast-moving variety show blended a number of musical styles as elaborate string puppets were brought to life by skilled marionettists. What's more, Irish singer CMAT (Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) joined the Marionettes to singer her own song "Take a Sexy Picture of Me" during the 40-minute set. She joined the principal marionette, "Pink Cat," to sing the song. You can learn more about the Los Angeles area-based Bob Baker Marionette Theater HERE.

 

Lykke Li performing in front of a large crowd gathered in front of the
Outdoor Theatre on Friday afternoon.

One of the genuine joys of my more than 20 years of attending Coachellafest is the discovery of groundbreaking artists new to me. On Friday, April 17, I caught Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li's 50-minute set on the Outdoor Theatre stage. An artist whose ambition is matched equally by her on-stage persona and originality blending electropop, dance pop and indie stylings, her performance was never less than compelling. The songs had strong dynamics and even when the intent may have simply been to get concertgoers to move in rhythm to the music, there was emotional weight to the originals. My favorites included the introspective ballad "Highway To Your Heart," synthesizer-swept "Sick of Love," and romance-minded dance "Little Bit."

The xx thrilled throughout their fast-moving set on April 17. Pictured on the big
screens, from left, are guitarist Romy Bradley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim.

I was no stranger to the magical power of The xx, having previously caught them at the Empire Polo Club grounds in 2017 (you can read my review of that event HERE). The band's appearance this year again proved why the acclaimed British trio is so compelling, with their distinctive approach the perfect fit with the magic of performing on the Coachella Stage at dusk. Atmospheric and dreamy standouts included the lovely opener "Crystalised" and followup "Say Something Loving" (with guitarist Romy Bradley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim sharing lead vocal duties on both tracks), "Angels" and tender "Shelter"; The xx was more forceful on the sweeping "Fiction" and aptly-titled "Loud Places." The soaring masterwork "Intro" closed out the bewitching 55-minute performance.

Saturday, April 18

Kacey Musgraves, lower left, performing in the Mohave Tent on April 18.

Weekend 2 attendees scored a musical jackpot with the addition of Texas country music superstar Kacey Musgraves who performed in a packed (and I mean packed!) Mohave Tent on Saturday afternoon; this also marked her first performance at Coachella in seven years. The beloved songstress made the most impressive entrance of the weekend when she rode a horse to the side entrance of the tent, and then proceeded to kill it with one of the most memorable sets of the weekend. Opening with the wistful title track off her forthcoming album Middle of Nowhere (due May 1, 2026), she treated concertgoers to several other nuggets from the album including the infectious "Uncertain, TX" (complete with country line dancers sharing the stage with Musgraves and her seven-man band), and beautiful pedal steel-swept "Back on the Wagon." Other highlights of the 53-minute set included the romantic kiss-off "Space Cowboy," mid tempo "Slow Burn," shimmering "Golden Hour," a rousing cover of George Strait's "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and playful "Dry Spell."

Alex G photo credit: Anna Downs
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The sonic echoes of Dinosaur Jr., Band of Horses, the Hooters and a slew of other personal faves seemed to emerge during singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Alex G's wide-ranging Saturday 50-minute afternoon set on the Outdoor Theatre stage. Some selections were super dense and heavy (the post-goth opener "Louisiana" comes to mind) or wonderfully melodic ("Gretel"), while others landed in a genre-defying area ("June Guitar" where Alex G played an extended solo on accordion) or even tapped into classic rock and punk territory. 

Sombr photo credit: Alden Bonecutter
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Billy Idol photo credit: E Tantra
Photo courtesy of Coachella

If you have not yet heard of singer-songwriter Sombr (the moniker for New York City native Shane Michael Boose), you can be sure this mini-review will not be the last time you hear about the rising 20-year-old talent. 

Armed with model looks, charisma aplenty and a terrific voice, the rising star impressed at every turn. And it didn't hurt that he brought Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens to the stage to perform a great version of Idol's 1983 hit "Eyes Without a Face" about half way through his 50-minute performance. Other standouts in the set included a moving take on Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees," as we'll as his own "Back to Friends" and "Undressed." Don't be surprised if Sombr returns to Coachella soon.

Saturday night I caught two more great performances at the festival; both The Strokes (performing on the Coachella Stage) and David Byrne (at the Outdoor Theatre) afforded me to check off two artists from my bucket list I hadn't previously seen. New York-spawned quintet The Strokes rocked through a slew of their garage rock revival-styled originals including the speedy opener "Hard to Explain," the favorite "Someday," super catchy "The Adults Are Talking" and haunting "Selfless."

Singer-guitarist David Byrne performing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage.

Byrne brought a mix of beloved fide Talking Heads classics and outstanding solo material for an hour-long set that challenged and rewarded an enthusiastic crowd. Highlights abounded included an exuberant take on "And She Was" and "Psycho Killer," as well as a finale bringing both "Once in a Lifetime" and "Burning Down the House" fully to life via a large ensemble enhancing the '80s hits.

Sunday, April 19

Foster the People delivering a top-tier set of originals at Coachella on April 19.

I caught a handful of great performances on Sunday but my favorite was by Los Angeles-spawned outfit Foster the People. Led by frontman and founder Mark Foster, the band's winning blend of synth-pop, modern rock and indie pop resonated with the large audience gathered in front of the Outdoor Theatre for the fast-moving set. Dynamic state-of-the-art visuals and a modern stage design enhanced the 12-track set. Foster is a terrific singer, and used both his full voice and an expressive falsetto to bring depth to the dance-minded opener "Helena Beat," infectious "Houdini," disco-flavored "Lost in Space," sumptuous "Coming of Age" and tuneful "Sit Next to Me." The troupe had everyone moving (as well as capturing the musical proceedings with their cell phones) on the set-ending hit "Pumped Up Kicks."

Wet Leg singer Rhian Teasdale on the large project screens on the Coachella Stage.

Earlier that day I caught several other strong sets staged on the Coachella Stage, including Tijuana Panthers and an even more powerful turn from the hard rocking English outfit Wet Leg.

Check out a number of other images I captured during Weekend 2 below...Robert Kinsler

Artist Dedo Vabo's ambitious, thought-provoking "Network Operations."

What better way to celebrate Record Store Day than to browse at the Record
Safari that is part of Coachella's shopping options.

Coachella at night brings magic to the Empire Polo Club.

Kacey Musgraves and company during an outstanding performance of the new
song "Uncertain, TX" in the Mojave Tent on April 18.

Another compelling moment during David Byrne's April 18 performance.

What a line to get into Starbucks! No, I couldn't wait that long for my java fix and 
I snagged my Americano elsewhere...

"Balloon Chain" offers Coachellagoers the
perfect photo op!

Music writer George A. Paul, on left, with yours truly on April 19 atop a
hill that overlooks the beautiful Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, CA.  You can read
George's coverage of this year's event HERE.

2026 Coachella Weekend 1, Day 1 recap

Sabrina Carpenter (seen in the upper left) performing on the Coachella
Stage on Friday, April 10. Photo courtesy of YouTube

While not everyone can attend Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, just about everyone can watch key performances in their entirety thanks to YouTube's official livestream of the event. In this column I will highlight a handful of the outstanding artists I caught on day one of Coachella (Friday, April 10) via the livestream. And I found both the visual and audio elements of the livestream to be excellent.

Devo / Photo courtesy of YouTube

Performing on the Mojave stage, groundbreaking American band Devo brought a mix of new wave and art rock to a set that spanned just under an hour. Highlights included the robotic "Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)," hyper synth rocker "Peek-A-Boo!," driving "Girl U Want," infectious hit "Whip It" and set-ending "Freedom of Choice."

The xx performing on the Coachella Stage on April 10.
Photo courtesy of YouTube

The xx thrilled throughout their 50-minute set on the Coachella Stage. Although the trio is armed with a signature sound that showcases the unique talents of Romy Bradley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie xx in spades, each of the selections highlighted different areas of the trio's collaborative command of their sonic universe. Dream pop, Euro dance sorties, electronic rock and more styles were masterfully explored during the fast-moving 16-track outing. I look forward to catching The xx when they return to perform in Indio on April 17.

Another strong performance came from New York City native Moby, one of the most important artists to emerge in the 1990s. His energetic and inspired 50-minute set on the Mojave stage was a chance to catch the legendary artist mix up a number of his beloved classics including the high-octane opener "Bodyrock," dance-meets-world music foray "Go" (the latter featuring Moby on percussion), his doomed relationship-themed "Porcelain," the rousing electronica romp "Extreme Ways," and several poignant originals featuring guest vocalist Jacob Lusk ("Natural Blues" in particular was a powerful standout).

The day's headliner Sabrina Carpenter (seen on the left) turned in a 90-minute production taking full advantage of the larger-than-life setting afforded by the Empire Polo Club. The multi-Grammy winner unleashed a parade of high energy, accessible tracks in front of a massive crowd positioned in front of the Coachella Stage. 

For more information, visit Coachella.com.

Coachella 2025 Lineup is here; Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone to headline

The lineup for Coachella 2025 has just been announced! Lady Gaga is the headliner on Friday nights, April 11 and 18; Green Day is set to rock Indio on Saturdays, April 12 and 19; Post Malone will be front and center on the main stage on Sundays, April 13 and April 20. 

Maria Zardoya of The Marias performing at Coachella in April 2022.
Photo credit: Beth Sarah / Getty Images For Coachella

Japanese Breakfast / Photography by Peter Ash Lee

Other highly-anticipated artists set to perform at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA include the Marias, the Prodigy, Japanese Breakfast, Kraftwerk, Jimmy Eat World and Huntington Beach-based Ginger Root.

Below is the official media release from Goldenvoice:

Lady Gaga performing on April
22, 2017.
Photo: Greg Noire courtesy
of Goldenvoice

Los Angeles, CA (November 20, 2025) – Coachella returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA for two weekends set for April 11 – 13 and April 18 – 20, 2025 with Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone performing a career retrospective set, and Travis Scott + many more. 

Presale begins Friday, November 22, 2024 at 11am PT. 2023/2024 attendees and purchasers get early access starting Thursday, November 21 at 11am PT. For your best chance at passes, look to Weekend 2. This is a presale and does not guarantee pass type, packages or camping.

New for 2025: VIP areas adjacent to the Outdoor Theater and Sahara offer specialty drinks, added bars, shaded lounges, flushable restrooms and more amenities to be announced later. Plus, additional camping options include Ready-Set and La Campana tent camping for fans looking for more comfort during their desert stay. 

YouTube returns in 2025 as the exclusive livestream partner for both Coachella weekends on our official YouTube channel; bringing the legendary performances and so much more to millions of music fans across the globe.

Official Hotel Packages that bundle festival passes with local lodging and transportation are available for Weekend 1 and Weekend 2, sold exclusively through Valley Music Travel. 

For more festival information and updates, please visit coachella.com. 

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ABOUT GOLDENVOICE 

Goldenvoice, creators of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, operates successful Los Angeles and Bay Area music venues including the Fonda Theatre, The Roxy Theatre, El Rey Theatre, The Novo, Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, The Regency Ballroom and The Warfield. Goldenvoice holds exclusive booking deals at Brookside at The Rose Bowl, Santa Barbara Bowl, Mountain Winery and Frost Amphitheatre. They also have produced events such as Desert Trip, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, Cruel World, Just Like Heaven, Power Trip and many more. Beginning as an independent punk rock promoter in the early 1980s, Goldenvoice grew to be the preeminent alternative promoter in Southern California by forging strong relationships with both bands and music fans. Currently, Goldenvoice promotes over 2,000 concerts a year in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and Canada plus recently adding North American tours to their growing list of accomplishments. For additional info, please visit www.Goldenvoice.com.

Stagecoach Festival announces monumental lineup for 2025

What do Jelly Roll, Lana Del Rey, Sammy Hagar, Zach Bryan, Creed, Brothers Osborne, Goo Goo Dolls and Luke Combs have in common? All are slated to appear at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA next April. A truly diverse and wide-ranging lineup for sure...Robert Kinsler

STAGECOACH FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MONUMENTAL LINEUP FOR 2025   Superstars Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs Will Headline California’s Country Music Festival   Lineup Also Includes Brothers Osborne, Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Lana Del Rey, Nelly, Carly Pearce, Shaboozey, Goo Goo Dolls, Tucker Wetmore and DASHA and many, many more!   Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA Festival Passes On-Sale Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11 am PT

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 5, 2024 – Stagecoach is thrilled to announce their 2025 lineup. Country music’s biggest festival will be back in the saddle April 25-27, 2025. This year’s festival will feature headline performances from country music legends in the making Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs in addition to performances by Brothers Osborne, Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Lana Del Rey, Nelly, Carly Pearce, Shaboozey, Goo Goo Dolls, Tucker Wetmore and DASHA and many, many more. The festival will see iconic late-night performances by Stagecoach first timers Backstreet Boys and Creed, while T-Pain returns after a guest appearance at last year’s festival for a full set of his own.   Passes go on sale starting this Friday, September 13 at 11 am PT at stagecoachfestival.com.   Returning headliner Luke Combs shared his excitement saying, “Super pumped to be coming back to headline Stagecoach. It was one of the most memorable parts of the year when we did it in 2022, so really glad they’re having us back for round 2. We’re gonna have a blast.”   First time headliner Jelly Roll also said, “Last year I got to play Stagecoach for the first time and it was incredible. And I didn’t just get to play. I got to hang out as a fan of artists I love and take my daughter to see some of the best entertainers in our format. Coming back to headline Stagecoach this year is a dream-but I’ll be attending as a fan this year as well, so get ready. See you in April.”   Fan-favorite Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse is back again for its sixth year to reveal new chefs, pit bosses and BBQ vendors. Guy and friends will be showcasing their pits and rigs and offering taste tests to fans throughout the weekend. “Every year I’m shocked that the Stagecoach lineup can get that much bigger and badder,” says Guy. “...so I gotta step it up and do the same for my Stagecoach Smokehouse! Come on down to the Smokehouse to see your favorite artists cookin’ it up with me and my crew. You’re not gonna wanna miss it!" Stay tuned for the full food line-up and to find out which artists Guy will be doing cooking demos with this year.   Returning to the festival for a fourth consecutive year are California’s homegrown, Compton Cowboys. They are a crew of ten Black horseback riders whose ranch is one of the very last in a semirural town in Compton called Richland Farms -- and they are bringing their horses to Stagecoach to tell their compelling story of community engagement and share in the experience.   Late Night at Stagecoach keeps the party going! T-Pain (Friday), Creed (Saturday), and Backstreet Boys (Sunday) will close each evening of the festival for Late Night in Palomino, and for the third year in a row, Stagecoach mainstay Diplo will be bringing some of the biggest names in dance music to Diplo’s HonkyTonk.   Pass and Merchandise Prices: 3-Day GA Tier 1 - $579 3-Day GA Tier 2 - $599 3-Day GA Tier 3 - $619 3-Day GA 6-pack Tier 1 - $569 3-Day GA 6-pack Tier 2 - $589 3-Day GA - Shuttle Combo - Tier 1 - $689 3-Day GA - Shuttle Combo - Tier 2 - $709 3-Day GA - Shuttle Combo - Tier 3 - $729 3-Day GA Rhinestone Saloon - $974 Desert Diamond VIP Package - $4023.85 Gold Rush VIP Package - $2586.35 Hi Ho Silver VIP Package - $2011.35 Corral Reserved Seating - C3 - $1199 Corral Reserved Seating - C2 - $1499 Corral Reserved Seating - C1 - $2299 3-Day Corral Standing Pit - $1999 Stagecoach Lineup Tee - $50 Team Stagecoach Jersey - $75 Stagecoach 2025 Merch Bundle - $105 Full list of add-ons and lodging available at stagecoachfestival.com   Returning for this year’s festival is the Saloon pass which offers fans access to standing room only areas on the west side of the Corral and access to the Rhinestone Saloon featuring specialty food & drink vendors, air-conditioned restrooms, shaded seating areas, and full (cashless) cash bars. Shuttle passes, tent, yurt, and BYO RV reservations on the Safari Campground as well as Travel Packages that bundle festival passes with local hotel accommodations for 2 or 4 people are available via Valley Music Travel.   Stagecoach: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram   The STAGECOACH 2025 lineup is as follows:   49 Winchester Abby Anderson Abi Carter Alana Springsteen Alexandra Kay Angel White Anne Wilson Annie Bosko Ashley McBryde Austin Snell Avery Anna Backstreet Boys Blessing Offor Brent Cobb Brothers Osborne Bryan Martin Carly Pearce Chayce Beckham Colby Acuff Conner Smith Creed Crystal Gayle Dasha Diplo's Honkytonk Drake Milligan Drew Parker Dylan Gossett Dylan Scott Flatland Cavalry George Birge Goo Goo Dolls Jelly Roll John Morgan Kashus Culpepper Koe Wetzel Lana Del Rey Lanie Gardner Louie TheSinger Luke Combs Maddox Batson Mae Estes Midland Myles Kennedy Nelly (25 Years of Country Grammar) Nikki Lane Niko Moon Noeline Hofmann Sammy Hagar Scotty McCreery Shaboozey Sierra Ferrell Sturgill Simpson Tanner Usrey The Bacon Brothers The Castellows The Wilder Blue Tiera Kennedy Tigerlily Gold Tommy James & The Shondells T-Pain Tracy Lawrence Treaty Oak Revival Tucker Wetmore Vincent Mason Waylon Wyatt Whiskey Myers Zach Bryan      STAGECOACH is produced by Goldenvoice.