This was from mid-set, which gave \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d audition and Paula Abdul\u2019s \u201cCold Hearted\u201d vibes. pic.twitter.com\/lRnlEH9vcg<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Vanessa Franko (@vanessafranko) April 11, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Some artists don\u2019t allow press to photograph them at their shows or at festivals like Coachella. When that happens, I break out my pen and notepad. Unfortunately for them, I\u2019m not an artist.<\/p>\n Sabrina Carpenter said no photos for her headlining set at Coachella, so I created an artistic representation of the point during her set that was giving \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d auditions mixed with Paula Abdul\u2019s \u201cCold Hearted\u201d video.<\/p>\n Carpenter and her dancers were dressed like they were at a dance audition and the stage had scaffolding. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Katseye performs \u2018Golden\u2019 with \u2018K-Pop Demon Hunters\u2019 at Coachella <\/p>\n Katseye<\/a> proved no this ain\u2019t their debut at their first Coachella performance, bringing out Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami for a kinetic performance of \u201cGolden\u201d from \u201cK-Pop Demon Hunters.\u201d Despite the absence of Manon, the girl group packed the festival field with Eyekons packed shoulder to shoulder as far as the Do Lab.<\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Coachella 2026: Indie minimalists The xx come back bigger, brasher than ever <\/p>\n Coachella Valley, CA – April 15: A crowd listens to Boygenius perform on day two of the first weekend at Coachella on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Coachella Valley, CA. (Dania Maxwell \/ Los Angeles Times).<\/p>\n (Dania Maxwell\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n It\u2019s been eight years since The xx performed together as a band, but it sure didn\u2019t feel like it when the U.K. trio took the Main stage on Friday. <\/p>\n For one, the members haven\u2019t exactly disappeared. Producer\/drummer Jamie xx is a festival mainstay and one of the most sophisticated, exultant DJ\u2019s working. Romy Madley Croft became a sapphic-nightlife sovereign in 2023 with the clubby \u201cMid Air,\u201d after Sim\u2019s own minimalist, horror-streaked \u201cHideous Bastard.\u201d<\/p>\n A Coachella sunset served as a cocktail <\/p>\n A Coachella sunset cocktail at sunset.<\/p>\n (Danielle Dorsey \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n One of the best parts of Coachella is catching the sherbet-colored sunset at the end of the day, not just because cooler temps are ahead but because of the Lisa Frank explosion of colors that bleed into the horizon as it shifts to night. That event was made all the sweeter today when I paired the actual sunset with the Coachella sunset cocktail, which layers citrus and a speared kumquat with tequila, served in a branded cup that doubles as a souvenir.<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Devo\u2019s new wave dance party at sunset <\/p>\n Look, it\u2019s a very different Coachella than when we last saw Devo here in 2010. The Mojave Tent should have been more packed for these legends.<\/p>\n However, those of us who hightailed it here were treated to a set of the band\u2019s best. Early on in the performance the band played \u201cGirl U Want\u201d into \u201cWhip It\u201d and during the latter, Mark Mothersbaugh tossed a handful of red \u201cenergy domes\u201d \u2014 you know them as the Devo flowerpot hats \u2014 into the crowd.<\/p>\n Similar to Bini earlier, Devo had a costume change from the navy worksuits into their signature yellow Devo suits for a rousing performance of \u201cUncontrollable Urge.\u201d There was even some choreography. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Radiohead\u2019s bunker is Coachella\u2019s version of Disney\u2019s Tiki Room <\/p>\n (Mark Potts \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Finally! Coachella has its own version of the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction from Disneyland \u2014 and it comes from the most unlikely of artists: British alt rockers Radiohead.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I mean by that. <\/p>\n Say you\u2019re in search of an air-conditioned place to rest your weary feet while a visual and musical spectacle plays out before you, where do you go? If you\u2019re a parent taking your kid to the happiest place on earth, you go to the Enchanted Tiki Room. If you\u2019re a desert festivalgoer in Indio, you go to the Bunker. <\/p>\n Tip: The ushers appeared to be letting festivalgoers into the experience throughout the runtime of the movie, so there\u2019s a possibility you\u2019ll be able to get in even if you didn\u2019t land one of the scarce time slots. And seeing as how the experience was only about a quarter of the way full by the time it ended, you might be in luck. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n A first look inside Radiohead\u2019s bunker at Coachella <\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Teddy Swims brings out Van Halen\u2019s David Lee Roth for \u2018Jump\u2019 <\/p>\n Teddy Swims performs on the main stage at Coachella.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Teddy Swims\u2019 set is the all-star showcase to beat so far. The face-tatted soul-rock singer brought out Joe Jonas (to duet on the Jonas Brothers\u2019 \u201cWhen You Look Me in the Eyes\u201d), Vanessa Carlton (for a collab on her \u201cA Thousand Miles\u201d) and none other than David Lee Roth (to sing Van Halen\u2019s \u201cJump\u201d). Roth even brought one of his signature swords for the occasion. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Catching some rays in the golden hour <\/p>\n Monica Beswick, of El Cajon, watches Teddy Swims perform at the Coachella stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 10.<\/p>\n (Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Scenes from Bini\u2019s debut at Coachella <\/p>\n Filipina girl group Bini made their Coachella debut Friday. Check out images from the group\u2019s set and read our interview with the group<\/a>. <\/p>\n Bini performs on the Mojave stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Fans scream as Bini performs on the Mojave stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Bini, wearing coordinated denim outfits, performs on the Mojave stage.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Bibi performs during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Bob Baker Marionettes at Coachella: L.A.\u2019s tiniest stars take on music\u2019s biggest festival <\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n I took the Buldak heat challenge: 3 spicy dishes, ranked <\/p>\n When I heard that Korean hot sauce brand Buldak was collaborating on a handful of dishes with Coachella food vendors for a social media heat challenge, I had to participate. Personally, I\u2019m a medium Thai spicy girl, but I can appreciate layered heat, and when chefs manage to make complex dishes without the spice overpowering other flavors.<\/p>\n I tried three of the five dishes and here\u2019s my ranking:<\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Buldak Bomb from Birrieria San Marcos: The birria quesadilla is infused with the sauce and served with a consomm\u00e9 that also features the tangy hot sauce. The birria is tender and flavorful, the cheese is gooey and hot, and the Buldak sauce provides slow-building heat that forces you to stop and savor each bite. The quesadilla comes with a side of red onions and a lemon wedge for a crunchy textural contrast and some acid, respectively. Show more <\/p>\n At Coachella, you will walk more than 1,000 steps but this special guest will walk more than that <\/p>\n Teddy Swims has had a set on the main stage filled with special guests. I\u2019m typing away in the press tent and heard the roar for the latest one \u2014 Vanessa Carlton.<\/p>\n They\u2019re doing a duet on her biggest hit, millennial anthem \u201cA Thousand Miles.\u201d <\/p>\n Our team hasn\u2019t hit 1,000 miles yet for the day, but we\u2019re into many thousands of steps. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Striking a pose at Coachella <\/p>\n Victoria Aular, 29, from Miami takes photographs inside an art installation during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Friday.<\/p>\n (Kayla Bartkowski\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n The winds are picking up at Coachella <\/p>\n The gentle breeze from earlier in the day has picked up. I had to hold on to my hat as I made my way across the field. Another sign that the wind and dust advisory<\/a> is real? I have yet to see Coachella\u2019s famous balloon chain. <\/p>\n Even though it\u2019s not up now, you can read all about the balloon chain and the art that shaped Coachella\u2019s first 25 years<\/a>. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Bini\u2019s sparkly afternoon spectacle in the Mojave Tent <\/p>\n Bini performs at the Mojave stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n If Bini\u2019s packed afternoon set at the Mojave Tent is any indication, everyone in the crowd is going to brag about how they saw the pop group from the Philippines on a small stage way back when.<\/p>\n A half dozen dancers appeared on stage, flipping and leaping until the members of Bini joined them, clad in gold costumes for set opener \u201cShagidi.\u201d<\/p>\n By the next song, \u201cZero Pressure,\u201d the dancers had left and the group had a costume change into sparkly blue bikini-like costumes with glittering fringe.<\/p>\n The dancers came back and this was the choreographed dance party I needed to pump me up for the Coachella afternoon.<\/p>\n I spotted people waving flags of the Philippines in the crowd early on and a very excited fan cheering joyfully when she saw them as she entered the guest viewing area.<\/p>\n The group acknowledged everyone watching along on the livestream at home, too.<\/p>\n Bini\u2019s fans had been pumping them up all over social media and encouraging people to watch the stream.<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Pay $4,000 for your Coachella ticket? This California bill may curb scalping <\/p>\n Sophia Peterson, left, and Ariana Pellegrini of Los Angeles dance as DJ Fifi plays at the DoLab during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 10, 2026. <\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Coachella is never cheap, much less this year\u2019s sold-out edition with the long-awaited live return of Justin Bieber. But if you\u2019re looking to score a last-minute pass, you likely lost your swag <\/a>when you saw the resale prices on secondary sites like StubHub. <\/p>\n As of Friday afternoon, you\u2019ll pay between $4,000 and $5,000 for a sold-out weekend one GA pass on StubHub. (Prices are lower for weekend two on Coachella\u2019s official resale site<\/a>. Weekend one tickets originally retailed for $649). <\/p>\n On \u2018Essex Honey,\u2019 Blood Orange toils with the question \u2018Why should it exist?\u2019 <\/p>\n Devonte Hynes, known as Blood Orange, released \u201cEssex Honey\u201d in 2025.<\/p>\n (Dev Hynes)<\/p>\n Blood Orange plays the Mojave Tent from 11:55 p.m.-12:45 a.m. Friday, April 10. We talked to Dev Hynes before the release of \u201cEssex Honey.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a Friday in New York City, where Devonte Hynes, otherwise known as Blood Orange, is tucked away in his apartment. The afternoon sun has just begun to peer through his windows, revealing stacks of books with a black cello case gently leaning against them.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what\u2019s inside the Radiohead bunker at Coachella <\/p>\n (Mark Potts \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Radiohead isn\u2019t playing Coachella this year \u2014 but the English art-rock band is still here.<\/p>\n The desert festival has a new space for 2026 called the Bunker, which Radiohead has taken over to premiere an audiovisual installation that looks back at its albums \u201cKid A\u201d and \u201cAmnesiac\u201d on the occasion of both albums\u2019 turning a quarter-century old.<\/p>\n That time I saw a puppet show at Coachella \u2014 L.A.\u2019s Bob Baker Marionette Theater <\/p>\n INDIO, CA – APRIL 10, 2026: Bob Baker Marionette performs at the Gobi Stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, CA. (Kayla Bartkowski \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n (Kayla Bartkowski\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n With an elaborate horn intro and fanfare, L.A.\u2019s beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater made its Coachella debut in the Gobi Tent Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n Our emcee for the afternoon, Pink Cat, a pale pink feline marionette with a glittery neck piece kicked things off with a song, joined by a multicolored rainbow parade of marionettes that were somewhere between Cousin Itt of the Addams Family and the old McDonald\u2019s Fry Guys for a discofied rendition of \u201cI Got Rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n I feel like I am watching one of those colorful and insane \u201870s variety shows in real time. (Complimentary.)<\/p>\n Pink Cat introduced a special guest, Geese, a few songs in. The crowd cheered thinking it was the band but it was actually marionettes of geese.<\/p>\n After an appearance by Dracula, we got Frankenstein\u2019s monster and Dr. Frankenstein doing \u201cPuttin\u2019 On the Ritz\u201d \u00e0 la Mel Brooks\u2019 \u201cYoung Frankenstein\u201d and this might be one of the most memorable things I have ever seen at Coachella.<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Katseye spent years training for this moment. Is it everything they dreamed of? <\/p>\n Katseye at the 68th Grammy Awards in L.A. <\/p>\n (Myung J. Chun\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Katseye plays the Sahara Tent from 8-8:45 p.m. Friday, April 10. We caught up with Katseye in late 2025.<\/p>\n Almost every Katseye<\/a> performance begins the same way. The bass notes of the girl group\u2019s first single \u201cDebut\u201d echo through the venue, bright stage lights shine on its members and a screaming crowd nearly drowns out their vocals.<\/p>\n Turnstile\u2019s Brendan Yates on the hardcore band\u2019s \u2018Never Enough\u2019 album <\/p>\n Brendan Yates performs with Turnstile perform at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles in May 2025.<\/p>\n (Eric Thayer\/For The Times)<\/p>\n Turnstile plays the Outdoor Theatre from 8:05-9 p.m. Friday, April 10. We talked to the band before the release of \u201cNever Enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Brendan Yates says he\u2019s learned innumerable things fronting his band Turnstile<\/a> over the last decade and a half, not the least of which is that an ambitious musician needn\u2019t move to Los Angeles or New York to make it.<\/p>\n Fans heading into the festival are greeted by an old favorite <\/p>\n The gates are open at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 10, 2026. <\/p>\n (Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n While there are plenty of new large-scale art installations at Coachella<\/a> this year, an old favorite remains. \u201cSpectra,\u201d the rainbow-colored tower, greets fans as they walk into the festival\u2019s main gate just past the Ferris wheel. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n First bite on Coachella Day One <\/p>\n It\u2019s early afternoon on Day One of Coachella and despite feeling like it\u2019s over 100 degrees (actual temp: 90), I\u2019m off to a good start.<\/p>\n I toured through the disco-inspired Electrolit activation for a free sample of the electrolyte-packed beverage and then high tailed it to the almost-empty VIP Rose Garden to sit at KazuNori\u2019s hand roll counter, which typically involves a wait. But thanks to my ace planning, I was first in line and sat at the counter within minutes. I ordered a set of five hand rolls, which came out so fast I was only able to snap haphazard photos and video. Either way, each roll \u2014 warm and packed with scallops, toro and lobster \u2014 was delicious and refreshing, with plenty of omega-3s to power me through the rest of the day.<\/p>\n Now that my hunger is sated, time for an Aperol spritz! Cheers!<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Who\u2019s on today\u2019s YouTube livestream from Coachella? Sabrina Carpenter, Devo and more <\/p>\n Sabrina Carpenter, shown here at Coachella 2024, headlines the first day of the 2026 festival.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Sabrina Carpenter<\/a> famously works late, so it might come as a surprise to some that the \u201cEspresso\u201d songstress\u2019 headlining set at Coachella 2026 is comparatively early in the night, at 9 p.m.<\/p>\n But that shouldn\u2019t be an issue to music festival fans enjoying the festivities from home on Coachella\u2019s YouTube livestream.<\/a> <\/p>\n The architects of Coachella: How five artists reshaped 25 years of the festival <\/p>\n Escape Velocity aka the Coachella Astronaut<\/p>\n (Courtesy of Poetic Kinetics)<\/p>\n You may not have noticed, but it\u2019s right there in the name: \u201cand Arts.\u201d As in, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.<\/p>\n Since 1999 \u2014 more than two decades as America\u2019s most culturally influential music festival \u2014 music has dominated the spotlight at Coachella. Within the three-day festival is an immersive gallery staged over two weekends in April at Indio\u2019s Empire Polo Club.<\/p>\n The gates are open and Coachella is officially underway <\/p>\n Coachella couches that the gates open at 1-ish and they opened at 1:08 p.m. by my count. <\/p>\n It is a pleasantly warm 87 degrees, according to my phone, with a high of 89 expected, again, according to my phone. <\/p>\n Even though there\u2019s a dust storm advisory through 3 a.m. Saturday there\u2019s a gentle breeze at the polo grounds this afternoon. <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n How South Bay\u2019s contradictions shaped Joyce Manor\u2019s enduring pop-punk sound <\/p>\n Members of punk-rock band Joyce Manor, from left, guitarist Chase Knobbe, singer-songwriter and guitarist Barry Johnson, and bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ebert.<\/p>\n (Jason Armond\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Joyce Manor plays the Gobi Tent from 5:10-5:50 p.m. Friday, April 10. We caught up with the punk band earlier this year.<\/p>\n One hour into cruising the streets in a car near the Pacific coastline of Long Beach, the band Joyce Manor\u2019s sightseeing leads to the destination that, to their amusement, is now a pop-punk landmark: the Joyce Manor midcentury condominium off Alamitos Avenue. With its Art Deco lettering and being a stone\u2019s throw from Ocean Boulevard, this cozy condo complex feels like a humble monument to SoCal Americana. You could picture Elvis walking out of here in one of his classic surfing movies.<\/p>\n Artists we can\u2019t wait to see on Friday <\/p>\n Turnstile performs at Coachella 2022.<\/p>\n (Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n These are the acts our team can\u2019t wait to see on Friday. See the full list for Coachella\u2019s first weekend<\/a>. <\/p>\n Fleshwater<\/p>\n 4:50 p.m., Sonora Tent<\/p>\n The kids love shoegaze for the dissociative vibes, but real heads know all the genre\u2019s best bands have monster rhythm sections too. Fleshwater\u2019s crystalline guitar leads and tidal currents of noise hit so much harder for the revving percussion, which moves with the dexterity of metal and hardcore. When vocalist Marisa Shirar wails those desperate high notes, they\u2019re well earned. (August Brown)<\/p>\n CMAT<\/p>\n 6:15 p.m., Gobi Tent<\/p>\n Who would have thought a suite of songs that cover being annoyed at TV chef Jamie Oliver and some rich Tesla driver moving into an old flame\u2019s flat would be so comprehensively devastating? What a bounty of heart, wit and captivating stage presence from this Irish singer behind \u201cEuro-Country,\u201d one of the funniest and most wrenching albums of 2025. (AB)<\/p>\n Turnstile<\/p>\n 8:05 p.m., Outdoor Theatre<\/p>\n Turnstile\u2019s 2025 album \u201cNever Enough\u201d \u2014 my favorite of the year \u2014 translates even better live. I have made it a point to see the Baltimore band with hardcore roots every time because the show is simultaneously energy-giving and cathartic. Hoping we see fellow Coachella artist Blood Orange show up for \u201cAlien Love Call\u201d and maybe for \u201cSeein\u2019 Stars.\u201d Warning: It doesn\u2019t matter where you are in the general crowd, you need to be aware of mosh pits breaking out around you at any point. (Vanessa Franko)<\/p>\n Blood Orange<\/p>\n 11:55 p.m., Mojave Tent<\/p>\n Blood Orange has consistently penned enough hits to fill an entire set with them, let alone cement himself as one of the mostly highly anticipated performances at this year\u2019s festival. Dev Hynes\u2019 2025 was highlighted by the release of the emotionally driven \u201cEssex Honey,\u201d which he told The Times was \u201cmade from a place of living life\u201d rather than living in the music. Notably, he also discussed the unexpected, social media-stemmed revival of \u201cChampagne Coast,\u201d 13 years after it was released on \u201cCoastal Grooves.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s funny [how] people are constantly chasing virality, because even the word itself tells you how random it is,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t try to catch viruses; they come to you.\u201d Regardless of how the surge came to light, it\u2019ll be a pleasure to hear on the Empire Polo Club lawn, alongside ever-alluring tunes like \u201cAugustine\u201d and \u201cSaint.\u201d (Julius Miller)<\/p>\n READ THE FULL LIST<\/a><\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n K-pop conquered Coachella. Now it\u2019s Bini\u2019s turn to show off the Philippines <\/p>\n Bini band members, clockwise from left: Colet, Maloi, Stacey, Gwen, Jhoanna, Sheena, Mikha, Aiah.<\/p>\n (Ian Spanier \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n The eight members of the Filipina girl group Bini learned they were playing Coachella the same way their fans did: from people freaking out on social media when the lineup dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were at an event in the Philippines, and then I found out from a fan on X,\u201d Bini member Stacey said. \u201cI was shocked. At first, I didn\u2019t believe it, because I thought it was just a joke. But when I messaged our group chat, we found out that it\u2019s true, we are performing for Coachella. It was a surprise from the management. I think history was made.\u201d<\/p>\n Inside Sabrina Carpenter\u2019s Pit Stop at Coachella <\/p>\n Do you want the house tour? Rebecca Castillo took a peek inside Sabrina Carpenter\u2019s Airbnb pop-up at Coachella. Filled with Easter eggs from her music videos \u2014 including the Pretty Girl Clean-Up Crew van \u2014 the pit stop has photo ops, a slushie wall, themed merch and more.<\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Lambrini Girls pull out of Coachella, postpone U.S. tour due to \u2018acute brain injury\u2019 <\/p>\n Phoebe Lunny of Lambrini Girls has a brain injury, prompting the group to pull out of playing Coachella.<\/p>\n (Leon Neal \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Coachella 2026<\/a> just got a little less punk.<\/p>\n The Lambrini Girls announced on social media that they had to pull out of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival <\/a>due to an injury that\u2019s forcing the duo to also reschedule their U.S. tour dates.<\/p>\n Meet Slayyyter at her most raw, as the \u2018Worst Girl in America\u2019 <\/p>\n Slayyyter recently released the album \u201cWorst Girl in America,\u201d and she\u2019s performing at Coachella.<\/p>\n (Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Slayyyter plays the Mojave Tent from 3-3:45 p.m. Friday, April 10.<\/p>\n Slayyyter crawls in through the window of her pseudo-childhood home, her long blond waves damp from a night out and the fringe of her Western jacket swinging as she reaches for a beer in the fridge. Her dad is screaming at her as she escapes to her room; as he bangs on the bedroom door, she reaches for a shotgun.<\/p>\n Why is there a giant shovel in the desert outside Coachella? Tom Cruise has the answer <\/p>\n A roughly 40-foot shovel promoting Tom Cruise\u2019s new project is planted near the Coachella festival grounds in Indio.<\/p>\n (David Viramontes \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n INDIO, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0On a quiet neighborhood corner across the street from a local watering hole, a roughly 40-foot shovel towers above the desert. Visible from more than half a mile away, the oversized hand tool sits about 15 minutes from the Coachella festival grounds.<\/p>\n To most, the shovel fits alongside Indio\u2019s large-scale public artworks<\/a>. Pieces like \u201cSarbal\u00e9 Ke,\u201d \u201cColossal Cacti\u201d and a cactus forming rock music\u2019s most famous hand gesture that once graced the Empire Polo Club have made their way from the Coachella festival grounds to parks across the city. Amid that landscape, a big shovel \u2014 perhaps the biggest shovel in the world \u2014 feels somewhat ordinary.<\/p>\n 25 years in and Coachella\u2019s food lineup is bigger than ever. Here are the spots to hit. <\/p>\n (Los Angeles Times photo illustration; photographs by K Fox, Foodsteez and Danielle Dorsey)<\/p>\n It\u2019s that time of year again when caravans of festival-goers head to the desert for Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival<\/a>. And just like in years past, some of the region\u2019s top culinary talents will be joining them. <\/p>\n Fans from all over the world will fly in for the sold-out festival that\u2019s set to take over Indio\u2019s Empire Polo Club from April 10-12 and April 17-19, with Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G. headlining<\/a> alongside a host of emerging acts.<\/p>\n SoCal in for a windy, rainy weekend, with possible dust storms at Coachella <\/p>\n An air quality alert due to windblown dust is in effect in the Coachella Valley, affecting thousands of attendees of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.<\/p>\n (Dania Maxwell \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n A low-pressure system is set to sweep across Southern California this weekend, bringing scattered rainstorms in coastal counties and possible hazardous dust storms in the Coachella Valley, where thousands of festivalgoers will gather for the first weekend<\/a> of the eponymous extravaganza.<\/p>\n Light rainstorms are expected in the L.A. County area from Friday afternoon into Saturday morning, with heavier rainfall expected north of Point Conception in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County, according to the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n 14 desert side quests to check out beyond Coachella <\/p>\n (Gina Ferazzi\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Planning a proper trip to Coachella<\/a> or Stagecoach is a master class in logistics. Before setting foot on the Empire Polo Club where these annual fests are held, fans have already made decisions on where to stay, what to pack, where to eat, what to see and which bandanna will be covering your nose and mouth from the dust on the walk back to the car. But true veterans of this fest know that one of the best parts of this desert journey is planning some side quests. Carving out time to indulge in natural wonders, great food, outsider art, local record shopping and more is all part of making the most of any festival weekend in Indio. With that in mind, we\u2019ve compiled a very doable list of enjoyable extracurricular excursions to fill some free time with 14 essential experiences.<\/p>\n READ THE FULL STORY<\/a><\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n POV: You\u2019re on your way to Coachella <\/p>\n This is what it looks like when you\u2019re driving to the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on the 10 Freeway for Coachella. <\/p>\n Billboards line both sides of the freeway, promoting Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G and more. We even saw some people stop and get out of the car to pose for pictures on the drive out Thursday.<\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n Coachella 2026: Everything you need to know to survive and thrive at the festival \u2014 or watch at home <\/p>\n The sun sets behind the palm trees at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. <\/p>\n (Christina House\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n It\u2019s almost time to make the annual pilgrimage to the desert for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The event will celebrate its 25th year on the polo fields in Indio, this time with Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G<\/a> topping the lineup. <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re heading to the festival or watching from home, we\u2019ve compiled a guide for maximizing your Coachella time from what to pack and what parties and pop-ups are open to the public to how to watch from the comfort of your couch.<\/p>\n Coachella photos 1999\u20132025: The most iconic moments ahead of the 2026 festival <\/p>\n \u201cOverview Effect,\u201d a roaming astronaut sculpture made by Poetic Kinetics, roams around the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio.<\/p>\n (Brian van der Brug \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Before the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival<\/a> became a world-famous event, it started as a much more modest music festival in Southern California\u2019s desert in 1999.<\/p>\n During the festival, the Empire Polo Club in Indio has been the site of some of the biggest music and pop culture moments of the century, from Daft Punk\u2019s iconic pyramid spectacle in the Sahara Tent<\/a> in 2006 to Beyonc\u00e9 bringing a legendary \u201cHomecoming\u201d<\/a> to Coachella\u2019s largest stage in 2018.<\/p>\n Happy Coachella! Meet your guides to the weekend <\/p>\n As Coachella kicks off its 25th year, our team of reporters, photographers and editors are on the ground at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Since you\u2019ll be hearing from us a lot this weekend, here\u2019s a little bit about who we\u2019re excited to see. <\/p>\n \u201cFinding out whether I\u2019m the youngest person or the oldest person in the audience for the Strokes.\u201d \u2014 Mikael Wood, whose first Coachella was 2005<\/p>\n \u201cFinding out whether I\u2019m the youngest person or the oldest person in the audience for Katseye.\u201d \u2014 David Viramontes, who is attending his second Coachella<\/p>\n \u201cNine Inch Noize in the Sahara \u2014 the old goths will be camped out all day, obviously, but do the raver zoomers know what kind of violence they\u2019re in for later?\u201d \u2014 August Brown, who first Coachella\u2019d in 2006 \u2014 the Daft Punk pyramid<\/a> year<\/p>\n \u201cHaving a Sunday night catharsis at The Rapture set yelling \u2018HOUSE OF! JEALOUS LOVERS!\u2019 and remembering the best of the indie sleaze era.\u201d \u2014 Vanessa Franko, whose first Coachella was 2007 and is celebrating her 18th year and 27th weekend of covering the fest<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing if I can successfully stay awake for Blood Orange\u2019s super late set.\u201d\u2014 Danielle Dorsey, whose first Coachella was in 2010 and will hopefully catch Blood Orange at 11:55 p.m. Friday night<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited to see Dijon and seeing some of my favorite artists in three days.\u201d \u2014 Kayla Bartkowski, who is attending her first Coachella<\/p>\n \u201cI am very much looking forward to the White Claw and Starbucks tents as well as standing in the heat for as long as it takes to get Radiohead merchandise while telling my editor I am working but the internet is slow so my videos will come through eventually.\u201d \u2014 Mark Potts, The Times\u2019 senior editor for video who is attending his first Coachella<\/p>\n Show more <\/p>\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884989_138_.jpeg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884991_180_.jpeg\")
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Godzilla from Sumo Dog: This footlong hot dog comes with a fork and knife, and is piled high with strips of seaweed, jalape\u00f1o slices and a Buldak ranch sauce drizzled on top. This dish is the least spicy of the three, but a solid hot dog nonetheless, with a snappy sausage and a squishy bun.
Spicy marinara pie with Buldak ranch sauce from Prince Street Pizza: The spicy ranch sauce is my favorite part of this mediocre pie. It\u2018s creamy with bits of fresh dill, brightening an otherwise forgettable slice of pizza. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884994_965_.jpeg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Devonte](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884995_923_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884996_143_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Katseye](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884996_298_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Brendan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884996_266_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884997_89_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"INDO-CA-APRIL](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884997_279_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Escape](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884998_19_.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Members](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884998_365_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Turnstile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884999_925_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Bini](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775884999_644_.jpeg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Phoebe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775885000_46_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Slayyyter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775885000_916_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775885000_371_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Collage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775885001_958_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Palm](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775885001_676_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"people](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775885002_168_.jpeg\")
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