When: Two consecutive weekends (Friday to Sunday) in mid-April. Dates are announced the year before.
Tickets: Ticketed (sells out) — General-admission and VIP passes are sold through the official Coachella site, usually in an advance sale the year before, and they sell out quickly. On-site car camping is a separate add-on. Use only official resale to avoid fakes.
What it is
A huge music-and-arts festival across two identical weekends in the California desert, as famous for its scene and installations as its headliners.
How to get started
- Register interest and set a reminder — passes go on sale months ahead and sell out fast.
- Decide weekend one or two (same lineup) and whether you'll camp on-site or stay in a Palm Springs area hotel.
- Buy passes in the official advance sale, using the payment-plan option if you want to spread the cost.
Tickets & where to buy
General-admission and VIP passes are sold through the official Coachella site, usually in an advance sale the year before, and they sell out quickly. On-site car camping is a separate add-on. Use only official resale to avoid fakes.
- Where to stay
- On-site camping is cheapest and closest; hotels in Palm Springs, Indio and La Quinta book out and add shuttle time.
- First-timer tips
- Weekend two is often a touch calmer. Desert days are hot and nights cold, so plan layers and water.
- Watch out
- It's a hot desert — hydrate, and budget for pricey on-site food and drink.
Several of these festivals are tied to Easter or a lunar calendar, so the exact dates shift each year. Confirm the current year's dates and ticket on-sale times from the official source before you book flights.