The 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival lineup is officially out: Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G, The Strokes, and dozens of supporting acts will all gather in April of 2026 along with hundreds of thousands of fans for two weekends of music, sun, food, and desert fun. The next step? Get the plans out of the group chat and into reality.
Thankfully, you have our “How to Hack” Coachella guide filled with tips, tricks, where to eat and where to stay in the Greater Palm Springs next spring.
Where and When Is Coachella?
Every year, the music festival is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. This year, the 2026 festival will take place over two consecutive spring weekends:
- Weekend 1: Friday, April 10–Sunday, April 12, 2026
- Weekend 2: Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 19, 2026
The Coachella gates open at 11 a.m. and the first musical sets usually kick off around noon. The festival usually closes around 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12 a.m. on Sunday night.
When Do Coachella Tickets Go On Sale?
There are a few ways to get Coachella tickets. American Express cardholders have early access to Coachella presale tickets on Thursday, Sept. 18, and concertgoers who purchased tickets the year before can register for presale tickets on Thursday as well.
The following Friday (Sept. 19), tickets will be available to the general population on the official website. Coachella offers general admission, VIP (which includes access to a large private area next to the main stage, a private bar, and additional toilets) and Camping Passes (more on that below).
Camping at Coachella
For festivalgoers looking to embrace the desert experience while saving on lodging, camping at Coachella is an excellent choice. It's not just about saving money—camping also allows you to fully immerse yourself in the festival experience from sunup to sundown. Coachella offers a variety of camping choices to suit different needs, from traditional car camping (bring your own gear), to pre-set campervans with A/C and real beds, to glamping in private, temperature-controlled luxury tents.
Keep in mind: Camping passes are purchased separately from your festival tickets and are sold per vehicle, not per person. Camping passes cover four nights—from Thursday through Monday morning—giving you an extra day to settle in and get the festival fun going. You can add a camping pass when purchasing your festival tickets directly on the Coachella website.
One of the biggest perks of camping is the location. Campsites are a short walk from the festival entrance, providing unlimited in-and-out access each day so you can hit the stages fast without worrying about transportation or parking.
Onsite, campers have access to a general store and multiple food vendors, a camping center hub with daily games, activities, and raffles, plus free WiFi, a beauty bar, and a nightly Silent Disco. Campers can also take advantage of a daily supermarket shuttle to stock up on extra food, ice, and supplies.
Camping Essentials for Coachella
- Weather-proof your stay: Desert days can soar past 100 degrees and nights can dip into the 50s. Pack fans, hoodies, and layers. Wind can pick up in the evenings, so masks or bandanas are a must.
- Stay hydrated and fueled: Insulated coolers are your best friend. Staying hydrated and nourished is key in the desert heat, so come prepared with plenty of food and water for four days. Leave glass at home—it’s not allowed.
- Know your facilities: Portable restrooms and free showers are conveniently located on all camping lots (upgrade to “Super Duper” showers for a fee). Water refill stations are also free.
- Make it yours: Bring decor and personal touches to turn your campsite into your home base.
Coachella Hotels, Where Should You Stay?
If you’re not into the idea of sleeping on the Coachella grounds, booking a hotel close to the shuttle service is another great way to go. The shuttle pass starts at $140 and can be purchased with your tickets. Check out the official Coachella Shuttle map for drop-off locations and lots of additional information on navigating your way in and out of Indio.
One major stop on the shuttle route is the Palm Springs Convention Center which is located next to a plethora of hotels including: The Courtyard by Marriott Palm Springs, Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, Terra Palm Springs, Hilton Palm Springs, The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows, and Les Cactus (which is a a bit of a walk from the stop) and The Saguaro (which would be an additional 7-minute Uber away from the drop-off).
The other non-hotel stop is the Albertson’s grocery store on Highway 111. Places to stay within walking distance include Hotel Paseo, Shadow Mountain Resort & Club, and the Best Western Plus Palm Desert Resort (to name a few).
Hotels that offer shuttle pickups on their property are The Westin Rancho Mirage, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Marriott’s Desert Spring Villas, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells, Renaissance Esmeralda, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, La Quinta Resort & Club, Embassy Suites La Quinta, Omni Rancho Las Palmas, Hampton Inn & Suites Indio, Hampton Inn Palm Desert, Courtyard & Residence Inn Palm Desert, and Homewood Suites Palm Desert.
Act fast as hotel rooms are known to book up early, and be sure to search around each shuttle stop for nearby places to rest.
What to Pack for Coachella
The needs and requirements of every concertgoer will vary depending on where you stay. However, the Coachella necessities remain fairly consistent from year to year. For a full breakdown, check out the official list from Goldenvoice of what’s allowed behind the gates.
- Sun protectant: First and foremost, sunscreen. Grab your favorite face and lotion and bring double. Shade is limited in the desert valley so be prepared. Just make sure it’s a cream, stick, or lotion as aerosol sunscreens are forbidden at Coachella. If you forget your sunscreen, don’t fret—there are Neutrogena sunscreen dispensers stationed across the festival grounds.
- Water bottle: Staying hydrated is crucial to a great Coachella. The best way to do this is with your own water bottle that you can refill at the various water stations, but it must be clear and plastic. Metal and glass bottles are not allowed.
- The bag: Bring a backpack, fannypack, or crossbody bag. The key here is anything that’s hands-free and 8" x 13" x 8.5" or smaller (Coachella regulation).
- Lip balm: Your lips will thank you.
- A bandanna: Your lungs, cheeks, and face will also thank you.
- Mobile phone charger: Always be charged for the latest drop, just know there’s often little to no service available in the desert.
- Hand sanitizer: Handwashing stations are located next to the public toilets but it’s nice to not have to wait in line to clean up before a quick bite between shows.
Set a Coachella Festival Strategy
Got your wristband and fest-ready footwear? Before the gates open, check out who’s playing beyond the boldface names on the poster’s top lines. Take a listen to the festival's latest YouTube playlists, and when the schedule drops, sketch a rough plan for any acts on your must-see list. Download the Coachella Mobile App to customize your lineup. Select your favorite artists to get notified when they're playing, explore the festival map, find onsite activities and more.
Between those sets, wander away. Follow your ears to a new discovery inside the Mojave tent, ride the Ferris wheel, snap a selfie with large-scale art works, and check out the random activations, like the 2025 Always and Tampax House of Flow, which has a hydration station, glam room, and free samples. Taking breaks is crucial to surviving the weekend, and your feet will appreciate it when you’re still dancing well after midnight.
How to Plan Your Coachella Day
When the Coachella crowd wakes up, the party gets started. Some festgoers skip the smaller acts for daytime fetes in Palm Springs. Though these events aren’t technically on the lineup—and some keep a pretty tight guest list—they’re as much a part of the festival as that giant Urban Outfitter's belt and fringe.
Find your poolside headquarters by checking out special Coachella-weekend events at Palm Springs’ hip hotels, like the Instagram-bait Saguaro painted in rainbow colors or the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, a midcentury-boho hangout with a pool full of floaties. Arrive Hotel hosts regular events like new moon yoga and dive-in movies alongside special Coachella bashes, and the pool at the Hilton Palm Springs transforms into a Vegas-style day club during the music festival, complete with DJs pulled straight from the Coachella roster and legions of fist-pumping fans.
In past years Goldenvoice has hosted a pool party of sorts at the ultra-fun Palm Springs Surf Club. Tickets included access to the wave pool, wellness activations, and a DJ-ed dance party.
If celebrity-spotting is your sport of choice, an array of invite-only bashes presents the best opportunity, along with the annual Neon Carnival, a late-night soiree that keeps the party going into the wee house for VIPs and lucky invitees.
There are also loads of exclusive gatherings inside the main event. Amex has offered cardholders immersive onsite experiences, from food tastings and giveaways to a photo booth and more.
What to Eat at Coachella
The food spread at Coachella often rivals the musical itself, with booths from restaurants nationwide—especially Los Angeles and New York—serving up global flavors in endless variety.
The shaded, outdoor food hall at Indio Central Market offers the most options in one spot with greats like Prince Street Pizza, Irv’s Burgers, Sumo Dog, Dave's Hot Chicken, Sweetfin, Happy Ice and a lot more. Expect long lines at booths that offer cooler options like ice cream or giant coconut drinks, but things stay moving due to the sheer number of purveyors. There’s even more than you may notice at first glance—keep an eye out for secret speakeasies hidden inside the festival.
How to Catch a Coachella Spillover Show
With so much musical talent converging on California, you don’t have to beeline it to Indio to reap the benefits. In the days surrounding their Coachella sets, many artists are playing extra shows all over the state.
Goldenvoice is the producer behind Coachella, so you’ll find the vast majority of spillover shows at venues the company books. In San Francisco, that includes the Great American Music Hall, The Regency Ballroom, and The Warfield. In Los Angeles, check The Fonda Theatre, Shrine Auditorium, The Roxy Theatre, El Rey Theatre and The Novo. Goldenvoice also books The Fox Theater in Pomona, where Coachella headliners have been known to play extra gigs.
If you’re heading to the desert without a ticket, don’t miss Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace. Whether or not Coachella is in town, this barbecue joint and music venue showcases live bands five nights a week, and artists ranging from Paul McCartney and Robert Plant to Vampire Weekend have stopped by to play. In fact, in 2025 The Coverups—aka Green Day—surprised fans with a secret show right before Coachella weekend.
More Coachella Insider Festival Tips
- Expect traffic. If you’d like to avoid driving, leave your car at home and catch the Coachella airport shuttle from LAX to the festival, round-trip to points throughout the Valley, or a one-way back to LAX once the weekend concludes.
- Make a plan. With spotty cell service and more than 100,000 daily attendees, it’s easy to lose your crew. Set a time and place to meet up before you arrive so you can regroup at some point during the day.
- Rent a locker. Need somewhere to stash your sweatshirt/hat/extra pair of insoles? Reserve a locker in advance and skip schlepping a full bag around all day.
- Consider your outfit. Coachella is a marathon run in the middle of the desert. Make sure your Instagram-ready attire is equally equipped for long hours in 100-degree heat and surprise cold nights.
Where to Go Outside of Coachella
Looking for a break away from the chaos to reconnect after your weekend of madness? You’re already in the perfect spot. Extend your stay and unplug at one of the many spa retreats housed in the desert. Set up a Day Retreat revival in the healing mineral waters at Two Bunch Palms, unplug at the otherworldly Reset Hotel, or book a massage at The Spa Séc-he in Palm Springs.
If you’re up for an adventure, head over to Joshua Tree National Park and hit the Indian Cove walking trail or climb Echo Cove. The Old West desert destination Pioneertown is always a delight to poke about, and don’t sleep on the amazing art offerings and vintage shopping scattered across Palm Springs and Yucca Valley.