coachella

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly called Coachella, is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is organized by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents. The festival features a diverse lineup spanning rock, indie, hip hop, electronic, and experimental genres, as well as large-scale visual art installations and sculptures.

The event began in 1999 as a one-time festival, then was revived in 2001 after a brief hiatus. Founded by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Slyke, Coachella has grown into a major multi-day event. Since 2012 it has been staged over two consecutive weekends at the same venue, allowing a substantially larger combined audience than a single weekend.

The site includes multiple stages and outdoor areas, with programming that blends live music with art and immersive experiences. The festival is noted for its high production values, broad artistic scope, and ability to attract high-profile performers and a global audience, including extensive media coverage and online streaming.

Coachella has a significant economic and cultural impact on the region and on the broader festival landscape. It is widely recognized as one of the largest and most influential music festivals in the world. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and returned in 2022 with its two-weekend format.