Coachella 2026 hits & misses

All photos by Zadie Kang

Festival season is upon us once again, which means Coachella officially kicked off on April 10th. As a big concert-goer myself, this year marked my second time attending the festival, and I’m here to tell you what worked and what didn’t this weekend. 

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Hit: Performances at Mojave

The Mojave stage this year was packed with big names, most notably FKA Twigs, Iggy Pop, and Ethel Cain, which ended up being some of the most memorable performances of the weekend. It’s a smaller stage, which allows you

to get really close to the artists, making the experience more intimate. All three performances really delivered in terms of set and execution. FKA Twigs’ magnetic choreography was certainly something to write home about, and Iggy Pop, who played less than an hour before, performed a nostalgic, fun-filled set that was everything the music scene right now has been missing. It sounds dramatic, but I do think seeing Ethel Cain live might have changed lives (the weeping fans around me were a testament to this). Her emotional pull as a performer is truly magical, and it really does feel like she’s performing personally for you, which is definitely enhanced by the atmosphere at Mojave, especially at night.

Miss: Overpriced lemonade strikes again

Two years ago, when I first wrote about my experience at Coachella, lemonade cost a whopping $16. Many might be surprised to learn that the price has now decreased to a calm $14. The two-dollar difference doesn’t really make a difference (it’s still ridiculously overpriced) but it wasn’t the same story for some of the other food vendors. A typical plate of food still costs around $35, and when you're surrounded by it, restraint can get difficult. The festival itself is already so costly that it often feels like the nail in the coffin when you have to pay so much for food. My advice (but you didn’t hear it here): sneak in your own food, or at least snacks to tide you over. Technically, it’s not allowed, but security rarely checks bags, and I highly doubt they would make you throw it out.

Hit: Preferred Car Camping

Another piece of advice that I will continue to give, for both affordability and convenience, is car camping. I cannot reiterate this enough. It is the best way to save money, and it also makes it incredibly easy to go in and out of the festival. The typical camping caveats are still present. The bathrooms are not great, and if you get stuck with loud neighbors, you might need to bring earplugs, but the pros far outweigh the cons. Camping not only gives you the rest that is so desperately needed after hours of standing, but also provides the flexibility to eat or change whenever you would like. For most of us, that means changing into sweats after the sun goes down.

Miss: Bieberchella

I am aware of how controversial this is, but as someone who experienced Justin Bieber’s set in person, I think it really lacked the magic I was expecting from a pop star. It was nice hearing some of his throwbacks, but aside from that, the set felt slow and underwhelming. One part of Bieberchella that is not talked about much on social media is the large hordes of people swarming the exits after the first 20 minutes of his set. When I think about a Coachella headliner, I want a show. I want fun sets and costumes, dancing, and storytelling. At the very least, I do not want to see the artist walk out in sweats and sing five ballads in a row while pacing across the stage. Yes, the energy did pick up eventually, but it didn't feel like anything special, and I do not think he gets a pass for a mediocre performance just because he is Justin Bieber. When you compare it to the energy Karol G and Sabrina Carpenter brought to the stage, it wasn't even close.

Hit: Afternoon sets!!

Joyce Manor

It is no secret that as the day goes on, performers get bigger in terms of name value, but what about the afternoon sets? Indie acts really shined at Coachella this year. Some of the best performances I saw were between 1:00 and 3:00, as people were still arriving on festival grounds. Joyce Manor has been a longtime favorite of mine, and their live performance was electric. By the end of their set, the entire crowd was jumping. NewDad was another standout and served as a reminder of one of the best parts of the festival, the freedom to roam around and discover new artists simply by sitting in for a few songs.