About Coachella
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is one of the most influential music events on Earth, held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Colorado Desert. Co-founded by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen and first staged in October 1999, it has grown into a tastemaking gathering that draws around 250,000 fans and shapes the year's biggest tours, comebacks and viral moments.
Since 2012 Coachella has run as two identical three-day weekends in April, with headliners spanning pop, hip-hop, rock and electronic music across multiple stages. Beyond the music, it is famous for its large-scale art installations, desert-festival fashion and celebrity sightings, all under the Southern California sun. Surprise guest appearances and reunions have become a Coachella tradition.
Coachella takes place in April each year, with the exact dates and line-up announced by organiser Goldenvoice a few months ahead, so the date shown is the festival's usual timing until it is confirmed. Whether you are going in person or watching the livestream, add Coachella to your own countdown page and count down to the desert.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Saturday, April 10, 2027next |
| 2028 | Monday, April 10, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, April 10, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, April 10, 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, April 10, 2031 |
FAQ
When is Coachella?
Coachella is held over two weekends in April at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The countdown above shows the time until the next festival.
Why is Coachella so popular?
It is one of the world's most influential festivals, known for huge headliners, surprise guests, art installations and trend-setting fashion in the California desert.
How many people attend Coachella?
Around 250,000 fans attend across the two weekends, with each weekend drawing roughly 125,000 people per day.
When did Coachella start?
The first Coachella was held in October 1999 at the Empire Polo Club; it adopted its two-weekend April format in 2012.