Coachella from the archives: A visual journey from desert experiment to global spectacle

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Coachella, now a globally recognized music festival, began in 1999 as a smaller event in the California desert.

The Empire Polo Club in Indio has hosted many of the most memorable music and pop culture events of the 21st century. Highlights include Daft Punk’s famous pyramid show inside the Sahara Tent in 2006 and Beyoncé’s groundbreaking “Homecoming” performance on Coachella’s main stage in 2018.

To celebrate Coachella’s 25th anniversary, we looked back at 25 years of coverage in The Times. You can browse through photos and articles highlighting unforgettable performances by artists like Daft Punk, Beyoncé, Prince, and Madonna, as well as the festival’s famous art installations and its incredible evolution over time.

Music

Coachella is coming to the Empire Polo Club in Indio this April. Here’s a guide to help you prepare, including what to pack and details about events happening around the festival that are open to everyone.

1999

The first Coachella festival took place in October 1999 and lasted two days, featuring headliners Beck, Rage Against the Machine, and Tool. At the time, pop music critic Robert Hilburn of The Times called it the opposite of the chaotic Woodstock 99. Despite the exciting lineup, the initial event suffered from extremely hot weather and ultimately lost money.

Music

It seems Paul Tollett, the organizer of the famous desert music festival, accurately predicted how successful his ambitious idea would become.

2001

After losing money, the Coachella festival took a break and came back in April 2001 as a single-day event. Jane’s Addiction headlined, and other performers included Weezer and Paul Oakenfold. Over 32,000 people attended the festival in the desert.

Music

The desert music festival was generally well-received for its diverse range of artists. However, the intense heat, limited visibility at night, and occasional DJ mishaps slightly detracted from the experience.

2002

In 2002, the Coachella festival returned to a two-day format, featuring headliners Bjork and Oasis. That year also saw rising rock band The Strokes, from New York City, perform as one of the event’s up-and-coming acts.

2003

In 2003, Coachella’s top acts were the Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Other notable performers included The White Stripes, Iggy and The Stooges, Underworld, and the Blue Man Group.

2004

The Flaming Lips delivered one of Coachella’s most memorable moments in 2004 when lead singer Wayne Coyne performed inside a huge inflatable ball, rolling over the audience. The festival, headlined by Radiohead and The Cure, also featured a reunited Pixies and was notable for selling out for the first time, drawing 60,000 people each day.

Music

Wayne Coyne realized something strange had occurred the previous night when he read the newspaper.

2005

Wow, Coachella 2005 was incredible! I remember being blown away by the headliners, Coldplay and Nine Inch Nails. But it wasn’t just them – Weezer, The Chemical Brothers, and Wilco all put on amazing sets too. One thing I’ll never forget is Bauhaus reuniting and Peter Murphy performing ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ while suspended upside down – it was such a unique and unforgettable performance!

2006

While Depeche Mode and Tool were headliners at Coachella in 2006, Daft Punk’s incredible pyramid stage performance is what most people still talk about. That year also saw a surprise performance by Madonna in the Sahara Tent, and Kanye West was a last-minute addition to the festival lineup.

Music

INDIO, Calif. — The T-shirt said it all: “Madonna in the dance tent!”

2007

As a huge music fan, I remember 2007 at Coachella being a real turning point. They finally went to a full three days, and the lineup was incredible – Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Rage Against the Machine all headlining! Amy Winehouse had this amazing set in the Gobi tent, totally packed. But honestly, it was Rage’s reunion that everyone was talking about. Zack de la Rocha really went for it during “Wake Up,” calling out the Bush administration and demanding they be held accountable for war crimes – it was a seriously powerful moment.

2008

Prince was a last-minute addition to the festival lineup, joining just two weeks before it started. His performance of Radiohead’s “Creep” remains legendary. That year also saw the introduction of the Coachella Express, a special Amtrak train running from Los Angeles to Indio. Jack Johnson kicked off the festival on the first night, and Roger Waters finished things off with a performance of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” complete with a massive inflatable pig floating over the crowd.

Music

Dressed in white and holding an electric guitar, Prince famously announced to the crowd at the 2008 Coachella music festival, ‘You are in the coolest place on Earth right now,’ as he surveyed the festival grounds.

2009

In 2009, Coachella stopped selling single-day tickets. Paul McCartney kicked off the festival and played well past the scheduled end time, while The Cure had their set cut short on Sunday after doing the same. The Killers performed a headlining set in between. Other memorable acts included M.I.A., who replaced Amy Winehouse, Morrissey, who famously complained about a strange smell, and Leonard Cohen.

2010

This year marked a few firsts for the Coachella festival. For the first time, only three-day passes were available, and attendance hit a record 75,000 people each day – a jump of almost 15,000 from the previous year. Jay-Z made history as Coachella’s first rap headliner, and he even brought out his wife, Beyoncé, for a performance of “Young Forever.” Muse and Gorillaz also headlined. Despite some travel disruptions caused by an Icelandic volcano – affecting artists like The Cribs and Frightened Rabbit – the festival went on. The event also included a memorable, and ultimately controversial, set from Sly Stone, who ended his performance with a rant about his former manager, leading to a legal dispute. And for the first time ever, Coachella was livestreamed in its entirety.

2011

Kanye West’s 2011 Coachella performance was a memorable finale, featuring a large-scale stage show with many dancers. He shared top billing with The Strokes, and the festival also included performances by Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire, who famously dropped illuminated LED balls into the audience during their set. This was the year before Coachella expanded to two weekends.

Music

Coachella 2011: Festival’s greatest hits (and a bomb)

2012

Coachella expanded to two weekends in 2012, but it was also the first time the festival experienced rain. A major highlight was the incredible Tupac Shakur hologram that joined Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg onstage during their headlining set. Other top performers included The Black Keys, who brought out John Fogerty to honor Levon Helm during the second weekend, as well as Radiohead, Pulp, and Swedish House Mafia. Around 85,000 people attended each weekend of the festival.

2013

The first night of the festival featured co-headliners Blur and The Stone Roses, celebrating the Britpop era. Phoenix and Red Hot Chili Peppers also headlined on separate weekends, though the Peppers had to perform through a significant dust storm during the first weekend. A new indoor venue, the Yuma Tent, offered a club-like atmosphere with air conditioning. Plus, the art group Poetic Kinetics unveiled their large, snail-shaped sculpture, nicknamed the Coachella Snail, at the festival grounds.

Music

Coachella 2013: Ignore the exes and just have fun

2014

I was absolutely blown away by Coachella 2014! Seeing Outkast back together, along with Muse and Arcade Fire, was incredible. But honestly, Pharrell Williams’ set was a real highlight – he brought out so many amazing guests! Beyond the music, the art was stunning. I especially remember being mesmerized by the debut of that giant astronaut sculpture, ‘Escape Velocity,’ and the beautiful, reflective ‘Reflection Fields.’ It was a truly unforgettable experience.

Music

Coachella 2014 was known for its over-the-top displays of wealth – think extravagant parties, gourmet food, and headlining performers – but it still managed to maintain a bit of its original, down-to-earth spirit.

2015

AC/DC, Jack White, and Drake were the main headliners at the festival, with Drake sharing a kiss with Madonna on stage. Florence + The Machine also stood out, despite Florence Welch breaking her foot during the first weekend. This year’s festival was also known for its impressive art installations, including the playful ‘Corporate Headquarters’ hippos and the stunning transformation of the Coachella caterpillar sculpture into a butterfly.

Music

Paris Hilton made her entrance at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio on Friday, naturally using the VIP access.

2016

Guns N’ Roses played together again at the festival, with singer Axl Rose performing while seated on a throne after injuring his foot at a smaller show the week before. The festival’s lineup also featured Ice Cube, including a special reunion of N.W.A, and a performance by Mavis Staples. Headliners included the reunited LCD Soundsystem and Calvin Harris, who surprised the crowd by bringing out Rihanna as a guest.

Entertainment & Arts

The Coachella music festival is continuing for its second weekend, and attendees are remembering Prince.

2017

As a huge music fan, I remember the buzz around Coachella 2017! Beyoncé was actually slated to headline, but she had to pull out because she was pregnant, and Lady Gaga brilliantly stepped in. It was an amazing lineup overall, with Kendrick Lamar – who dropped his album ‘Damn.’ on the very first day! – and Radiohead also headlining. One of the coolest things was Hans Zimmer bringing a full orchestra to perform his iconic movie scores. The festival itself got bigger too, expanding by 20 acres and welcoming an extra 26,000 people, bringing the total capacity to 125,000. They also debuted the Sonora Tent that year, which was a game changer – air-conditioning and a proper rock club atmosphere? Yes, please!

Music

Coachella, with over a hundred acts, stunning visuals, and even a tiki bar, can be a lot to take in, even for dedicated music lovers.

2018

Coachella was already a well-known music festival around the world, but Beyoncé’s performance in 2018 truly made it a defining cultural event of the year. Fans quickly dubbed it “Beychella,” and her incredible show was so memorable it was released as a Netflix special. While Eminem and The Weeknd also headlined, Cardi B’s energetic performance, inspired by TLC, was a major highlight. That year also saw the debut of “Spectra,” the colorful rainbow tower that quickly became a beloved landmark at the festival.

Entertainment & Arts

This year’s Coachella music festival, taking place April 13-15 and 20-22 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, will be headlined by Beyoncé, The Weeknd, and Eminem.

2019

In 2019, Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, and Tame Impala were the headliners at Coachella. However, the festival was also a launching pad for artists like Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, who were quickly becoming major stars. One of the most talked-about moments wasn’t a typical concert – Kanye West held a Sunday Service in the festival campgrounds on Easter Sunday during the second weekend. Celebrating Coachella’s 20th anniversary, artist Poetic Kinetics revived the iconic roving Coachella astronaut with a new installation called “Overview Effect.”

2022

Coachella was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, so fans were thrilled when it returned in 2022. Billie Eilish, from Los Angeles, became one of the festival’s headliners, alongside Harry Styles. Kanye West was originally scheduled to close out the festival on Sunday, but he canceled his performance just two weeks before the event. The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia stepped in to take his place.

Music

After Kanye West canceled his headlining set at Coachella on Sunday, Swedish House Mafia quickly stepped in to finish the festival, performing alongside their collaborator, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd).

2023

Bad Bunny and Blackpink were the main headliners at the 2023 festival, performing both weekends. Frank Ocean’s performance on the first weekend was controversial, and he didn’t perform on the second weekend. Blink-182 unexpectedly reunited and played in the Sahara Tent the first weekend, then moved to the main stage the second weekend to cover for Frank Ocean’s absence. To also fill the headliner spot, the festival added a special set featuring Skrillex, Fred Again.., and Four Tet.

Music

Coachella was an exciting and fulfilling experience, featuring everything from the uplifting vocal blends of boygenius to Bad Bunny’s insightful performance and Blackpink’s confident celebration of their success.

2024

The 2024 festival was headlined by Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator, and Doja Cat, but a major highlight was No Doubt’s reunion, which included a special appearance by Olivia Rodrigo. Sabrina Carpenter, set to headline in 2026, also performed on the main stage. Festival grounds were expanded for 2024, featuring a bigger Sahara Tent and the new Quasar Stage.

Music

Our team covered a lot at Coachella 2024, and some highlights included Paris Hilton playing cornhole during Vampire Weekend’s performance and No Doubt’s exciting reunion.

2025

Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone were the main performers at the festival. Other highlights included Benson Boone’s energetic performance with acrobatics, a concert by the L.A. Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and a surprise visit from Senator Bernie Sanders.

Music

Coachella’s first weekend delivered some unforgettable moments, from Lady Gaga’s theatrical performance to unexpected guests like Brian May of Queen and even Bernie Sanders. Here’s what our team highlighted as the most memorable.

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2026-04-06 13:34