Coachella, an annual music festival held in Indio, California, is notorious for its headlining performances and influence on the music industry. The festival honors diversity in music, showcasing an array of performances from both popular and rising artists. Every April, Coachella amazes fans and proves itself as one of the best music events of the year.
Coachella 2025 was no exception. Artists of nearly every genre gave a variety of performances despite the blistering 101 degree weather. From rock to pop to rap, nearly every genre was celebrated under the sweltering sun. Buzzing crowds gathered for established artists and rising stars alike.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga’s show reinforced her reputation as a remarkable performer. She wowed the audience with theatrical performances, dramatic outfits, and larger than life stage presence. The bold performance included a setlist of twenty songs, featuring nostalgic hits like “Poker Face” and “Judas.” The dramatic two hour spectacle left both crowds and critics awestruck, redeeming her 2017 Coachella gig, which many fans considered underwhelming.
Megan Thee Stallion
“Savage” rapper Megan Thee Stallion performed hit after hit song with infectious energy and smooth choreography. Her three surprise guests, Queen Latifah, Victoria Monet and Ciara, made the roaring crowd even more wild. Unfortunately, the flow of her show was disrupted due to technical difficulties, cutting the performance short. Megan handled the hiccup with grace, and her show was a favorite among fans despite challenges.
Charli xcx (Billie Eilish, Lorde)
British singer Charli xcx channeled party girl energy, striding the stage with a red solo cup in hand. The crowd adorned her signature neon brat green. She brought out Billie Eilish for “Guess,” Troye Sivan for a remix of “Talk Talk,” and Lorde for “Girl, So Confusing.” In a cheeky yet bold move, she wore a sash that read “Miss Should Be Headliner,” after being second billed on the festival’s Saturday line-ups. Her concert embodied the vibe of her neon album, Brat–free spirited, high energy and unapologetic.
Benson Boone and Brian May
Benson Boone showed his versatility by performing alongside Queen guitarist Brian May. The talented duo performed “Bohemian Rhapsody,” honoring Queen’s legacy. Their performance blended different music genres, uniting modern pop and classic rock.
Post Malone
Post Malone gave a headlining performance on his first night of Coachella, but he had some help closing the night on weekend two. Jelly Roll was brought out to duet “Losers,” and Ed Sheeran took the place of Swae Lee in a country-fied version of “Sunflower,” one of Malone’s biggest hits. By adding new twists to iconic tracks, Malone delivered two memorable performances and kept the crowd buzzing.
Tyla
Rising star Tyla mesmerized the crowd with pop singer Becky G, but her controversial outfit made more headlines than her performance. While her Y2K inspired green top and denim shorts resembled Britney Spears iconic 2001 VMAs attire, the artist claimed that likeness was not intentional. Despite critics noticing the similarities, Tyla’s singing and debut of her new song “Bliss,” was praised for vocal quality.
Yo Gabba Gabba
Last but certainly not least, Yo Gabba Gabba made a colorful appearance at Coachella this year. The creators of the show were inspired to collaborate with Coachella after fans responded positively to the character mascots roaming around the festival the previous year. The set was energetic and vibrant, featuring iconic mascots from the show and celebrity guests like Thundercat.
From rock to pop to country, every set was unique in its own way and kept the audience buzzing. In spite of the unforgiving weather and occasional technical difficulties, both emerging and seasoned artists gave memorable performances. Once again, Coachella showed the world why it’s one of the most iconic festivals of the year.
