So what do we think of the lineup for Coachella 2026?
Coachella 2026 is still seven-and-a-half months off, but promoters are hoping to get a jump on ticket sales after a couple of years of underperformance. At first glance, a rock fan might go, “Ew, not again.” But if you look at the smaller font acts, things are a little bit better.
Leaving out the headliners, we see Turnstile, Devo, Foster the People, Lykke Li, The Strokes, David Byrne, Interpol, The xx, Royel Otis, Wet Leg, Iggy Pop, Lambrini Girls, The Rapture, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag (both on a rap-heavy day), and a few othesr, including “The Bunker Debut of Radio Kid A Mnesia,” whatever that is. There’s also someone billed as “Nine Inch Noize,” which is a collaboration between Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize, the opener on this summer’s NIN tour.
Remember, too, that festivals such as Coachella are booked using the principles of “green bananas.” Lesser-known new acts are signed up with the hope that they’ll mature into something bigger by the time the event rolls around. There are plenty of green bananas here. It’s always a calculated risk on the part of the promoters.
However, you still have to wonder about these all-you-can-eat/something-for-everyone style of festivals. Are people willing to spend a weekend in the desert at an event where half the music isn’t their jam? I guess we’ll see.
The dates are April 10-12 and April 17-19, 2026. Tickets go on sale Friday.
