Every spring, thousands of celebrities, influencers, and fans flock to the California desert for Coachella, seeking music, fun, and unforgettable memories. The festival is renowned for its spectacular performances and vibrant atmosphere, but it’s also infamous for outrageous outfits, intense social media buzz, and a sense that anything can happen. However, Coachella has faced increasing criticism, with many questioning whether it has shifted from an accessible escape to an exclusive luxury event for the wealthy.
When Coachella started in 1999, it was far simpler than it is today. The festival aimed to provide music fans with an affordable place to gather, with tickets costing around $50 a day. Coachella initially struggled and nearly failed in its first year, but it ultimately evolved into one of the world’s largest and most renowned music festivals.
The Price Shift
As Coachella’s popularity surges, its prices have started to rise, not just a little bit but a whole lot. For example, general admission tickets that once cost about $50 now start around $550 for the weekend. VIP passes can go for over $1,000. Accommodation nearby can range from $500 a night for a basic motel to thousands for luxury options. Plus, you have to factor in costs for food, which can be $20 or more for a meal, travel, and other expenses. Once everything adds up, the total cost can easily be in the thousands of dollars. For many, this has completely changed who can attend, and something that used to feel somewhat accessible now feels out of touch to a lot of fans.
The rise of influencer culture
One of the most noticeable differences people observe today is the complete takeover of the festival by influencer culture. Instead of being mostly about music, Coachella has turned into a place where people go to be seen, showing off their cute outfits. Some even call it “the influencer Olympics” because brands are sending out influencers to promote their brands to fly out, or to get more content in and post blogs, boosting their revenue. With social media playing a huge role in the culture today, many attendees focus more on taking pictures and posting content rather than actually watching performances. With this shift going on, it has made some people feel like the festival has lost a part of its original purpose.
The “rich vs poor side.”
The stark divide between ‘rich’ and ‘regular’ experiences at Coachella illustrates the festival’s changing nature. While influencers and celebrities enjoy luxury perks and brand sponsorships creating an idealized vision online most attendees face high costs, less comfort, and limited access, reinforcing the festival’s exclusivity.
Meanwhile , the regular attendees are often dealing with a different reality. They’re paying full price for tickets, standing in long lines for food and bathrooms, and trying to survive the intense desert heat. Even something as basic as a meal can feel overpriced, adding to the frustration. For them, the experience can still be fun, but also comes with stress, exhaustion, and the feeling that they’re not getting the same value as others.
Allison Fleischman a student a Colonia Highschool states ” there’s 100% a big difference if your an influencer or celebrity vs a regular person. Most influencers are being brought out, have special perks, and most of their trip is paided for cutting cost however, if your a regular person that cost can really be a big toll on you, especially your making minimum wage.”
Iconic performances.
That doesn’t mean that Coachella hasn’t been good over the years. There have be some iconic performances people still talk about to this day, such as Beyonce’s homecoming set, fact punk’s 2006 pyramid show, Dr.Dre’s and Snoop Dogg’s set back in 2012 of Tupac’s hologram, and most recently, Coachella 2026 Coachella Swae lee and Justin Bieber bring back 2016 vibes and showcasing their growth in the industry over years. Not to mention, the festival also helps bring attention to new artists and creates unforgettable experiences for fans.
Kelly Hastrup a Student at Colonia Highschool “I think the performances were pretty good this year. I know there was a lot of controversy around Justin Bieber’s performance but he sold his rights to those song so I undertand why he performed it like that. His fans didn’t have a problem with it so I don’t see the issue.”
Is it worth it?
So was Coachella this year actually worth it? The answer really depends on the person. Some have the money to enjoy the full experience without worrying about the cost and may say yes. Others, who are stretching their budget just to attend, can feel that it’s too much for what they get in return.
Looking ahead, Coachella’s high demand means prices are unlikely to fall, continuing the trend toward exclusivity. As the festival becomes more celebrated and expensive, the divide between those with access and those without grows, challenging its original vision as an open, music-focused event.
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