There is a very specific kind of crazy that only happens at the Empire Polo Club in the middle of April. It is basically a mix of overpriced spicy pie and the realization that Coachella 2026 has finally stopped trying to be a real music festival. Now it is just a high budget variety show for TikTok. Comparing this year to the old lineups my parents talk about feels like comparing a vintage record to a Spotify playlist. Both are fine, but only one actually has a soul.
The fashion this year was actually kind of a win because people finally stopped wearing those annoying flower crowns. Everyone shifted toward a modern boho look with lots of sheer layers and mesh. It was a good move because it was 105 degrees and nobody wanted to pass out. But the people trying to bring back the shoegaze look were a total mess. Watching influencers wear heavy jackets to look like they are from 1990s London while standing in the dirt was honestly embarrassing.
The music was mostly just polished pop and some global stuff instead of the rock music from the past. Sabrina Carpenter basically turned the main stage into a giant movie set, and it was totally made for Instagram Reels. Karol G was easily the best part of Sunday night, and she proved that reggaeton is what people actually want to hear now. Justin Bieber tried this weird thing where fans voted on his songs in real time, and it just felt like a gimmick. It made me miss bands like The Strokes, who just got up there and played their hits without needing a phone app to tell them what to do.
The overall vibe was super corporate, but people still seemed to have a good time. Coachella is not really about discovering new music anymore. It is more about proving that the things we like on our screens are actually real life. As the fireworks went off on the last night and everyone held up their phones, it was obvious that the festival had changed a lot. It might not be as cool as it used to be, but it is still a huge spectacle that you can’t help but watch.
