Coachella Arrests Reported

Indio police said 203 people were arrested across Coachella’s two weekends this month, with drug possession accounting for the biggest share. (ktla.com) Police reported 97 arrests during Weekend 1 and 106 during Weekend 2 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Weekend 2 included 52 drug-possession arrests, 13 fake-identification arrests and eight intoxication arrests, while 33 others were booked on allegations that included driving under the influence, domestic violence, trespassing and battery. (kesq.com) Weekend 1 brought 59 drug-possession arrests, 14 fake-identification arrests, three intoxication arrests, one property-crime arrest and 20 arrests in other categories, according to the Indio Police Department. Police also issued 32 citations for unlawful use of a disabled placard in the first weekend and 85 more in the second. (cbsnews.com; kesq.com) The arrest total was lower than the 223 reported during Coachella 2025 but higher than the 193 reported in 2024, according to KTLA’s summary of Indio police data. Sgt. Abe Plata told the Orange County Register, as quoted by KTLA, that the festival drew more than 100,000 people in one place and that “the vast majority” caused no trouble. (ktla.com) The numbers landed as Coachella’s cost became part of the festival conversation. General admission passes retailed at $649 for Weekend 1 and $549 for Weekend 2, shuttle passes ran $130 to $180, camping cost $150 to $400 or more, and the Los Angeles Times reported average Indio Airbnb rates around $1,200 a night during Weekend 2. (yahoo.com) The Los Angeles Times also reported that more than 60% of general-admission ticketholders used payment plans, even as the festival sold out and resale prices for some Weekend 1 passes climbed to between $4,000 and $5,000 on StubHub in the days before the event. (yahoo.com) Coachella and Stagecoach remain major business for the region. Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that the two festivals support more than 10,000 temporary jobs in the Coachella Valley each year and bring about $700 million into California’s economy. (cbsnews.com) The valley now turns to Stagecoach, which opens April 24 and runs through April 26 at the same Indio venue. KTLA reported that police made 151 arrests at Stagecoach in 2025, after a 20% year-over-year increase. (ktla.com; usatoday.com)