Big Names and Huge Crowds

Coachella’s first weekend turned into a rolling parade of unannounced cameos, with major guest spots stacked on top of crowds expected to reach 125,000 a day. (desertsun.com) (hollywoodreporter.com) The festival’s 2026 first weekend is running April 10-12 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, with a second weekend scheduled for April 17-19. Coachella’s official site is also streaming seven stages live on YouTube. (coachella.com 1) (coachella.com 2) The Desert Sun’s running list of surprise guests from opening day included David Lee Roth, Joe Jonas, Vanessa Carlton and Snoop Dogg, and Forbes’ weekend roundup added Lizzo and EJAE to the same first-weekend wave of cameos. Those appearances stretched across multiple sets instead of one marquee stunt. (desertsun.com) (forbes.com) Teddy Swims supplied one of Friday’s busiest guest runs. The Desert Sun reported that Joe Jonas joined him for “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” Vanessa Carlton came out for “A Thousand Miles,” and David Lee Roth appeared for “Jump.” (desertsun.com) EJAE’s appearance pointed to another Coachella pattern: guest spots now mix pop stars, legacy acts and internet-native fandoms in the same lineup. Forbes reported that KATSEYE brought out EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami during “Golden,” turning the performance into an eight-person stage moment. (forbes.com) The scale of the event helps explain why these cameos carry so much weight. The Hollywood Reporter said more than 100 acts are scheduled across eight stages, with Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G topping the 2026 bill. (hollywoodreporter.com 1) (hollywoodreporter.com 2) That turnout also spilled into the festival economy before the gates opened. The Hollywood Reporter said creators posted claims that Airbnb reservations were canceled at the last minute, while Airbnb told the outlet it had not seen “any notable uptick” in cancellations over either festival weekend. (hollywoodreporter.com) Weekend one still has one more day to go, and Coachella’s second weekend starts April 17. If the first two days are any guide, the biggest names in Indio may keep showing up unannounced. (coachella.com) (desertsun.com)