Coachella attendees rage at food prices
Festival-goers shared viral examples of what they called excessive food prices — posts cited $30 chicken meals, $28 fries, $23 noodles, and one viral combo priced at $41 for two pizza slices and a Coke. Those price complaints have been widely circulated on social platforms during the event (themirror.com) (mirror.co.uk).
Coachella attendees are turning food receipts into the festival’s loudest side story, with posts showing basic meals priced like sit-down dinners. (digitalmusicnews.com) The examples spreading online are specific: $23 noodles, $28 carne asada fries, $30 chicken sandwiches, $17 lattes, and one order totaling $41 for two pizza slices and a can of Coke. Weekend One ran April 10 to 12 in Indio, California, and the complaints accelerated as videos and screenshots circulated after the first weekend ended. (digitalmusicnews.com) Coachella is in its 25th anniversary year, and the festival’s own site says the event runs April 10 to 12 and April 17 to 19, 2026, with a food program built around “top restaurants from across the country.” The official restaurant page says the grounds include chef-driven concepts, artisanal desserts, and options marked vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. (coachella.com) The pricing complaints land on top of an already expensive trip. Time Out reported that 2026 general admission started at $649 for Weekend One and $549 for Weekend Two, while VIP started at $1,299 and $1,199, with those figures including fees. (timeout.com) Coachella’s food lineup is also unusually broad for a festival. Eater Los Angeles reported that the 2026 event had more than 100 food options, including trucks, pop-ups, and higher-end experiences such as Nobu in VIP areas. (la.eater.com) Some attendees said the portions were solid even if the totals were hard to swallow. Digital Music News cited one TikTok user who said the $23 noodles and $28 fries were “really good” and the serving sizes were “reasonable,” while Reddit commenters split between calling the prices standard for festivals and higher than most. (digitalmusicnews.com) That split tracks with how the festival sells itself. The official Coachella page does not advertise bargain food; it advertises a curated dining program that sits alongside premium ticket tiers, branded experiences, and a vendor roster drawn from Los Angeles, Indio, and national restaurant names. (coachella.com) (usatoday.com) The result is that a music festival known for headline sets is spending the week being measured in fries, noodles, and pizza math. With Weekend Two still ahead on April 17 to 19, more receipts are likely to keep traveling faster than the menus themselves. (coachella.com) (digitalmusicnews.com)
