The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is the most famous music festival in the world, and for those of us who live in the South Bay, it’s a 2.5-hour drive on the 10 freeway. That proximity is one of the quiet perks of living in Southern California — a global event that most people fly to is essentially a weekend road trip from Manhattan Beach.
The 2026 headliners are Sabrina Carpenter (Fridays), Justin Bieber (Saturdays), and Karol G — the first Latina headliner in Coachella history (Sundays). The full lineup spans 750+ artists across multiple stages over the weekend. Note: weekend passes sold out within days of the lineup announcement. Resale tickets are available at a significant premium; a waitlist is also active at coachella.com.
If you’re going: the drive is straightforward but the I-10 on Friday afternoon is its own event — build in extra time or leave early morning. Carpooling from the South Bay is common and makes the drive more fun. The desert heat in April is real — prepare accordingly.
If you’re staying home: Coachella weekend means the city and beaches quiet down noticeably. Both weekends are excellent times to enjoy the South Bay with fewer crowds.
More info: coachella.com