Coachella is back, and the desert is hotter than ever. From celebrity-studded pre-parties to iconic on-stage moments, the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is giving main character energy—and we’ve got the tea. But before the festival gates flung open, Palm Springs was already buzzing with high-profile pre-Coachella parties that could honestly be festivals in their own right.
Every year, the pre-Coachella parties in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley draw the biggest names from fashion, music, and entertainment and has evolved into an event in itself. Each party typically features sets from up-and-coming DJs, well-established artists, and sometimes even surprise performances from A-list musicians.
These exclusive pre-events have become the place to be seen—where fashion icons, music legends, influencers, and industry insiders mix and mingle before the main weekend chaos begins. Think open-air DJ sets, surprise performances, and enough content to blow up your feed for weeks.
First up: the Revolve Festival. This invite-only rager has solidified its status as the celeb magnet of Coachella week. With past appearances from Hailey Bieber, Megan Fox, and T-Pain, this year did not disappoint. Ludacris and Sean Paul turned up the heat with high-energy sets, while the fashion crowd snapped endless pics in curated installations and pop-up boutiques. Basically, if you didn’t ‘gram it, were you even there?
Next, The Do-Over at Ace Hotel Palm Springs was pure desert cool. It’s laid-back, it’s low-key, but still full of VIP energy. Think daytime dance floor, icy cocktails, and the kind of spontaneous celeb drop-ins that make your jaw drop. You’re two steps away from a TikTok with your favorite rapper.
Paper Magazine’s Playground? Straight-up editorial magic. Imagine a creative collision of fashion, art, and music under the desert sky. Designers, indie musicians, and digital creators all vibing before heading to the main event. It’s less about flexing and more about connecting before hitting the main festival.
At Celsius Cosmic Desert, the vibes were nothing short of cosmic. Tucked into a sleek private estate, this party had performance energy drink-fueled beats and hypnotic light shows. Add in futuristic fashion and you’ve got a scene out of a sci-fi runway show.
Meanwhile, Friday Fuel was giving pre-festival zen-meets-club hybrid. Guests soaked up sunsets, sipped curated cocktails, and networked with some of the coolest creatives in the game. It’s the kind of event where you walk in solo and leave with five new besties.
Sonic Desert, hosted by Coca-Cola Spiced and Topo Chico, was the surrealist’s dream. From interactive art to immersive music experiences, it felt like stepping into a festival inside the festival. Picture a digital mirage with real-world beats.
Pre-Coachella isn’t just party central—it’s a networking playground. The best way to score invites? Be visible. Whether you’re repping a brand, styling a celeb, or just showing up to the right pool party, connections are currency in this world. At the heart of it all, these pre-Coachella parties reflect the cultural melting pot that is Coachella. They bring together fashion, music, and creativity, creating an environment where the coolest people in the industry gather. A lot of the invites come through industry insiders, stylists, and PR teams. Staying connected on social media and showing up at smaller events is the key to having the ultimate Coachella.
Now let’s talk weekend one. Day one came in swinging. From the moment Lady Gaga descended onto the Empire Polo Club stage in a baroque red gown, the crowd knew we were in for something wild. Opening with ‘Bloody Mary’, she declared the desert hers—and we all bowed. Her approximately 2 hours show set was a maximalist masterpiece, dripping with hit singles like ‘Poker Face’, ‘Alejandro’, and ‘Bad Romance.’ She told the crowd, “I came back to remind you, weird is wonderful,” and honestly? Mission accomplished.
Missy Elliott closed out the night with full throttle energy. Her dancers? Giving Olympic-level choreography. At 53, Missy didn’t just perform—she dominated. Tracks like ‘Work It’ and ‘Get Ur Freak On’ had the crowd moving like it was 2005 all over again.
South African sweetheart Tyla made her Coachella debut and brought the afrocenteric Amapiano vibes. She was a vision in viral metallic Nike Total 90s, performing Grammy single ‘Water’ and the record-smashing ‘On My Body’ alongside Becky G. The crowd went wild for every beat drop.
BlackPink’s Lisa took over the Sahara Tent and turned it into a K-pop stadium. Her set? Flawless. From ‘Money’ to unreleased tracks, her performance was precise, powerful, and absolutely fierce.
One word: legacy. The Prodigy returned to the Mojave Tent for the first time since Keith Flint’s passing, and boy, did they bring the thunder? The bass shook the ground. The crowd screamed every lyric. You could feel Flint’s presence in every beat, every snarl,ever scream from the crowd.
Today is day two, the desert heat only intensified—but so did the lineup. Extended sets from Barry Can’t Swim, 2ManyDJs, and Salute would keep the energy going strong on April 12. And with Tiesto slated for tomorrow? We’re not even halfway done.
Weekend one is just the appetizer. Coming up: Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennie, Zedd, Beth Gibbons, and Darkside—all locked in for sets that are already buzzing online.
Coachella is also going big on the experience side this year. New camping upgrades like Sunset Van Camp let festival-goers live that cozy desert van life without skimping on luxury. Think sunset views, shared moments, and the kind of bonding you only get from sleeping under the stars.
Not into dust and dehydration? No worries. Coachella’s new livestreaming app is everything. Available on iPhone and Android, it gives fans access to full sets, lineup info, and time zone syncing—so you can rage from your couch and still catch every beat.
One weekend down, one to go. And if weekend one was this explosive? You better believe the main course of Coachella 2025 is about to be legendary. Whether you were sweating it out on the polo fields or vibing from your living room, this year’s festival is giving unforgettable energy. Buckle up—the desert dream is only getting started.
