## Overview The **Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival**—commonly known as Coachella—is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It is one of the most influential and widely recognized festivals globally, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees over two consecutive weekends each April[3][4]. Organized by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, Coachella is renowned for its eclectic lineup spanning rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, and more, as well as its immersive art installations and cultural cachet among celebrities and influencers[3][4]. ## History and Origins Coachella’s roots trace back to 1993, when Pearl Jam performed at the Empire Polo Club as part of a boycott against Ticketmaster, proving the venue’s potential for large-scale events[1][5][7]. The seeds for the festival were planted by Goldenvoice’s Paul Tollett, who envisioned a destination experience far from city centers, encouraging attendees to fully immerse themselves in the event[1]. The first official Coachella took place in October 1999, headlined by acts like Beck, Rage Against the Machine, and Tool, but faced financial losses—partly due to the negative fallout from Woodstock ’99—and skipped 2000[3][5][6]. It returned in April 2001 as a one-day event, gradually expanding to two and then three days, and finally to two weekends starting in 2012 to meet soaring demand[3][4]. ## Key Achievements Coachella has consistently pushed boundaries in festival production, curating lineups that blend established superstars with emerging artists—a rarity for repeat headliners[3]. The festival has hosted iconic reunions (e.g., Guns N’ Roses, Outkast) and groundbreaking performances (Beyoncé’s 2018 headline set became a cultural milestone)[3]. Its