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The greatest Coachella shows of all time, from Beyoncé to Daft Punk
As the Californian music festival is about to kick off on April 10th, 2026, and make crowds dance until April 19th, 2026, Numéro looks back at the seven of the most iconic Coachella shows, from Prince to Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey and Daft Punk…
Photo: Beyoncé at Coachella in 2018 by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images/Coachella.
By Chloé Bergeret,
and Ambra Flora.
Published on 12 April 2025. Updated on 9 April 2026.
Sabrina Carpenter performing Espresso at Coachella in 2024
On April 12th, 2024, Sabrina Carpenter performed what would eventually become a hit song, Espresso, during her Coachella show delivered in the middle of the afternoon under a blazing sun. Against an American motel backdrop, she delivered an hour-long performance with tracks like Fast Times, Opposite and Nonsense.
Her shimmering Roberto Cavalli outfits and the highly pop-infused staging helped make the concert a standout moment, at a time when she was still opening for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour.
Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish at Coachella in 2024
That same year, the Californian festival saw headliner Lana Del Rey make a striking entrance on a motorbike for a performance with sophisticated staging. She revisited her discography, notably with Without You from the album Born to Die (2012), which hadn’t been in her set lists for a decade, and multiplied visual effects, from pole dancing to a hologram appearance.
She then invited Billie Eilish to join her on stage to perform Ocean Eyes and Video Games, before leaving the stage as she had arrived — dressed as a bride on a motorbike, followed by a group of bikers. An image that has since become memorable.
Beyoncé delivers a committed show at Coachella in 2018
As the first Black woman to headline the festival, Beyoncé left an indelible mark on Coachella. Originally slated for the 2017 edition, the superstar and partner to rapper Jay-Z lit up the stage on April 14th and 21st, 2018, with two hours of timeless hits and electrifying dance moves. In the heart of the Californian desert, the Crazy in Love singer delivered an XXL performance in front of over 100,000 festivalgoers, surrounded by predominantly Black musicians and dancers.
Dubbed “Beychella,” the unprecedented show featured a powerful set list and surprise guests like Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child. Iconic and deeply committed to various causes — most notably the Black Lives Matter movement — the performance is immortalized in the Netflix documentary Homecoming, directed and produced by Beyoncé. The film retraces the meticulous preparation of the show with her dancers and musicians, alongside excerpts from the performance itself.
The Weeknd in tears on the Coachella stage in 2018
Shortly after his breakup with pop star Selena Gomez, the Canadian artist gave a heart-wrenching performance at Coachella 2018. For over an hour and a half, in front of 100,000 fans singing along to Can’t Feel My Face and Starboy, The Weeknd performed with great intensity. Tears streamed down his face during Call Out My Name, as the singer remembers his past relationship with the Mexican pop star. The monumental staging, including a giant cracked face and hand, visually mirrored his emotional state.
Stromae and Kanye West as the unexpected Coachella duo in 2015
It was in April 2015, shortly before his long hiatus due to burnout. As Belgian singer-songwriter and producer Stromae was performing his hits on the stage of the Californian festival, the crowd suddenly began to roar. While the infectious rhythm of the hit Alors on danse rang out, it was in fact American rapper Kanye West, who had remixed the track five years earlier, who unexpectedly joined the artist on stage for a most explosive duet. A wonderful and memorable gift for fans of the two artists.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg: the legendary 2012 Coachella set that had it all
In 2012, the hip-hop dream team graced the Coachella stage. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, and even a hologram of the late rapper Tupac, electrified the music festival. This jaw-dropping performance is one that fans and regular festivalgoers will never forget. Tracks like The Next Episode, In Da Club, and I Need A Doctor still echo in the ears of those lucky enough to attend.
The Cure, unshakable on stage at Coachella in 2009
In 2009, gothic rock legends The Cure pushed their limits at Coachella. Known for marathon sets, the band played for over three hours, well past the festival’s curfew. During the 1980s classic Boys Don’t Cry, half an hour after they were supposed to stop, front man Robert Smith shouted: “They said we can play one more song… Yeah, right!” They continued performing even without a working microphone, prompting fans to sing along loudly. Formed in 1978, the iconic band proved their fire and energy remain intact.
Prince delivers a legendary performance at Coachella in 2008
Back in 2008, rumours of Prince’s appearance at Coachella had been circulating for years, yet to the great disappointment of the pop singer’s fans, the news had never been officially confirmed. But a few weeks before the festival, Coachella’s organisers announced that he would indeed headline the event. On April 26th, 2008, Prince took to the stage and dazzled the audience with his most iconic songs, such as 1999, Little Red Corvette, Purple Rain and Let’s Go Crazy, along with a surprising number of covers.
One moment particularly stood out — his rendition of Radiohead’s Creep. For eight emotional minutes, the American icon deeply moved the crowd. Sheila E. later joined him on stage, adding to the unforgettable atmosphere of this truly legendary set.
Daft Punk: The most spectacular Coachella show in 2006
On April 29, 2006, Daft Punk gave the audience what is considered one of the most incredible performances of the year, if not in Coachella’s entire history. The globally famous robot-like duo took the stage from the top of a majestic LED-covered pyramid. Still available on YouTube, that show was nothing short of legendary. For 35,000 attendees, the French electronic duo mixed tracks from their first three albums in a breathtaking set.
As the beats of One More Time and Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger filled the air, ecstatic and frenzied fans whipped out their (then-basic) phone cameras to capture the surreal moment. Few can claim to have seen Daft Punk live. Even fewer have witnessed such a mind-blowing concert.
