Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly referred to as simply Coachella, is one of the largest and most famous music festivals in the world. Taking place annually in Indio, California, Coachella draws huge crowds eager to experience top musical acts perform live over two 3-day weekends in April. With its massive scale, popular reputation and A-list performers, Coachella tickets are always in high demand.
Coachella Ticket Prices
Coachella offers several ticket types and packages, ranging widely in price. General admission passes grant basic festival access, while VIP tickets include amenities like exclusive lounges, private bars and up-close viewing areas at the main stages. Additional upgrades and add-ons are also available for purchase.
Here is an overview of standard Coachella ticket options and prices for 2023:
General Admission
– Weekend 1 or Weekend 2 Pass: $429
– Weekend 1 and Weekend 2 Pass Bundle: $899
General admission provides access to all music stages and art installations. These festival passes do not include shuttle transportation, on-site parking or VIP amenities. GA ticket holders must stay in designated campgrounds or find external lodging.
VIP
– VIP Weekend 1 or Weekend 2 Pass: $929
– VIP Weekend 1 and Weekend 2 Pass Bundle: $1,549
VIP tickets grant all general admission access plus shaded VIP-only lounges, expedited venue entry, premium parking, air-conditioned restrooms and all-inclusive drinks and cuisine in the Rose Garden restaurant. Access to the Safari Camping area is also included.
Camping
– Car Camping Pass (required for GA campers): $102
– Preferred Car Camping (closer to venue): $325
– Tent Camping Pass (no car kept at site): $102
– Safari Tent (furnished tent): $9,600
Camping is required for all general admission ticket holders. Car camping passes allow overnight parking at assigned campsites. Preferred spots are closer to festival gates. Tent sites have no parking. Safari tents are high-end furnished tents located in the VIP campground.
Parking
– Preferred Parking Pass: $180
Preferred parking provides closer, faster parking near venue entrances. Available only to guests with VIP tickets or eligible add-ons. Requires a separately purchased car camping pass. General parking is free.
Shuttle
– Weekend Shuttle Pass: $75
Official shuttle passes allow transportation to and from the festival on biodiesel buses from designated boarding locations. Required for any public transit riders.
Other Coachella Passes & Upgrades
In addition to the main tickets above, Coachella offers various add-ons and upgrades such as:
– Lake Eldorado Package – Starting at $3,600, includes 2 VIP tickets, lakeside accommodations, golf cart transportation and access to the Safari Campground
– Outstanding in the Field Dining – $325, multi-course meal in unique outdoor location
– Personal Concierge Service – $700+, assigned attendant provides assistance and delivers food, beverages and merchandise
– Guest Chef Dinners – $225, special outdoor dining events with acclaimed guest chefs
– Private Lockers – $300, store items in secure locker near festival entrance all weekend
– Private Cabanas – Starting at $7,500, shaded relaxation cabins with furnishings located near main stage viewing
– Helicopter Transport – $4,999, roundtrip helicopter transfer between LA area and festival grounds
So in summary, while general admission tickets start around $429, total costs for the full Coachella experience including upgrades can easily exceed $5,000+ per person. The luxury amenities, rare musical acts and party atmosphere continue to draw fans willing to pay top dollar.
Cost Comparison to Other Festivals
How do Coachella tickets price out compared to other major U.S. music festivals? Here is a breakdown:
Festival | General Admission | VIP |
---|---|---|
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival | $429 | $929 |
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (Manchester, TN) | $320 | $1,050 |
Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL) | $350 | $2,200 |
Austin City Limits Music Festival (Austin, TX) | $275 | $1,500 |
Stagecoach Festival (Indio, CA) | $329 | $1,299 |
While Coachella’s tickets are among the higher-priced, they remain comparable or cheaper than some other elite U.S. music festivals. Bonnaroo GA tickets are slightly less at $320, but its VIP is pricier than Coachella’s. High-end VIP packages at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits also exceed the costs of Coachella’s comparable perks.
Factors Impacting Coachella Ticket Prices
Several key factors contribute to Coachella’s premium ticket rates and pricing:
High Production Values
Coachella invests massive resources into visuals, art and technology to create an unforgettable fan experience. Giant scale video screens, interactive art exhibits, complex stage decor and more carry expensive production costs that are incorporated into ticket pricing.
Top Musical Talent
Coachella routinely books the biggest names in pop, rock, hip hop and EDM, from acts like Beyonce to Daft Punk. Paying these elite artists to perform drives up talent booking fees that inflate ticket prices.
Limited Capacity
Coachella attendance is capped at approximately 125,000 guests per day, with on-site camping limited to around 30,000. This exclusive scale allows organizers to command premium pricing compared to larger-capacity festivals.
High Demand
Tickets inevitably sell out quickly every year. Low supply plus high demand lets Coachella charge top dollar, knowing fans will pay more for the limited chance to attend.
VIP Amenities
Extra costs are tied to providing luxury add-ons like premium food/drinks, golf cart transport, personal concierge service and private lounges accessible only to VIP ticket holders. These expenses justify the higher VIP pricing.
Location and Brand Appeal
As a trendy California music festival featuring Palm Springs sunshine and desert vibes, Coachella carries intrinsic brand cachet that allows it to price tickets higher than less famous festival counterparts.
Coachella Payment Plans and Selling Out
General admission Coachella passes routinely sell out within hours, even with tickets priced starting around $430. To ease the financial strain, Coachella introduced payment plan options in recent years.
Payment plans allow fans to pay for tickets in installments, securing their spot early while spreading costs over time. For the April 2023 event, Coachella offered a 10-month payment plan starting at just $9 down.
While VIP tickets last slightly longer, they still frequently sell out too. Demand massively outpaces Coachella’s limited capacity. Sellouts force many fans desiring tickets to turn to risky resale markets where prices are jacked up higher.
According to TickPick, the average 2022 Coachella resale ticket price reached $603 for weekend one and $660 for weekend two. Some single-day resale tickets ran over $1,000.
Tips for Saving on Coachella Tickets
For frugal music fans seeking Coachella access at cheaper rates, certain tips and strategies can help:
– Buy early during presales – This guarantees tickets at face value before sellouts. Sign up for advance sale alerts.
– Consider payment plans – Installment plans secure tickets before sellouts while spreading costs over time.
– Attend just 1 day – Single day passes are naturally cheaper than full weekend tickets.
– Split costs with friends – Sharing accommodation and travel expenses lowers per-person costs.
– Volunteer – Volunteers exchange work for free tickets, although limited spots exist.
– Avoid resale markets – Resale prices typically far exceed face value due to demand. Exercise caution.
– Consider other festivals – Weigh alternatives like Bonnaroo or Austin City Limits with cheaper ticket options.
Future Coachella Ticket Price Predictions
Will Coachella tickets continue rising in price looking ahead to future years? Several indicators suggest costs will likely keep climbing:
– Sustained high demand is forecasted, especially post-pandemic as fans crave live events again. Limited capacity keeps supply restricted.
– Booking fees for top-billed artists continue escalating each year, raising production overhead costs.
– VIP luxury add-ons expand annually. New amenities raise the ceiling for high-spending attendees.
– Location and brand prestige retain exclusive appeal that allows pricing power compared to lesser-known festivals.
Barring an unforeseen cultural shift, Coachella seems destined to continually inch ticket prices upwards, capitalizing on sustained elite music festival cachet. Nevertheless, devotees seem willing to pay increasing premiums to experience Coachella’s magical allure firsthand.
Conclusion
From humble beginnings in 1999, Coachella has ascended to become one of the world’s premier music festivals. With unrivaled productions, A-list musical lineups and luxurious amenities, it offers an iconic California entertainment experience. Top-notch production values, artist bookings, limited capacity and high demand enable Coachella to command ticket prices ranging from $429 for general admission to over $9,000 for VIP packages. While costly compared to some peer U.S. festivals, devoted fans eagerly flock to Coachella yearly, making swift sellouts and booming resale markets a certainty for the foreseeable future.