Every year, as spring approaches, all anyone can think about or talk about is festival season, which obviously means Stagecoach or Coachella. From the moment the lineups are announced to the first Friday of each festival weekend, people are hooked and invested. But the question is, is it really worth it? This year, the Coachella lineup dropped, and everyone went wild at the headline that read “Justin Bieber,” “Karol G” and “Sabrina Carpenter.” However, were these incredibly anticipated performances worthwhile? As someone who attended both Coachella and Stagecoach, I can attest to the craziness that was each crowd, which piled, pushed, and screamed for this year’s headliners, myself included. I was surprised by how different Coachella was from Stagecoach. My classmates who also attended Coachella this year said, “In the years prior, I’m not sure what I would say, but Justin Bieber made it worth it for me” (Miller D. 27’). I would agree with Miller, and I think the majority of people who decided to attend Coachella this year would agree as well. Justin Bieber reminds people not only of the prime Coachella years but also of the prime of pop music. This is why I believe it was worth seeing a performer who not only doesn’t perform often but is also timeless and iconic. Sabrina Carpenter, who is becoming a fixture in pop music, was a great addition to this lineup and balanced the throwback artists who are still beloved, like Justin Bieber, with newer artists who thousands are also ecstatic to see.

Stagecoach is a completely different event, even when the venue is the same. The demographic, along with the music and atmosphere, is completely different, and I personally prefer it. Georgie H., who attended both festivals with me this year, says, “I found Stagecoach a lot more enjoyable and fun” (Georgie H. 27’). I completely agree with this statement. There is no question that the lineup was worth it because the atmosphere and people make the experience much more enjoyable. Stagecoach had headliners Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Post Malone, who were all amazing, but I personally enjoyed seeing artists like Ella Langley, Ty Myers, and Journey. I will also mention that Stagecoach and Coachella are both incredibly expensive, but you get way more bang for your buck with Stagecoach than with Coachella. While I was lucky enough to have VIP passes for both events, I was unable to even see some of the performers at Coachella because of the crowds, whereas the Stagecoach stages were way more accessible and breathable, for that matter.

But the question still remains: are the lineups worth it? I think that if you put into perspective how much A-list performers charge for decent seats at their concerts, and consider whether they have concerts or shows at all, it’s worth seeing them and having the festival experience, especially this year. I was happy to say I got to see some of my favorite performers and have an incredible experience at the festival with friends and even my family, who came to Stagecoach as well. It’s a special thing to be able to see an unlimited number of artists every day for a full weekend and have a completely personalized experience. Just because the headliners attract most of the crowd, I know I enjoyed seeing some of the lesser-known artists and visiting the less crowded tents. Each year, but especially this year, I left both weekends a new fan of someone I hadn’t heard of beforehand. So either way, I think that both festivals this year were worth it, and if I had the choice to do the 2026 Festival Season over again, I would in a heartbeat!