Coachella, an annual music and arts festival in California, has been a world-renowned event since 1999 due to its diverse performers and significant influence on fashion and culture. Coachella content floods social media, coming from people’s favorite celebrities and influencers. TikTok and Instagram feature thousands of vlogs, “get ready with me” videos, and interviews, essentially giving viewers the full experience.
However, as social media has progressed, Coachella has become less of a music festival and more of a brand deal. The majority of celebrities are paid by brands to stay in their houses, display their clothing, and overall represent their brand. Because of all the content posted by the creators, viewers feel like they can truly live the Coachella experience through their screens. Though what many don’t realize is that the media only covers the “luxurious” side of Coachella.
In 2026, TikTokers with a smaller fan base have been speaking out about the “average person Coachella experience.” With houses and hotels being extremely unaffordable at this time, most concertgoers choose to camp out. On a recent video by TikToker @RachelTate, commenter @crazyfunkyjunkyhat received thousands of likes for their comment, “So glad to see a realistic Coachella TikTok.” B-CC junior Haley Jenkins wishes there were more representation for the average person’s experience at Coachella. “I see a lot of stuff about celebrities and influencers getting brand sponsorships and brand deals, but I think the whole car camping would be really fun,” Jenkins claimed.
Camping out at Coachella gives the whole festival a more authentic feel and allows concertgoers to focus on the music rather than social media.
Despite the benefits of camping out, it comes with some challenges, the most talked about being the shower situation. “The only downside of camping out is the showers,” says Jenkins. With the concert being in the desert, it’s impossible not to get dirty, and the constant dancing and sweating make a daily shower almost necessary. Coachella has gone viral this year for having extraordinarily long lines to the showers. Tiktoker @Danny posted an informational video about Coachella, claiming, “You all have to wait hours in line to shower every day.” Because of the lines, attendees are forced to shower before sunrise, despite the concert ending extremely late, in order to get a turn before the next performance starts.
Overall, Coachella is loved by many and has become more and more popular each year. The two sides of Coachella are completely different worlds, both with pros and cons. The influencer side offers luxury and comfort, while the average person offers authenticity and freedom. With viewers being exposed to almost solely influencer content and advertisements, many get the wrong idea of what Coachella is truly about. In the end, the music festival truly gives a different experience to everyone.
