Two weekends, same lineup, but if you’ve ever been to Coachella, you know they’re not the same festival. Weekend 1 is the influencer Olympics, the launchpad for surprise guests and viral fashion moments. Weekend 2? That’s for the real ones—the music heads, the slightly less curated crowd, and the people who actually came to watch the performances instead of filming them. After attending both, here’s the verdict: 

Weekend 1:

Weekend 1 is where history happens. I’d never have seen the infamous Frank Ocean concert if it wasn’t for Weekend 1 – it was so bad it got canceled for Weekend 2. If there’s a surprise guest, a headline-making wardrobe malfunction, or an unexpected setlist switch-up, it’s going down here. In 2024, Lana del Rey set let everyone enchanted, while for Weekend 2, she didn’t seen to care that much anymore, making her go down on my personal list of favorite artists.

Social feeds explode as influencers flex their ‘fits (sponsored or not), and brands turn the desert into a playground for VIP parties. But with all the buzz comes a slight downside—half the crowd is more focused on getting the shot than feeling the set.

And honestly, so what? If you feel insecure about how you’re being perceived in a music festival, this is likely to happen on Weekend 2 as well. If you’re there for the music on Weekend 1, well, go catch your sets, babe, you literally can do both.

Weekend 2: The Deep Cut Experience

By Weekend 2, the festival feels looser, less frantic, more about the music. The surprise acts are out of the bag, the influencers have packed up their cowboy boots, and what’s left is a crowd that came to dance, not just document. Most of my friends, regular festival-goers are attending Weekend 2.

Sets tend to be tighter, artists more relaxed, and the vibes? More organic. If Weekend 1 is the glossy highlight reel, Weekend 2 is the director’s cut—better pacing, deeper appreciation, fewer distractions. However, is not news anymore. The surprise factor isn’t there anymore, the area is dustier – and usually hotter – than it was on Weekend 1.

So, Which One Wins?

It depends on what you’re chasing. Want to be part of the cultural moment, maybe run into a celebrity, and witness the first-time magic of an artist’s big reveal? Weekend 1 is your move. Prefer a more immersive experience, fewer phones in the air, and slightly chiller energy? Weekend 2 is where it’s at. Either way, Coachella remains the ultimate desert pilgrimage, whether you’re there to be seen or just to lose yourself in the music.

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