coachella's most legendary sets

Coachella has always been at its best when artists meet the moment at full force, right in their prime. These are 13 performances that shaped Coachella over the years:

Daft Punk

This was a turning point for electronic music. They stepped into a glowing pyramid at Coachella in 2006, and delivered one of the most iconic live sets of all time, this is a moment that would change festival culture and EDM forever.

Beyoncé

The first Black woman to ever headline Coachella. She turned it into a full HBCU homecoming celebration, and redefined what a festival headliner could look like. She blended history, culture, and precision into one of the most studied performances ever.

Prince

Was a last minute addition as a headliner in 2008, but had one of the most memorable sets. A 24 song setlist with classics like “Little Red Corvette” and “Purple Rain,” while also surprising the crowd with covers like The Beatles’ “Come Together” and an insane eight minute cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

Lady Gaga

One of the standout performances of last year and a core memory for me. Being at barricade and seeing the MAYHEM setlist performed live for the first time was unreal. She delivered at every level. A full pop spectacle from start to finish, no notes.

The Cure

Closed out the festival with a nearly 3hr set that was completely immersive. They leaned into their catalog and created a performance that felt timeless, and ended with 3 encore performances.

Madonna

Was also added last minute, but not as a headliner. She performed in the sahara tent, and debuted a condensed 30-minute set centered around ‘Confessions On A Dance Floor.’ She leaned fully into her disco inspired sound and showed she was still pushing her sound forward in real time