Oh Coachella festival, how we missed you.
The Desert Sun’s veteran festival team is back in action at the Empire Polo Club this weekend, and our first mission was to scatter the grounds to see what’s new and what hasn’t changed one bit.
Read on to hear our first impression of Coachella 2026.
The new Bunker structure is a sick viewing spot
Another hill has sprung up near the Sahara tent. The massive earthwork constructed to house the Radiohead Kid A Mnesia art installation is definitely the biggest change to the Coachella grounds this year, and it’s shockingly large — it goes two stories underground.
The bunker, as it is being called, will show footage of Radiohead recording Kid A and Amnesia. But the structure has also been covered by grass, making it a great vantage point to view acts in the Sahara tent.
Another hill is located on the far side of the stage, as it has been for the past couple years, but if that hill is full, it’s nice to have another option.
Also in the area is the new Barbie pop-up and headliner merch tents. Shortly after gates opened on Friday, lines had already formed past the doors, so get here soon if you want headliner merch.
— Sam Morgen
Red Bull Mirage is back, and so is Nobu
The Red Bull Mirage is back again this year, a cushy addition for those looking to wine and dine in luxury. The multi-floor facility offers a front row view of the Quasar stage, as well as a curated omakase menu from Nobu (reservations required) and specialty drinks.
Those who are seeking a bit of shade, an often hard-to-find commodity on the festival grounds, can head to the Beer Barn area, which also has plenty of drinks on tap. Nearby, there are plenty of standing tables with umbrellas, as well as dining options.
— Ema Sasic
Fewer art installations, but still a big impact
This year, Coachella’s art emphasizes that fewer installations can create a greater impact. The lineup includes hot air balloon-shaped figures, a totem pole, an inflatable maze designed for comfort, and the return of a performance art installation from the past. Overall, the art at Coachella 2026 slaps.
Kyriakos Chatziparaskevas’ installation, “Starry Eyes,” features geometric dome-like structures that provide shade for festivalgoers. According to the sign nearby, these structures are inspired by the Bob Hope House in Palm Springs, as well as the surrounding desert landscape and sky.
Sabine Marcelis’ piece, “Maze,” consists of curved PVC forms in various heights and colors, creating a warm and radiant environment. There are seating areas located in the middle of each section.
“Visage Brut” by the Los Angeles Design Group is a steel totem pole designed to reflect contemporary construction. It is shaped with modular boxes, giving it a unique and somewhat haunting appearance within the landscape.
The “Coachella Hippos” by Debo Vabo featured at the “Power Station” in 2013 and “Corpoate Headquarters” in 2015, and “H.i.P.O (Hazardus Interstellar Perfessional Operations)” installations are back this year at “Network Operations,” a three-story command center where the festival’s fictional communications grid hums and spirals wonderfully out of control.
— Brian Blueskye
Coachella merch is colorful, creative and not cheap
The organization of the merch tents in recent years has taken a giant leap as they have been separated into “Coachella Merch,” which is all the new swag with the Coachella 2026 designs on them, “Artist Merch” for all the bands that are not the headliners, and then the “Headliners Merch” was is separate and where you can get your favorite gear from Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G.
The Coachella-specific merch this year is colorful, with the word “Coachella” in puffy rainbow colors in most iterations and often accompanied by flowers and desert plant life. There is a wide variety and all of it looks pretty cool (though not many options under $50). It’s a good year for Coachella merch in this reporter’s opinion.
— Shad Powers
You can sip the sunset in an expensive AF souvenir cup
Coachella is pricy. And the lines can be brutal. So why not kill two birds with one stone and get a drink that also doubles as a souvenir?
That seems to be the thinking behind The Coachella Sunset, a boozy concoction available that seems to be available at many of the drink stands. The drink consists of Congo 1530 blanco tequila, agave, Valencia orange, Kumquat, a Medjool date (a Coachella Valley signature for the uninitiated), a chili salt rim and something called “blood orange float.” It comes served in a classy looking Coachella-themed cup decorated with the iconic mountain silhouette that you see on the festival poster.
The price? $27 for a single or $37 for a double. On second thought, maybe this isn’t something for the budget-conscious after all.
— Paul Albani-Burgio
Karol G and Justin Bieber-themed installations debut to mixed reception
One of the most popular photo ops at this year’s festival already appears to be “LATINA FOREVER,” a giant cube-like structure covered with flags of countries from around the world that can be found near the Heineken House. The structure shares its name with headliner Karol G’s Latina pride anthem.
Next door is a giant circular screen that is part of what we eventually learned was an installation for Justin Bieber’s newish streetwear label, SKYLRK. Inside the screens is a seating area with misters, palm trees and some funky looking white things that people were sitting on. They didn’t look the most comfortable but we are sure it’ll make for a popular place to hang nonetheless. Next to it was a unique looking structure offering SKYLRK merchandise for sale.
We initially weren’t sure what to make of it but a quick social media search showed the installation was already generating polarizing reactions on Instagram.
“Obsessed,” said one Instagram user posting on a Complex post about the installation.
“He’s the biggest artist for a reason but the haters won’t admit it,” wrote another.
But others were much less kind.
“Rich ppl got trash taste,” one wrote.
Another: “A wall with Palm trees? Is this supposed to be impressive?”
(This story was updated to add photos.)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2026 first look at the new merch, art installations, Bunker
Reporting by Niki Kottmann, Shad Powers, Ema Sasic, Sam Morgen, Paul Albani-Burgio and Brian Blueskye, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
