The Coachella Valley saw several new developments in 2025, from new affordable housing complexes to popular fast-food chains to the Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs — and plenty more is coming in 2026.
Any longtime resident of the valley can attest to its rapid growth in recent years, and it shows no signs of slowing down in 2026. A plethora of new restaurants are slated to open this year, along with residential and commercial developments that have been in the works for years.
From additions to the glitzy Disney-branded community in the works in Rancho Mirage to new neighborhoods in the growing area of north Indio, here are some of the biggest developments coming to the valley in 2026. (However, it’s important to note that development plans often change and timelines can be pushed back depending on various factors.)
Cotino’s town center in Rancho Mirage
Cotino, the large Disney-branded community under development in Rancho Mirage, reached some milestones in 2025, particularly with the opening of the community’s Artisan Club and the Parr House, a large event space in a structure inspired by a midcentury modern-style home in “Incredibles 2.”
While some initial homes have been finished at Cotino, a lot of residential and commercial construction remains in the works. In fall 2026, Cotino officials plan to unveil the community’s town center, which will be open to the public.
The town center, which has been named Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops, will be located on the north end of Cotino Bay, the 24-acre lagoon at the heart of the development.
Its initial tenants will include the first U.S. location of Artigiano, a Vancouver-based coffee company, as well as another location for On the Mark Fine Foods & Provisions, an artisan sandwich shop operating in downtown Palm Springs.
The tenants also include Elevare, a waterfront restaurant that will serve “refined American cuisine,” and Khaga Yoga, a Palm Springs-based yoga studio that will offer a wide range of classes for adults and children in a 2,000-square foot space.
Within the town center, Cotino also has approval for an “artisan village” with nine smaller structures for shopping and food along a central walkway and plaza for pedestrians.
Cotino officials have said they are planning to announce additional tenants at the town center in the coming months. Long-term plans for Cotino also call for a resort hotel and additional retail space.
The shops and restaurants at the town center will be available to the public without any additional fees, while accessing Cotino Bay will require a payment. Details on pricing for access to the bay have yet to be released.
DSRT Surf in Palm Desert
The Coachella Valley’s latest surfing spot is almost ready to make some waves. DSRT Surf, a development featuring a 5.5-acre surf lagoon at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, is expected to open in summer 2026, with an exact date yet to be announced.
The surf resort in Palm Desert is nearing completion after years of planning and a pandemic-related delay. Local officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in May 2024. The development will eventually include a hotel and condos surrounding the wave basin, though that will occur in a second phase.
Specific pricing for the wave park has not yet been determined. But in an email to The Desert Sun, a project official said the wave park will offer two different price points, with a main wave for experienced surfers, while a secondary wave will be available for novice and beginner surfers at a lower price.
The surf lagoon is expected to be able to accommodate up to 70 people at once.
Del Webb Desert Retreat in Indio
Del Webb, a nationwide homebuilder with a focus on retirement communities, and its parent company PulteGroup have a major presence in the valley, developing Sun City Palm Desert, Sun City Shadow Hills and Del Webb Rancho Mirage in recent decades.
Now, the homebuilding company is moving forward with a project for residents 55 and older near the Sun City Shadow Hills golf course community.
Known as Del Webb Desert Retreat, the project was approved by the Indio City Council in 2023. In total, it includes 1,500 new homes to be built in phases over several years. The roughly 378-acre site for the development is located between Madison and Jefferson streets, north of Avenue 40.
The project, which will include a community clubhouse with pickleball and tennis courts at its center, includes 270 homes in its first phase.
Del Webb held a grand opening event for the project in mid-November 2025, unveiling 10 model homes that reflect various plans available to homebuyers.
The first residents of Del Webb Desert Retreat are expected to begin moving into their homes in spring 2026, while a community clubhouse is slated to break ground in February and will take about a year to complete, according to Ally Boyle, a spokesperson for PulteGroup.
Del Webb Explore in Palm Desert
The project is one of two from Del Webb under development in the valley, along with a new one without any age restrictions: Del Webb Explore Palm Desert.
The new development is designed to attract Gen X homebuyers, and the Palm Desert resort community is one of two such communities planned by PulteGroup so far (along with one in Tampa, Florida.)
Del Webb Explore is under construction on 71 acres of land south of Gerald Ford Drive and west of Portola Road. It will have 332 homes once completed, and Boyle said build-out is expected to take two to three years.
Del Webb Explore Palm Desert has already welcomed its first residents, with some initial home sales closing in 2025, Boyle said, while a community clubhouse with pickleball and bocce courts, a fitness center, a pool, a jacuzzi and more is on track to open in fall 2026.
“Del Webb Explore Palm Desert represents something truly special for our community,” Norman Brown, PulteGroup’s Southern California Division President, said in an emailed statement. “We’re bringing the celebrated Del Webb lifestyle to everyone who’s been looking for resort-style living, regardless of age. The response has been overwhelming, and we’re excited to see neighbors come together to enjoy everything this community has to offer.”
Indio Canyon
Another project in the works in north Indio calls for a total of 1,200 homes, south of Avenue 43 near Calhoun Street, to be developed in phases. The homes will be available as rentals, according to a presentation on the project’s website.
Known as Indio Canyon, the project from McRae Gomez and Creation Inc. is planned for 60 acres, with half the land to be developed in an initial phase with 340 homes for rent, including 195 detached homes and 145 townhomes, according to the project’s website. Those would include a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom offerings.
30 acres west of that land is planned for future development, with a separate approval process. Plans for the second phase call for up to 860 homes consisting of a mix of apartments, townhomes, triplexes and fourplexes.
Project officials also say they plan to improve the conditions along Avenue 43 and Calhoun Street by adding bike lanes, widening Calhoun Street and installing new landscaping.
Tom Coulter is a reporter for The Desert Sun. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Five major developments coming to the Coachella Valley in 2026
Reporting by Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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