Is the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival getting rid of wristband passes in 2027? Some social media users seem to believe so.
Wristbands are people’s tickets into the annual music festival held in Indio, and they’ve become fun collectables for repeat attendees to keep. But some Reddit users have speculated that Goldenvoice, the official operator, could be moving toward a digital entry system. It wouldn’t be unusual as other festivals utilize apps and digital tickets.
Here’s what we could find on Coachella’s website.
No more Coachella wristbands?
A Reddit thread titled “No more wristbands?” initially sparked the debate over the fate of physical wristbands.
On Monday, April 20, a user posted a screenshot of the Hotel Packages FAQ section discussing how attendees would receive their festival wristband and shuttle pass. It stated that festival credentials would be digital, physical wristbands would not be utilized for next year’s event and attendees would utilize the ticketing platform AXS to access their credentials.
However, a Desert Sun reporter viewed that same FAQ section on Wednesday, April 22, and that language was not found. Instead, the FAQ stated that festival credentials and shuttle passes would be shipped to the address provided during the purchase process.
In other sections of the Coachella website, it doesn’t appear that the festival is getting rid of physical wristbands. FAQs reference “wristband” multiple times in its 2027 Advance Sale Info page, and it also provides information on wristband shipping.
Other Goldenvoice festivals use digital entry
If Coachella were to switch to a digital entry system, it wouldn’t be the first festival to do so.
Head Trip, Goldenvoice’s new festival that will be held at the Empire Polo Club in October, will use AXS Mobile ID digital admission passes, according to its website. Passes will be scanned from attendees’ phones on the app at the entrance gate each day, while VIP passholders will receive a wristband upon entry.
The Portola Music Festival, another Goldenvoice event held in San Francisco, is one that utilized mobile passes during its 2023 iteration. A FAQ page for that year’s fest stated attendees would have to download the Portola Mobile App in order to access their passes, and that those with VIP tickets would receive a wristband at entry each day.
Ditching Coachella wristbands would likely be a damper for some festivalgoers, especially those who collect them each year they attend or who finally feel the “festival hype” once they receive their shipment in the mail.
Coachella presale 2027
Those hoping to attend Coachella in 2027 can take part in the advance sale soon. The festival will take place April 9-11 and April 16-18, 2027.
The advance sale begins 11 a.m. PDT on Friday, May 1. General admission Weekend 1 passes start at $599 while Weekend 2 start at $549. VIP passes begin at $1,299 for Weekend 1 and $1,249 for Weekend 2.
The popular payment plan is also available for next year. Users can buy their passes for $49 down at checkout, then divide the remaining balance over equal payments through January 2027.
Hotel packages, various camping options and parking/shuttle passes are also available for purchase.
Visit coachella.com for more information.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: No more Coachella wristbands? Festival website sparks questions
Reporting by Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
