Coachella, one of many world’s most iconic music festivals, has been curating “you needed to be there” moments for practically three many years. However behind these Instagram-worthy moments lies a troubling new actuality: for almost all of attendees, the expertise is just attainable by way of month-to-month installments.
In keeping with a latest Billboard report, a staggering 60% of basic admission ticket-holders used fee plans to assist fund their Coachella journey in Indio, California this yr.
Attending Coachella has all the time include a hefty price ticket, however it has soared in recent times. Basic admission passes began at $599 in 2025, not together with extra bills for primary human wants comparable to lodging, transportation and meals, all of which have confronted inflationary value hikes.
To alleviate the monetary burden, month-to-month fee plans allowed potential attendees to order tickets with a down fee as little as $49.99. The one payment incurred for using this service is a flat $41 versus dealing with the looming rate of interest out of your bank card.
This system launched again in 2009, aiming to make Coachella extra accessible to a broader viewers. Nevertheless, this yr’s dubiously record-breaking variety of fee plans displays broader cultural and financial tendencies with reference to the swelling price of music festivals.
Whereas short-term mortgage providers like Purchase Now, Pay Later (BNPL) present monetary aid up entrance, they’ve the potential to stretch budgets, encourage irresponsible spending and compound debt.
“[Coachella’s] vibe, FOMO-driven, culturally iconic, pushes followers to prioritize experiences over financial savings, a mindset amplified by social media’s flex tradition,” wrote Forbes‘ Jack Kelly.
Roughly 80,000 to 100,000 followers reportedly opted for fee plans to attend this yr’s competition in SoCal. Coachella is now scheduled to return to its longtime house on the Empire Polo Membership over two 2026 weekends: April 10-12 and April 17-19.
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