Is Coachella Losing Its Spark? Why Smaller, Niche Festivals Are Gaining Popularity

There was a time when Coachella was the cultural music event of the year. The outfits, the surprise guests, the once-in-a-lifetime performances — it all felt larger than life, notably as award shows decreased in popularity. But lately, the festival doesn’t feel as exciting as it used to. Sure, it still pulls big names and brings thousands to the desert, but it no longer leads the cultural conversation the way it once did.

It’s not that the performances this year weren’t strong. Travis Scott was tasked with designing said desert, and he even brought Jackson State’s Sonic Boom and Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 along for the ride. Megan Thee Stallion and Ciara gave fans a nostalgic moment with a mix of “Goodies,” while Megan and Victoria Monét showcased their undeniable chemistry. But even with all that, the energy didn’t feel like Beyoncé’s game-changing 2018 set or even the chaotic spectacle of Drake and Madonna’s polarizing kiss moment in 2015. The moments just didn’t hit the same.

Part of the shift might come from how crowded the entertainment space feels. There are more festivals, more tours and more ways for artists to connect with fans than ever before. Music is also in a transitional place right now. While streaming is arguably still the top metric of success, a lot of artists are relying on live shows and festivals to keep the momentum going. That’s why we’re seeing more major acts — like Beyoncé, The Weeknd and Chris Brown — launching massive stadium tours of their own. And while the demand is clearly there, the cost of entry has gone way up. Tickets for Coachella start at $650 just for general admission, and that doesn’t even include travel or hotel. In today’s economy, that’s a big ask.

At the same time, smaller, more focused festivals are stepping into the spotlight. Dreamville Fest in North Carolina, Tyler’s Camp Flog Gnaw in LA, and global events like Afro Nation are creating tighter, more intentional experiences. These festivals know their audience and deliver lineups that feel personal, not generic. When people buy tickets to those events, they know what they’re getting. There’s a sense of identity and community that Coachella seems to have lost in recent years.

Even the influencer side of Coachella doesn’t feel like it used to. Once a hotspot for online creators and brand deals, the weekend was known just as much for Revolve Festival and Neon Carnival as it was for the music. This year, Revolve brought out Cardi B and still had a presence, but the buzz just didn’t carry far. The influencer economy has changed, and audiences are more skeptical.

What Coachella might be facing is the end of the “monoculture” moment. There used to be a time when fans of alternative pop, rap, rock music — could go to Coachella and have all their music needs met. Now, the lineups feel scattered, and the audience feels divided. That’s not to say the festival is bad — far from it — but it no longer feels like the heartbeat of music culture.

If anything, the one thing that still trends every year during Coachella weekend isn’t even this year’s festival — it’s Beyoncé’s 2018 performance. It resurfaces every April as a reminder of what Coachella once was, and what kind of impact it’s been chasing ever since. Even when the festival books major headliners like Lady Gaga, Travis Scott or Post Malone, the moment never quite breaks through the noise in the same way.

Coachella hasn’t failed — it’s just no longer the only festival that matters. The culture has moved toward experiences that feel more intentional and more connected. Smaller festivals are meeting people where they are, building with care, and leaving a deeper mark. And that might just be the future.