Coachella festival experiences a decade-low in ticket sales

The highly anticipated Coachella festival, known for its swift sell-outs, is experiencing an unusual trend this year. Tickets for the festival’s first weekend, which went on sale on Friday, January 19, are surprisingly still available four days later, marking the slowest sales in the past ten years.

Traditionally, securing a Coachella weekend pass resembled a quest for treasure, requiring a blend of patience, strategy, and a bit of luck. Despite the hefty ticket prices, eager fans used to endure lengthy waits in virtual queues, hoping to snag a coveted wristband. From 2014 to 2022, the tickets consistently sold out within a narrow timeframe, ranging from a mere 40 minutes in 2015 to just over four hours in 2022.

In 2023, sales experienced a slight dip, even with the attraction of a rare, albeit unsuccessful, appearance by Frank Ocean. In that year, fans, typically seeking the more coveted first weekend, took days instead of hours to fully claim tickets.

As of Saturday, January 27, 2024, Coachella ticket sales are trailing behind the already sluggish 2023 figures. Passes for both the first and second weekends are still available at the second pricing tier, indicating a surplus of tickets.

One plausible explanation for this downturn could be attributed to the festival’s 2024 lineup. The roster, featuring headliners such as Doja Cat, Tyler, the Creator, Lana Del Rey, and No Doubt, along with notable electronic music acts like Anyma, Charlotte de Witte, Steve Angello, John Summit, Dom Dolla, Gesaffelstein, and Justice, has left some fans underwhelmed. However, it’s important to note that dissatisfaction with the lineup is not a novel issue for Coachella, and it has not deterred fans from clamoring for tickets in the past.