Coachella Announces Historic Expansion to The Gorge Amphitheatre in 2026
Indio, CA – Goldenvoice, the powerhouse promoter behind the internationally acclaimed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, has officially unveiled plans for a significant and transformative expansion set to commence in 2026. This groundbreaking move will see the iconic festival add a second distinct West Coast location, establishing a presence at the revered Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington state alongside its longstanding and celebrated home at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
The announcement marks the most substantial structural modification to the Coachella brand since its pivotal decision in 2012 to expand to two consecutive weekends in Indio, effectively doubling capacity and offering fans two chances to experience the desert spectacle each April. The addition of The Gorge location represents a bold new chapter, extending the festival’s geographical reach and potentially broadening its artistic scope.
Two Locations, Distinct Experiences
The newly announced Gorge event is scheduled to debut on the weekend of April 17-19, 2026. This follows one week after the traditional Indio installment, which will take place from April 10-12, 2026, at the Empire Polo Club. This sequential scheduling creates a brief interlude between the two major festival weekends.
Crucially, Goldenvoice has indicated that the lineup for the Gorge Amphitheatre event is expected to feature a partially distinct roster of artists compared to the Indio weekend. While the possibility of sharing key headliners across both locations remains open, the overall artistic curation for each site will likely be tailored, offering unique experiences for attendees depending on their chosen venue.
This strategy could allow for logistical efficiencies for touring artists, enabling them to play both premier West Coast engagements within a two-week window. It also provides Goldenvoice the flexibility to curate lineups that might resonate differently with regional audiences or to feature a wider array of artists across the two geographically separate events.
The Gorge: An Iconic West Coast Venue
The selection of The Gorge Amphitheatre as the second Coachella location is highly significant. Nestled on the banks of the Columbia River in central Washington, The Gorge is widely regarded as one of the most breathtaking and acoustically superior outdoor music venues in the world. Its natural amphitheater setting, with panoramic views of the river and surrounding landscape, has hosted countless legendary concerts and festivals over the decades, including the Sasquatch! Music Festival, which was also produced by Goldenvoice.
The Indio site, the Empire Polo Club, offers a sprawling desert landscape transformed into a vibrant, art-filled oasis with multiple stages, large-scale installations, and expansive camping grounds. The Gorge, while also accommodating large crowds and offering camping, provides a dramatic, naturalistic environment that contrasts with the cultivated festival grounds in the desert.
The difference in setting is anticipated to contribute to the partially distinct nature of the two events. While both will operate under the Coachella banner, carrying its reputation for high-caliber musical acts across diverse genres and immersive art experiences, the specific feel and presentation at each location will likely be influenced by their unique environments.
Ticketing and Future Outlook
Enthusiasts eager to secure their spots at either the Indio or the new Gorge Coachella event will have their first opportunity when ticket pre-sales for both locations open concurrently. Goldenvoice has set the pre-sale date for February 15, 2025.
The decision to add a second location underscores the enduring global demand for the Coachella experience and Goldenvoice’s ambition to scale its most valuable property. Expanding to the Pacific Northwest at a venue as celebrated as The Gorge allows the festival to tap into a new geographical market and potentially attract attendees who might find travel to Southern California less convenient. It also solidifies Goldenvoice’s position as a dominant force in the North American festival landscape.
The logistics of managing two major festivals under one brand, albeit a week apart, will be complex. This includes booking artists, coordinating production, and managing ticketing and fan experience across sites separated by over 1,000 miles. However, Goldenvoice’s extensive experience producing large-scale events, including multiple festivals across the country, positions them to tackle this ambitious undertaking.
The move is likely to be met with excitement by fans, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, who now have a significantly closer option to attend a Coachella-branded event. It also raises interesting possibilities for artist routing and festival curation across the North American summer festival season calendar.
This expansion represents a significant evolution for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, building on its legacy while venturing into new territory. The 2026 season will undoubtedly be a landmark year as Goldenvoice introduces the Coachella experience to the majestic setting of The Gorge Amphitheatre, potentially redefining the festival’s future footprint and accessibility.
