Coachella 2025: 5 iconic performances from weekend one
From Lady Gaga's operatic fever dream to THE Brian May's surprise appearance, here are the top moments from Coachella so far
The first weekend of Coachella 2025 has officially wrapped up. And what a weekend it was!
If you missed the glitter-drenched madness, don’t sweat it. Weekend two is still on the horizon, and tickets are up for grabs.
But before we look ahead, let’s rewind all the moments that sent shockwaves through the desert (yes, Travis Scott made a comeback this year).
1. Lady Gaga leaves the desert in absolute ‘Mayhem’
Lady Gaga’s headlining set felt like something out of an operatic fever dream (in the best way possible).
Returning to the desert stage for the first time in eight years, the pop icon delivered a jaw-dropping, four-act spectacle titled “The Art of Personal Chaos.”
Each act dove into a different facet of her pop persona — Act I: Of Velvet and Ice; Act II: And She Fell into a Gothic Dream; Act III: The Beautiful Nightmare That Knows Her Name.
Gaga opened with a haunting rendition of Bloody Mary, complete with fog rolling in, dancers veiled in lace, the stage bathed in icy blues.
From there, it was a full sensory overload. Think pyrotechnics, avant-garde costumes, cryptic monologues, and visuals that looked plucked from a post-apocalyptic runway show. It was peak Gaga.
Her classics like Poker Face and Judas were reimagined into darker, moodier versions that matched the night’s aesthetic.
And just when the crowd thought she’d said her final goodbye, Gaga stormed back onstage for one last act — Act IV: Eternal Aria of the Monster Heart.
She ended with a show-stopping Bad Romance that had the entire polo field screaming in unison.
If this was her Coachella set, we’re honestly a little scared for what she has planned for her upcoming tour.
2. Benson Boone brings out rock royalty
Goosebumps. Shivers. Pure, unfiltered energy. That about sums up a typical Benson Boone performance. But on Friday night, he took things to a whole other level.
Midway through his set, Boone slowed things down and began a haunting cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody — a bold move for any artist. But if there’s anyone who can successfully channel Freddie Mercury (RIP), it’s Benson.
And then, in a moment that sent the crowd into emotional freefall, the Brian May himself rose onto the stage from a hidden platform, guitar in hand, just in time for his legendary solo.
As for the reaction to this epic moment, Boone later took to social media to call out the crowd’s lack of energy. But to be fair, some of us were too stunned to speak.
Together, the rock powerhouses closed out Bohemian Rhapsody, then transitioned into a surprise duet of Boone’s breakout hit, Beautiful Things.
And honestly? It was a beautiful thing.
3. Green Day makes an extremely powerful Coachella debut
Saturday night belonged to Green Day as the rock legends made their long-overdue Coachella debut. And they did not hold back.
Taking the Coachella Stage for the very first time, Green Day launched into a blistering 18-song set that kicked off with American Idiot and ended, fittingly, with Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).
It was loud, it was raw, and it was politically charged — everything you’d expect from a band that’s never been afraid to speak its mind.
Frontman Billie Armstrong updated the lyrics of American Idiot, swapping “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” with “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda." And it didn't stop there.
During Jesus of Suburbia, Armstrong delivered a new lyric with unmistakable impact: “Runnin’ away from pain like the kids from Palestine, tales from another broken home.”
4. Lisa and Jennie show how far they've come since BLACKPINK
Our little BLINK hearts were squealing with joy when not one but two BLACKPINK queens made their Coachella debuts after going solo.
On Friday, Lisa stormed the stage with the force of a full-on pop cyclone. Her set, built around her new solo album Alter Ego, was as much fashion fantasy as it was musical masterclass. One minute she was in a reptilian armoured bodysuit, the next she glowed like a walking neon sculpture.
Then came Jennie on Sunday, bringing her own solo debut album Ruby to life with emotional renditions of Mantra, Handlebars, and Starlight.
And let’s not forget her dreamy duet with Kali Uchis on Damn Right, which will forever be etched in our hearts.
Both stars showed just how far they’ve come since BLACKPINK. And seeing Rosé in the crowd supporting her former bandmates was the extra little cherry on top.
5. Enhypen makes a historic Coachella debut
For a group that only recently gained mainstream traction, Enhypen’s historic Coachella debut was a declaration: they’re here, and they’re only going bigger from here.
As this year’s only all-boy K-pop group, Enhypen’s set definitely hit all the spots.
Decked out in coordinating denim fits, the boys moved in perfect sync across a stage that pulsed with high-drama lighting and moody visuals.
They brought flawless vocals, razor sharp choreography, and off-the-charts energy — all possible with hours of dedicated rehearsals while they were touring!
With so many more iconic moments, we can't wait to see what weekend two has to offer.
