15 Legendary Coachella Performances, Ranked By Music Fans

15 Legendary Coachella Performances, Ranked By Music Fans

Fabio Magnocavallo
Updated April 30, 2024 15 items
Voting Rules
Vote up the Coachella sets that left a lasting imprint on the polo ground of Indio.

What are some of the best Coachella performances? The iconic festival, officially called Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, is held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California in the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley during two separate weekends. And without fail, the biggest names in music show up. 

From Prince and Madonna to Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, you name it, every superstar has left their mark at Coachella. And 2024 will be no different with Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, Blur, Doja Cat, and even a No Doubt reunion in the cards. But first, let’s go back in time and revisit some of Coachella’s most legendary performances of all time. 

  • Prince
    1
    55 VOTES

    Prince

    Year: 2008

    The Hype: Known for being a touring machine, there was never a time when Prince wasn't a big deal to see live. Joining the Coachella lineup just weeks before the event kicked off, Prince was always bound to put on an unforgettable performance.

    Highlights Of The Set: Opening his beastly 24-song set with appearances from both Sheila E. and Morris Day, Prince didn't forget to dive into his stone-cold classics - “1999,” “Cream,” and “Little Red Corvette" - that are crowd pleasers. After delivering a series of hits, in true Prince style, he performed some unexpected covers from Radiohead ("Creep"), Sarah McLachlan ("Angel"), and The Beatles ("Come Together") before finishing with his signature hit “Purple Rain.”

    55 votes
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  • Amy Winehouse
    2
    30 VOTES

    Amy Winehouse

    Year: 2007

    The Hype: Only two albums into her career, Amy Winehouse made her Coachella debut in 2007 shortly after relishing in global success. Promoting her sophomore release Back To Black, Winehouse became one of the most talked about musicians in the world with hits “Rehab” and “Back To Black.” Her refreshing blend of jazz and soul would later influence a whole generation of stars.

    Highlights Of The Set: Winehouse's 11-song set featured 10 tracks from Back To Black and her popular cover of The Zutons' “Valerie.” As one of the most acclaimed albums from the past year, the British singer delivered a dream set for those obsessed with her iconic album.

    30 votes
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  • Roger Waters
    3
    17 VOTES

    Roger Waters

    Year: 2008

    The Hype: As a co-founding member of the British rock group Pink Floyd, Roger Waters headlining Coachella was enough of a reason to build intense hype.

    Highlights Of The Set: Rogers's set predominantly consisted of Pink Floyd songs, which was one factor that made his set a highlight from the weekend. However, a giant inflatable pig also stole the show. Painted with graffiti on one side with the words “Don't be led to the slaughter,” the other side said, "Fear builds walls." Making a political statement, the bottom of the pig had "Obama" written next to a checked ballot box.

    17 votes
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  • Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre
    4
    33 VOTES

    Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre

    Year: 2012

    The Hype: As two of the most credible and championed rappers in hip-hop, when Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre were announced as 2012 Coachella headliners, fans knew it was going to be something worth talking about.

    Highlights Of The Set: It would be an understatement to say that Snoop and Dre's set wasn't a celebration of hip-hop. Kicking off with multiple of their signature songs, the surprises were still yet to come. Following a tribute to Nate Dogg came performances with Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent. However, the legendary tribute to Tupac Shukar, which included a realistic-looking hologram of him performing, kept everyone talking. Not to mention, Eminem showed up before Snoop and Dre completed their set with two of their biggest tracks, “Who Am I? (What's My Name)” and “Still D.R.E.”

    33 votes
  • Madonna
    5
    35 VOTES

    Madonna

    Year: 2006

    The Hype: As one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, Madonna making her Coachella debut over two decades into her career was groundbreaking in itself. As she performed at the festival to promote her dance-inspired album Confessions on a Dancefloor, Madonna used the high-profile gig as a warm-up for the kick-off of her Confessions Tour in Los Angeles a few weeks later.

    Highlights Of The Set: At just six songs long, Madonna's Coachella debut was a lot shorter set than what you would typically imagine from the Queen of Pop. That said, with hits like “Hung Up,” “Everybody,” and “Ray of Light” in the set list, Madonna gave the crowd a party they will never forget.

    35 votes
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  • Pixies
    6
    39 VOTES

    Pixies

    Year: 2004

    The Hype: After disbanding in 1993, fans of the Pixies were stunned when they found out their favorite band was reuniting 11 years later for live shows. Following a warm-up tour across North America, Pixies performed their highly-anticipated headline set at Coachella, which heavily impacted Coachella's achieving their first sold-out event.

    Highlights Of The Set: With no new material to be performed, Pixies gave fans a dream set list of their already-cherished back catalog, including eight songs from their best-selling album, 1989's Doolittle. The iconic performance was released for old fans to relive and new fans to discover.

    39 votes
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  • Beyoncé
    7
    55 VOTES

    Beyoncé

    Year: 2018

    The Hype: After originally being announced to headline Coachella in 2017, Beyoncé pulled out after getting pregnant. Giving birth to twins two months after her performance was scheduled to take place, Beyoncé postponed her set for the following year. With fans waiting over a year to see her perform, the anticipation continued to build until the day finally came.

    Highlights Of The Set: With her performance paying tribute to historically Black colleges and universities, Beyoncé had a full marching band and majorette dancers to accompany her set. As the first Black woman to headline the festival, she shared the moment with Jay-Z, her sister Solange, J Balvin, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams on stage. From beginning to end, Beyoncé delivered a never-been-seen-before set. She documented the historic moment with her own documentary, Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé.

    55 votes
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  • Lady Gaga
    8
    43 VOTES

    Lady Gaga

    Year: 2017

    The Hype: Since the beginning of her career, Lady Gaga has always been known to be an eccentric entertainer, whether that be in the way she expresses herself musically or how she pushes the boundaries in the world of fashion. When she was announced as a headliner for Coachella, fans wondered where she would take her artistry next. While spending time at Coachella, she also used the festival grounds to film her scenes for A Star Is Born the same weekend.

    Highlights Of The Set: Gaga's versatility was definitely showcased in her Coachella set. From big pop anthems - “Poker Face” and “Just Dance” - to more raw, acoustic numbers - “The Edge of Glory” and “Speechless” - Gaga proved she can do it all. During the first weekend at Empire Polo Club, she even debuted a new song titled “The Cure.”

    43 votes
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  • The Cure
    9
    19 VOTES

    The Cure

    Year: 2009

    The Hype: Following the release of their first album in four years, 4:13 Dream, The Cure proved they were still on top of their game 30 years after forming by announcing they would be headlining Coachella for a second time.

    Highlights Of The Set: Despite their performance consisting of 32 songs, including “A Forest,” “Lullaby,” and “Lovesong,” The Cure's 2009 set would have seemingly kept on going all night had anyone not stopped them. Turning a blind eye to the midnight curfew and ignoring requests from organizers who were telling the band to wrap up their show, the plug was eventually pulled during “Boys Don't Cry.” Despite this, the band soldiered on and didn't call it a day until after a couple more songs.

    19 votes
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  • Daft Punk
    10
    47 VOTES

    Daft Punk

    Year: 2006

    The Hype: Following their third album, Human After All,  Daft Punk marked their comeback with a headline slot at Coachella, a highly-anticipated performance. The French electronic duo had already made their mark within their genre but were on the verge of changing the game with their first performance wearing robot helmets.

    Highlights Of The Set: Not only did Daft Punk deliver a 26-song set jam-packed with their famous hits - “One More Time,” "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," and "Around The World," to name a few - but they also performed seven songs from Human After All for the first time. On several occasions, many fans and critics have dubbed the performance one of the most important and game-changing performances in the history of EDM.

    47 votes
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  • Rage Against the Machine
    11
    26 VOTES

    Rage Against the Machine

    Year: 2007

    The Hype: Following their headline slot in 1999, Rage Against the Machine returned to Coachella to mark their comeback. The last time the band had released any music was with the 2000 album Renegades. Rage Against the Machine also hadn't performed together for seven years.

    Highlights Of The Set: Cementing their status as rock gods, Rage Against the Machine reportedly performed to an estimated 100,000 people, which is the largest crowd in Coachella’s history, according to Billboard. Intended to be a one-off show, the response from their explosive set influenced the band to embark on a full reunion tour.

    26 votes
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  • Iggy Pop & the Stooges
    12
    18 VOTES

    Iggy Pop & the Stooges

    Year: 2003

    The Hype: After disbanding in 1971, Iggy Pop & the Stooges reunited at Coachella nearly 30 years later, a moment for which fans had been longing. Two years prior, Pop made his Coachella debut on his own. However, the announcement of this reunion overshadowed his first appearance, becoming one of the festival's most iconic moments in alternative rock and punk history.

    Highlights Of The Set: With many hits, from “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “T.V. Eye,” “1970,” “Fun House,” to “L.A. Blues” all performed, it was as if it hadn't been three decades since the band last performed together. In true Pop fashion, he performed with no top on and went into the crowd.

    18 votes
  • Blur
    13
    18 VOTES

    Blur

    Year: 2013

    The Hype: Easily one of the UK's most prolific alternative rock bands who dominated the Brit-pop era, Blur made their second Coachella appearance in 2013 with a headline slot. Serving as their first US performance in a decade, it was also the first American set with Graham Coxon since 1999.

    Highlights Of The Set: For any Blur fan, their 2013 Coachella set list featured everything any fan could ever wish for. From “Parklife” and “Girls & Boys” to “Coffee & TV” and “Song 2,” it was like stepping back into a time capsule. Actor and singer Phil Daniels, who features on “Parklife,” also showed up to perform the track.

    18 votes
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  • Kendrick Lamar
    14
    16 VOTES

    Kendrick Lamar

    Year: 2017

    The Hype: Days after the release of his critically acclaimed LP DAMN., it was time for rapper Kendrick Lamar to headline Coachella after making his debut in 2012. During what was considered the peak of his career, Lamar's headline slot came at a time when he was cementing himself as a rap legend.

    Highlights Of The Set: Described as “Brilliant, confounding and challenging,” The Guardian stated that Lamar “pushed at the limits of what a headlining act can look like.” His set list featured many classics, including “King Kunta,” “Alright,” and “Backseat Freestyle,” as well as many first-time performances from DAMN. He also had Travis Scott, ScHoolboy Q, and Future make surprise appearances during the first weekend.

    16 votes
  • Arcade Fire
    15
    22 VOTES

    Arcade Fire

    Year: 2005

    The Hype: Outside of famous bands reuniting and artists headlining at the peak of their careers, Coachella has been known to shine a light on musicians who are on the rise. When making their debut in 2005, a year following their first album, Funeral, Arcade Fire performed one of their biggest shows and many people were eager to check them out. 

    Highlights Of The Set: Performing in the middle of the afternoon, Arcade Fire not only won over fans who were already into their music, but also gained a new legion of listeners who fell in love with their performance. Teaming up with Vice/Intel-powered Creator’s Project to make their set extra special, thousands of LED-enhanced beach balls were dropped onto the crowd during “Wake Up.” Their performance left such a big impression on the crowd, it was hailed as “the best Coachella set ever” by The Hollywood Reporter. Six years later, Arcade Fire returned to the desert as a headline act.  

    22 votes
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