Coachella: Inside the best parties of weekend one

SL Beauty’s Desert Drive-Thru Takeover

Located just off buzzy Jackson Street, YSL Beauty’s one-night-only Beauty Stage experience leaned into familiar iconography of roadside culture before unfolding into something far more immersive. Guests arrived through a sleek, reimagined drive-thru before stepping into a multi-sensory environment under the desert sky. Inside, Shanina Shaik, Leah Kateb, Olandria, Damson Idris, Ariana Madix, and JT moved through the crowd, stopping for Polaroid portraits. A massive YSL Beauté logo anchored one end of the room, while a vintage car installation at the center became one of the night’s most photographed moments. Guests moved between activations, beauty stations, and a walk-up food counter serving burgers, fries, nuggets, and berry-flavored soda. “What I love most about festival season is people coming together through music,” Miguel told Vogue. “There’s nothing more powerful than that right now.” His set carried the kind of energy that signals the start of the weekend, where music becomes the through line for everything else unfolding around it. The space will open to the public on Friday on a first-come, first-served basis, offering a wider audience the chance to step into the same world before the weekend fully gets underway. “We have always been a brand that’s in tune with culture, with music, and with energy,” Juliette Ferret, general manager of YSL Beauty US, said. “Being here isn’t about a trend for us: it’s part of our DNA.” Or as Young Miko put it: “They’ve been bold since the beginning!"

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Instagram/Kirsty Sarah attends the YSL Beaute event at Coachella

Revolve Festival

It’s back! Revolve Festival returned to the desert for its ninth year, once again drawing one of the weekend’s most in-demand crowds to its sprawling Thermal grounds. This year’s carnival-inspired concept leaned into a more interactive approach, with guests enjoying games, activations, and performances throughout the afternoon. Damson Idris, KATSEYE, Dwyane Wade, Cameron Brink, Emma Roberts, Becky G, Gabriette, Teyana Taylor, and LISA were among those spotted taking it all in. A set from Don Toliver anchored the day, with additional appearances from Mustard and Kehlani keeping the mood just right as the crowd packed in closer to the stage. Across the space, the atmosphere felt particularly playful. “I was literally inspired by my three-year-old son,” Alasia Allen, Revolve’s senior manager of PR and talent, told Vogue. “I thought, ‘What can we do differently this year where people can be more interactive and just have fun?’”That mix of fashion, fun, and function carried into the activations, where guests paused for touch-ups, peeked through product drops, and had a first look at upcoming launches. “Revolve is always the highlight of my Coachella,” Leah Kateb, co-founder of Skylar, said. “It just felt like the right place to debut something new.” Between performances, shaded booths, and a steady flow of drinks, the festival once again delivered on its reputation as one of the desert’s most talked-about invites.

818 Outpost

Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila returned to the desert for its fourth annual Outpost, once again drawing one of the weekend’s most high-wattage daytime crowds. Set against a retro-futurist backdrop inspired by Palm Springs modernism, the open-air space quickly filled with guests, including Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, Lizzo, Winnie Harlow, and Damson Idris, who all flitted between shaded lounges and the main stage as the afternoon unfolded. A set by Kaytranada anchored the day, drawing a packed crowd that only grew louder when Justine Skye joined him onstage, followed by an impromptu appearance from Lizzo that pushed the energy even further. Nearby, Jenner hosted friends and family inside the Delilah Reserve Lounge, offering a more intimate contrast to the dance floor just steps away. Throughout the space, revellers cooled off with Ranch Waters, Desert Spritzes, and frozen cocktails while drifting between activations, which included a sprawling open-air food garden, interactive brand moments, and a steady stream of photo-ready installations.

Neon Carnival

Widely considered the most anticipated after-party of the weekend—and one of the hardest tickets to snag—Neon Carnival returned to the desert for the 15th time, once again transforming the night into a neon-lit playground that was packed with festivalgoers well into the early hours. The lineup kicked off with a DJ set from Mary Mac before Channel Tres brought his signature mix of house and hip-hop to the decks, leading into a high-energy headlining performance from Ty Dolla $ign. Surprise appearances kept the momentum going, with sets from YG and Tyga, while West Coast mainstays DJ Nitrane and Dre Sinatra carried the energy late into the night. Across the sprawling space, guests moved between carnival rides, gaming stations, and larger-than-life installations, with the Maruchan Ferris wheel lighting up the skyline. From packed booths near the stage to impromptu performances and late-night sing-alongs, the momentum rarely dipped. Fifteen years in, Neon Carnival once again proved why it remains the desert’s defining after-hours destination.

Marc Jacobs’ Eyewear Bash

On Friday evening, festival goers headed to the Mirabella Estate in the Coachella Valley to celebrate the launch of Marc Jacobs’ new eyewear line. Cohosted by Adriana Lima—the face of the campaign—the pre-sunset party brought together a crowd including Delaney Rowe, Ellie Thumann, Cailin Russo, Marta Pozzan, Akira Akbar, Summer Rachel Warren, and Hannah Meloche. It wasn't just the shades in the spotlight either, as many debuted the as-of-now-unreleased Scene bag too. As Harmony took to the decks, light bites came courtesy of Chef K to compliment cocktails by Casa Dragones tequila. The fete also highlighted the Marc Jacobs brand’s ongoing partnership with Tao Group Hospitality, with this Coachella outing marking the first of several activations to follow this year. As the sun set, the fun rolled over into Desert Nights after-party at Zenyara Estate.

Caravana’s 15th Anniversary Celebration

Resortwear label Caravana marked its milestone anniversary with an intimate desert gathering in La Quinta, setting the tone ahead of the weekend with a quieter, more atmospheric moment. Held at a sprawling private residence framed by mountain views and a glowing sunset, the evening unfolded across open terraces and poolside lounges in the signature earth-toned palette. The crowd included Winnie Harlow, Shanina Shaik, and Becky G, alongside a mix of creatives and insiders, many dressed in the brand’s softly draped silhouettes. Music carried through the space as people relaxed in small groups with drinks in hand, giving the night an easy, unstructured rhythm. More low-key than some of the weekend’s larger productions, the celebration felt intentionally understated, offering a moment to pause before the desert’s pace fully picked up.

Vogue.com