Music festivals have taken off in popularity, giving rise to new stars through hundreds of different festivals throughout the year. Various festivals take place all across the globe, prominent ones including Coachella and The Governors Ball. These festivals not only provide a platform for local and emerging artists to showcase their talent, but also serve as hubs for communities and people from different backgrounds to come together through art installations, food vendors and interactive workshops.
“Something that I like about music festivals is how they create a sense of community,” sophomore Jerin Mathew said. “Everyone is there to enjoy music and it gives people the chance to discover new kinds of music they might otherwise not have found.”
The Governor’s Ball, also known as GovBall, took place on June 5-7, 2026, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York. It was a three day music festival featuring over 60 artists across three stages. Along with the musical performances, there were also New York City food vendors and interactive experiences to create a lively atmosphere for the attendees of the festival.
Artists such as Lorde, Baby Keem, Stray Kids and more headlined the three days, along with various other artists performing throughout the day, such as Katseye, Blood Orange and Dominic Fike. These performances helped shed light on new and upcoming artists who wished to showcase their talent and gain new fans around the world.
“GovBall was my first music festival and I had such a fun time! I saw Slayyter, Blood Orange, Dominic Fike, Jennie and ASAP Rocky. I really like how the artists performed unreleased songs for the festival audiences,” senior Chaewoo Lee said.
Coachella 2026 took place on April 10-12 and 17-19 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It was a music and arts festival full of many anticipated performances from artists such as Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G. The festival featured surprise guest appearances and viral performances. Furthermore, there were milestone moments for diversity in the music industry such as the girl group BINI becoming the first Filipino group to perform at Coachchella.
Fashion also plays a major part in the experience of music festivals across the globe, allowing attendees to showcase their fashion tastes and personalities. This year’s Coachella festival showcased many different styles, including sheer mesh dresses, micro-shorts and fringe. Social media was filled with discussions about festival outfits by different influencers and performances, showing how closely fashion and music have become connected.
“Fashion has become a huge part of the music festival experience, it’s another way people express their personality and creativity,” sophomore Hania Joy said. “From unique outfits to new trends, what people wear often becomes just as memorable as the music itself!”
Excitement grows for the lineup of these music festivals every year and unforgettable memories are made. For many attendees, music festivals are more than just a weekend of music, but an opportunity to connect with others with similar interests, discover new artists and experience performances in a unique atmosphere.
