Top 10 Best Performances Of Coachella 2025

Welcome to Nubia Magazine, the best place to find everything music, culture, and festival vibes that are full of raw energy. We’re excited to provide our in-depth thoughts on Coachella 2025, a weekend that took place in Indio, California, under the unrelenting April sun from April 11 to 13 for Weekend 1 and April 18 to 20 for Weekend 2. This year’s festival wasn’t just a lineup of stars; it was a sonic tapestry woven from the threads of rebellion, nostalgia, and boundary-pushing innovation. More than 250,000 people came, trading city lights for desert nights full of art installations, celebrity sightings, and those spontaneous dance circles that make the festival so magical.

Coachella 2025 combined famous headliners with breakout moments that had fans buzzing long after the last encore. From the deafening roars of the Coachella Stage ringing across the polo fields to the underground pulses in the Yuma tent that kept ravers moving till dawn, it was a great time. Picture this: palm trees silhouetted against fireworks, flower-crowned influencers posting pictures of the chaos on Instagram, and a lineup that included everything from punk anthems that channeled 90s grit to K-pop flair that lit up the Sahara like a global party to experimental pop mastery that left audiences in deep thought. There were rumors of environmental improvements, like solar-powered stages and zero-waste programs, but the festival proved once again that it is the best music experience: raw, immersive, and full of surprises, where strangers become friends via singing together.

We at Nubia Magazine have always thought that the real heart of events like Coachella is the performances that go beyond the stage and stay with us forever. That’s why we’ve put together this complete list of the Best Performances Of Coachella 2025. We’ve chosen our top 10 sets and ranked them based on crowd energy that could power a small city, setlist magic that hit every emotional note, surprise elements that went viral, and sheer artistic impact that stayed in the air like the scent of sage. If you’re a die-hard festival veteran reliving the sweaty glory through our detailed recaps or a curious newcomer planning your 2026 pilgrimage with hydration packs and glitter in tow, these moments capture the very essence of the Best Performance Of Coachella 2025: pure, unadulterated catharsis.

List Of Top 10 Best Performances Of Coachella 2025

1. Djo (Joe Keery)

Djo, also known as Joe Keery from Stranger Things, tops our list of the best performances at Coachella 2025. His Mojave Tent debut was a psychedelic revelation that no one saw coming but everyone needed. Keery came out in a velvet suit and sang “End of Beginning,” which sounded like 70s synth-pop with a modern twist. His vocals soared over funky basslines as the tent filled with excited fans. The Decide setlist was great: “Basic Being Basic” got people dancing along with its catchy lyrics, while “Change” built up to a euphoric guitar solo that sounded like Tame Impala’s haze. Keery’s charm funny talk about “escaping Hawkins for the desert” got people to shout, and a simple “Heart Attack” closer left the crowd in amazement, with lighters flickering like fireflies.

2. Beth Gibbons

Beth Gibbons, the haunting voice of Portishead, sang a solo show in the Sonora Tent on Saturday that was pure, aching poetry. She started with “Tell Me Who You Are Today” from Lives Outgrown, her voice trembling and engulfing the audience in velvet sadness. She wore a flowing black gown and was lighted like a noir film diva. The program included songs from her solo albums, like “Burden of Life,” “Floating on a Moment,” and “Rewind.” Each song slowly revealed a new side of jazz-infused folk. The high point of the emotions? A rare live performance of Portishead’s “Glory Box,” with her voice breaking with raw strength, bringing back memories of 90s trip-hop and getting misty-eyed applause. This close-up masterclass earned its place as one of the Best Performances of Coachella 2025 for bringing together different eras Gibbons’ first solo show at Coachella since Portishead’s heyday, showing that he is still vulnerable. The tent was quiet, and it felt sacred, like a balm for tired festival-goers looking for depth instead of noise.

3. Green Day

Green Day played for two hours on Saturday night. Their punk rock show felt like a time machine to the Dookie days, but with music that was more relevant to 2025’s anguish. Billie Joe Armstrong, his leather jacket shining under the lights, sang “American Idiot,” and the crowd’s shout shook the polo grounds. Their playlist was like a punk bible, with classics like “Holiday,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Basket Case,” as well as newer songs like “One Eyed Bastard.” Covers stole the concert, with a searing “Bohemian Rhapsody” into “Blitzkrieg Bop” and Flavor Flav costumed as a drunk bunny, making the stage a riot of Ramones tribute. Armstrong’s crowd work, including giving supporters mics for “Longview,” made the festival feel more personal, which is unique. Green Day’s concert at Coachella 2025 was one of the best. It was a protest against the problems of today, with pyrotechnics going off to “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” It was a passing of the torch from one generation to the next. Punk isn’t dead; it’s simply headlining Coachella.

4. Clairo

Clairo brought her soft, whispery appeal to the Mojave Tent on Sunday, turning it into a quiet confessional in the middle of the festival’s noise. She wore a flowing sundress and went barefoot to give the performance a grounded feel. She started with “Bags,” and her sweet falsetto drew people in, making them put their phones down for once. The setlist was a tribute to Charm and more: “Sexy to Someone” had lo-fi sounds that built up into full-band swells, and “Steeeam” was a heartwarming reunion with producer Shelly that had everyone go “awww.” Bernie Sanders’ unexpected introduction, “Clairo’s music reminds us of quiet revolutions,” gave the song a strange political twist that fit with her lyrics about love and growth. Clairo’s emotion came out in unplugged moments, such when she sang Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” This was one of the best performances of Coachella 2025. It was the festival’s emotional break, showing that small-scale magic can be more powerful than the big show. It was excellent for sunset chills and deep feelings.

5. Viagra Boys

The Swedish punk band Viagra Boys brought raw, irreverent energy to the Gobi Tent on Saturday. Their show was a steamy break from Coachella’s gloss. Sebastian Murphy, the lead singer, blasted through “Man Made of Meat” and “Punk Rock Loser” without a shirt on, shouting and snarling. The saxophones and thrashing guitars turned the tent into a magnificent pit. “Ain’t No Thief,” a new song from their current EP, got fans crowd-surfing, and “The Bog Body,” a sludgy conclusion, had Murphy jumping into the crowd for crazy moshes. Their playlist leaned toward Cave World, with “Sports” and “Research Chemicals” making fun of excess. At the same time, Murphy joked about “the least successful influencers” in the crowd. This spontaneous explosion was one of the Best Performances Of Coachella 2025 because it was so happy no frills, just pure punk release. Viagra Boys taught us why live music lives on defiance at a festival full of spectacle, leaving wounded knees and lifetime fans.

6. LISA

LISA from BLACKPINK made her solo debut at Coachella on Friday on the Sahara Stage. It was a high-energy show that combined the precision of K-pop with the swagger of worldwide hip-hop. She started with “Money,” and her razor-sharp rhyme cut through the thundering sound as she came down from a huge LED throne in a metallic catsuit. The setlist included “Chill,” which included cold synths and breakdance breaks, “Lifestyle,” which turned into a fan-choreographed frenzy, and a remix of “Lalisa,” which had BLINKs (and converts) copying every step. A BLACKPINK medley in the middle of the set, with parts of “Kill This Love,” brought back happy memories, and her raw energy perfect despite the desert winds kept the enthusiasm going. LISA’s set at Coachella 2025 was a cultural milestone and the best performance of the year. It was her biggest solo stage yet, and she mixed vulnerability (a devotion to her members) with domination. The Sahara was like a K-pop conference, with fancams becoming viral in a matter of hours. This was the best way to escape from reality at a festival if you wanted accuracy and emotion.

7. Japanese Breakfast

Michelle Zauner’s Japanese Breakfast played a beautiful, introspective show at the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday. They mixed pop songs about sadness with surprise covers that felt like a warm hug. Zauner started with “Honey Water,” her dreamy voice floating over reverb-heavy guitars that quieted the festival buzz. She was bathed in soothing blue light and surrounded by projections of flowering cherry blossoms. The program included songs from Soft Sounds from Another Planet and Jubilee, and songs like “Road Head” and “Be Sweet” turned into ecstatic builds with Zauner’s ukulele flourishes providing a personal touch. The top? A beautiful song of Gorillaz’s “On Melancholy Hill,” with Ginger Root on jazzy keys and a full-band jam that turned into a crowd sing-along, with stars sparkling overhead like a soundtrack cue. The emotional intensity of this performance made it one of the Best Performances Of Coachella 2025. Zauner revealed stories from her biography Crying in H Mart and cried during “Posing in Bondage,” which really hit home with the huge crowd. The fans moved together like a single heartbeat, which was a powerful reminder of how music can heal. For indie souls, it was like magic; a calm storm in the middle of the festival chaos.

8. Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion brought unabashed fire to the Coachella Stage on Sunday. Her concert was a lesson in hip-hop empowerment in the middle of dust storms. She came out in a bedazzled bodysuit that paid homage to Houston’s rodeo culture. Then she sang “Hiss” and “Cobra,” and her snappy flows and twerk-heavy dance moves set off a mosh pit of attractive girls. What were the best parts? A lot of unexpected visitors showed up, making her performance a lesson in hip-hop history. Ciara joined in on a smooth combination of “Goodies” and “1, 2 Step,” and their coordinated heel movement made the crowd go wild. Victoria Monét sang sexy harmonies on “Moment,” while Queen Latifah ended the show with “U.N.I.T.Y.,” a song that made everyone raise their hands in the air. Megan’s setlist was mostly made up of songs from her Megan album. “Mamushi” had a long breakdown with live snakes (safely handled, of course), while “Body” ended with confetti cannons. When the sound dropped during the finals, there was a lot of controversy. Fans said technical problems “silenced” her, but Megan took it all in stride, freestyling acapella and said, “We don’t need mics to make noise!” This strength made it one of the best performances at Coachella 2025, combining vulnerability with rage. She showed why she’s a movement, not just an artist, when she got 80,000 people to sing along. This set will inspire a lot of hot female summers.

9. Charli xcx

On Saturday of Weekend 1, Charli XCX turned the Outdoor Theatre into a neon-soaked dance and called her act “BRATchella” after her number-one album. She came out in a lime-green mini-dress and platform boots and quickly got into hyperpop hits like “365” (remix) and “Von Dutch.” The crowd’s synchronized fist-pumps made the phone lights look like a sea of light. The program was a textbook in how to build up to the big finish. It started with songs like “Club Classics” and “Unlock It” and ended with remixed collaborations like “Talk Talk,” which included a surprise guest, Troye Sivan, who came on stage for a sweaty, flirty duet that made the crowd go wild. But the real pyrotechnics happened during “Girl, So Confusing,” when Lorde joined in for a mashup that brought everyone back together. Then Billie Eilish showed up for “Guess” and Addison Rae brought the TikTok vibe to “Apple.” Each visitor added to Charli’s wild charm, making the stage feel like a pop girly summit.

10. Lady Gaga

Our list begins with none other than Lady Gaga, who transformed the Empire Polo Club into a theatrical fever dream on Friday night of Weekend 1 by taking center stage on the Coachella Stage. Gaga launched with a smooth mashup of “Bloody Mary” and the Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra,” evoking the dark cabaret splendor of her Mayhem phase while wearing a towering gothic outfit with blood-red trimmings and a scepter-like microphone. With pyrotechnics lighting up the night sky and Gaga’s powerful vocals piercing the desert wind like a siren call, the crowd, which numbered over 100,000, surged. Her set list, which included new songs from her most recent album, such as the eerie “Perfect Celebrity” and an interlude-heavy “Act II” that sounded like a Broadway show beneath the stars, blended hits like “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face” with hits from her career-spanning hit. She took a moment halfway through to give a moving speech about self-expression, dedicating the performance to “the monsters who dare to dream,” which caused the audience to chant in unison. During “Applause,” Gaga overcame a minor microphone malfunction with unpolished ad-libs, transforming what could have been a disastrous performance into a vocal performance that went viral.