Who Won Coachella? Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Post Malone Top the Best of 2025 List

With the primary weekend of Coachella 2025 now within the historical past books, clear winners have emerged among the many dozens of acts who carried out, together with history-making headliners and small-font breakthroughs.

Greatest General Set: Woman Gaga
Woman Gaga’s headlining set on Friday evening was a direct all-timer: the Mom Monster had created an opera home in the course of the desert teeming together with her personal inside demons and mind-blowing choreography that utilized not simply the primary stage however seemingly each inch of the catwalk and B-stage as nicely. It was a efficiency for the ages, and erases her fine-but-not-phenomenal earlier efficiency from 2017 altogether.

Greatest Non-Fundamental Stage Set: Gustavo Dudamel
When LA Phil conductor Gustavo Dudamel was revealed on the lineup, anybody who’s been being attentive to orchestral moments at Coachella knew to anticipate one thing particular. Previously, each Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer have performed unbelievable sundown units on the Outside Theater, and it stood to cause that Dudamel would proceed the custom. The truth is, he surpassed it, which is not any shock: he’s a music fan first, and his clear pleasure in, uh, orchestrating orchestra-meets-pop mashups with Maren Morris, Zedd, and particularly LL Cool was palpable and unbelievable. That is the set to look at subsequent weekend: rumors are the friends might be completely completely different, with Dave Grohl and Cynthia Erivo each rumored to be stepping up.

Greatest Shock: Lorde, Billie Eilish and Troye Sivan With Charli XCX
Charli XCX’s important stage set was probably the most well-attended of the entire weekend, however she determined to maintain the manufacturing itself minimal: for a lot of the efficiency, it was simply her onstage with obtrusive white lights and a mid-stage elevate at varied ranges. She made up for it, although, with star-power, first welcoming Troye Sivan on “Speak Speak” earlier than bringing out Lorde (“Lady, Ao Complicated”) and Billie Eilish (“Guess”) for a late-set slew of bestie vibing and singing.

Greatest Nation Second: Publish Malone
Publish Malone’s headlining set was a pleasant shock which discovered the multi-genre singer completely retooling his catalog, y’all-ing up pop hits like “Sunflower” and “Higher Now” with a crack eight-piece band backing him up amid pyro that will make Rammstein jealous. A number of the preparations leaned extra Bon Jovi than Waylon Jennings, however all of them would match on nation radio — particularly his hit with Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Assist” — making Malone’s transition from hip-hop star to crimson filth songwriter full. Different highlights of the twangy persuasion included Shaboozey, who took the out of doors stage early within the day with Noah Cyrus becoming a member of for a candy duet on “My Fault.”

Greatest Style: Rock
Punk stalwarts Inexperienced Day are the primary true rock headliners to take the Coachella stage because the pandemic (Blink-182 stuffed in for Frank Ocean last-minute in 2023) however their pyro-and-hit-filled present was simply one in every of numerous large rock moments. Weezer stunned followers with a set that included a singalong to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” Jimmy Eat World led the gang by way of “The Center,” the Go-Gos reunited to point out a brand new era of youngsters the place pop-punk’s roots got here from (with a visitor spot from Inexperienced Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, natch), and the Misfits barreled by way of late-night horror-core that impressed a circle pit — as did lengthy working LA punks The Circle Jerks.

Greatest Breakouts: Lola Younger and Kneecap
British newcomer Lola Younger was the one to look at on day one. Whereas an unquestionable breakthrough second for the 23-year previous, in battling nerves and heatstroke, she actually vomited midway by way of the set. Returning to steer the gang in a singalong of her hit music “Messy,” it felt like a generational statement-of-purpose for outcasts surrounded by so many stunning folks. Elsewhere, Irish rappers Kneecap conjured up Odd Future power with their combative, barrel-keg Sonora set making good on the promise of their self-titled, Oscar-shortlisted film. And Viagra Boys delivered a equally high-energy set to throngs of sweaty revelers within the Gobi tent.

Greatest Band Member to Carry out Solo: Blackpink’s Lisa
Two years in the past, Blackpink was the primary Okay-Pop group to headline a day of Coachella; this yr, two of the band’s breakout stars performed solo units vying for breakout-star standing. Each Lisa and Jennie’s units have been stuffed with enjoyable pop bauble, and it was much less a contest than a lovefest (Lisa and fellow Blackpinker Rosé have been noticed within the VIP part for Jennie’s Sunday set.) That mentioned, Lisa is driving a pop-culture second as a breakout star on this season’s The White Lotus, so we’ll give her Friday Sahara set only a little bit of an edge.

Greatest Meals: Excellent In The Area
The last decade-old dinner collection Excellent In The Area could also be a pricy add-on to a Coachella ticket at greater than $350, but it surely all the time delivers a welcome and scrumptious respite for a pair hours and this yr was no exception. Sunday’s dinner from chef Tara Monsod included a salad stuffed with much-needed precise contemporary veggies, a sweet-and-sour pork tenderloin, and a stunning grapefruit cocktail from Grey Whale Gin. In fact, there are tons of less-bougie choices on the sphere: the go-to meal this yr appeared to be paella, however burritos from chef Eric Greenspan and sandwiches from Florence’s All’Antico Vinaio have been among the many hand-hold winners.

Greatest New Attraction: Pink Bull Mirage
Historically, Coachella has debuted new buildings on the sphere, and this yr probably the most seen additions was the Pink Bull Mirage, a pyramid-meets-apres-ski construction dealing with the DJ-heavy Quazar stage. The worth is a flip off for a lot of — the construction homes a pop-up Nobu restaurant with $350 omakase dinners — however its mark on the sphere, particularly within the dance-adjacent areas, was simple.