Coachella 2022: YouTube to livestream performances from music festival

After being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, the festival aims to make its return next year

Coachella will return in April 2022 after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Unsplash 

After a two-year absence, Coachella music festival is gearing for a return in April 2022 – and you don't have to be in the US to catch the show.

The festival will live-stream performances thanks to its partnership with YouTube, the video platform has confirmed.

"We're back and thrilled to be partnering with Goldenvoice for the 10th year to live-stream the iconic Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on YouTube," YouTube said.

“As the world’s biggest virtual stage, we are more excited than ever to celebrate live music and to bring two weekends of extraordinary performances to music fans around the world.”

The Google-owned video platform is returning as an official partner after last teaming up with the festival in 2019. Coachella 2022 will take place over two weekends: April 15 to 17, and April 22 to 24.

The US music festival brings about half a million fans to an open-air site in Indio, California, with past headlining acts including Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Eminem and Radiohead.

However, those who can't attend in person can still enjoy the event thanks to the livestream, though the performances set to be recorded have not yet been announced.

YouTube began streaming Coachella’s opening weekend in 2011 and in 2019, expanding its offering to include a feed of both weekends for the first time. Live streams were divided across three channels but there was a scheduling tool that could automatically switch streams when a select act hit the stage to perform.

The line-up for the 2022 event has not yet been announced. The acts that were supposed to headline the 2020 line-up included Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine and Travis Scott. The 2021 event was also cancelled in January before organisers even had the chance to announce performers.

Back when the festival was announced for 2021, organisers said they would honour tickets purchased for the 2020 event, but it's unclear if that will still be the case for 2022. Advance ticket sales start on Friday at 1pm ET.

The documentary Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert, which profiled the festival's two-decade history, was released on YouTube last April to coincide with the original start date of the 2020 event.