Coachella 2025 is on fire this year — and it’s not just the headliners bringing the heat. Fans at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, were treated to surprise appearances by some of the biggest names in music and pop culture. From Billie Eilish to Bernie Sanders (yes, really!), the weekend was full of “OMG!” moments that left the crowd screaming.
The music festival is happening over two weekends — April 11–13 and April 18–20 — with epic headliners like Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott. But even those massive stars had to share the spotlight with all the surprise guests that lit up the stages.
Let’s take a look at some of the wildest and most exciting surprise performances from Weekend 1.
🎤 Billie Eilish + Charli xcx = Pop Power!
On Day 2, fans were already going crazy for Charli xcx’s set — and then boom! Billie Eilish appeared on stage. The crowd totally lost it. The two stars performed together like they’d been planning it forever.
💙 Troye Sivan Joins the Party
Right after Billie, Troye Sivan popped up — also during Charli xcx’s performance! Fans got back-to-back surprises, and Troye looked totally at home dancing and singing on stage.
🎻 Maren Morris + the LA Philharmonic = Magic
Country star Maren Morris brought some serious class when she joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Gustavo Dudamel on the Outdoor Theatre stage. It was a mix of country and classical, and it sounded amazing.
🎤 Flavor Flav + Yo Gabba Gabba?!?
Talk about unexpected! Flavor Flav joined the fun during a special Yo Gabba Gabba show. Kids and grownups alike were bouncing around to the beats.
🎸 Brian May of Queen with Benson Boone
Yes, you read that right. Brian May, the legendary guitarist from Queen, teamed up with pop star Benson Boone on April 11. Together, they lit up the Coachella stage with some serious rock energy.
😂 Weird Al Yankovic Gets Weird with Yo Gabba Gabba
If you thought Flavor Flav was a twist, just wait — Weird Al showed up too! He brought his classic comedy and quirky music to the Yo Gabba Gabba stage, and it was everything fans hoped for.
🌟 Lorde Joins Charli xcx
Charli xcx was clearly the queen of surprise guests this year! On the same night she performed with Billie and Troye, she also welcomed Lorde. The crowd sang along as these two pop stars teamed up for a dreamy moment.
🎸 Billie Joe Armstrong Rocks with The Go-Go’s
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong teamed up with The Go-Go’s — now that’s a rock dream come true. Together, they brought punk energy to the Outdoor Theatre on April 11.
🎧 Zedd + the LA Philharmonic? Yes, Please!
Zedd showed up in a totally new way — performing live with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The mix of EDM and classical music gave fans goosebumps.
🎤 Three 6 Mafia’s Star-Studded Set
Three 6 Mafia brought out not one, not two, but four surprise guests: MGK, DJ Paul, Travis Barker, and Wiz Khalifa. It was a nonstop party at the Sahara Stage.
🎶 LL Cool J + the LA Philharmonic
Hip-hop legend LL Cool J joined Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil on stage. It was a perfect blend of old-school cool and orchestral flair.
👏 Bernie Sanders Takes the Mic with Clairo
Now this one shocked everyone. Senator Bernie Sanders made an appearance alongside indie singer Clairo at the Outdoor Theatre. He even gave a short speech about hope and music bringing people together.
👑 Queen Latifah, Ciara & Victoria Monét with Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion brought major girl power with her — inviting Queen Latifah, Ciara, and Victoria Monét to join her on stage. It was one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend.
🎤 Peso Pluma & Junior H
These two rising stars teamed up and brought Latin music to the main stage. Their performance was full of energy, swagger, and nonstop crowd love.
🌟 Noah Cyrus + Shaboozey = Sweet Vibes
Noah Cyrus showed up to sing with Shaboozey, and the chill vibe had fans swaying under the desert sky.
🔥 Tyga & Ty Dolla $ign Turn Up
This duo rocked the Sahara Tent with their surprise performance, bringing a wave of West Coast heat to the stage.
🎶 Zedd x Maren Morris x Julia Michaels x John Mayer?!
Zedd had a lot of friends come out to play. Maren Morris, Julia Michaels, and even John Mayer joined him for different songs. It was like a mini all-star concert inside his set.
🌸 Jennie from BLACKPINK + Kali Uchis
Jennie didn’t come alone — she brought Kali Uchis on stage for a dreamy, colorful performance that had K-pop and Latin fans united.
💃 Tyla + Becky G + WizTheMc
Tyla was another surprise-heavy star this year. She performed with Becky G and WizTheMc, lighting up the stage with danceable beats and bold fashion.
🔥 Mustard’s Star-Packed Sahara Set
Producer Mustard had an epic lineup of friends join him throughout Weekend 2, including Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign, NAV, and Roddy Ricch.
🎻 A Philharmonic Finale with Big Names
To top it off, the LA Philharmonic returned with Dave Grohl, Natasha Bedingfield, Cynthia Erivo, Laufey, Paco Amoroso, and CA7RIEL. They blended styles and sounds in a way only Coachella can pull off.
💃 Addison Rae + Charli xcx
And finally, TikTok star Addison Rae made a surprise appearance too — performing with Charli xcx (of course!) at the Gobi Tent.
Coachella 2025 isn’t over yet — and if Weekend 1 was this crazy, who knows what surprises are coming in Weekend 2? Stay tuned!
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