Coachella and Stagecoach remove all COVID restrictions ahead of 2022 festivals
Both events are due to return to California this April
By Tom Skinner
Coachella and Stagecoach festivals have removed all COVID restrictions ahead of both events returning this spring.
Following a two-year absence, Coachella is due to be held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California across two consecutive weekends (April 15-17 and April 22-24). Billie Eilish, Harry Styles and Kanye West will headline this year’s edition.
Stagecoach will take place at the same venue between April 29-May 1, with Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Luke Combs topping the bill.
The festivals’ promotor Goldenvoice previously announced that attendees would no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to gain entry. Now, it’s been confirmed that it has dropped the requirement to take a negative test in the 72 hours prior to attendance as well as the mask-wearing rule.
The official websites for Stagecoach and Coachella state that these measures have been removed “in accordance with current local guidelines”.
Both sites’ health and safety sections, however, acknowledge that the rules “may change at any time” in line with any potential changes regarding COVID in California or the US.
“COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death,” the statement reads. “There is an inherent and elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place or place where people are present and there is no guarantee, express or implied, that those attending the festival will not be exposed to COVID-19.”
It adds: “If any ticket holder does not comply with any laws, mandates, health orders or directives, promoter or event terms, conditions or rules, then the promoter or event operator may refuse admission to the event or require the ticket holder to leave the venue and such ticket holder will not be entitled to a refund.”
You can read the current health and safety run-down in full here.
Other acts set to appear at Coachella 2022 include Swedish House Mafia, Phoebe Bridgers, Brockhampton, Doja Cat, Big Sean, Lil Baby, Jamie xx, Run the Jewels, Maggie Rogers, Megan Thee Stallion and Disclosure.
Last week, Kanye West threatened to cancel his upcoming Coachella headline slot unless Billie Eilish apologised to Travis Scott. It came after Eilish made a comment at a recent show that some interpreted as a subtle criticism of Scott and his handling of the crowd crush at the Astroworld festival. Ten people died after getting caught up in the “mass casualty incident” last November.
In the wake of the tragedy, Coachella reportedly removed Travis Scott as one of its headliners for this year.