Coachella 2025: Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar decline headlining gigs—has music festival lost its golden touch?

Coachella, once the gold standard of music festivals, has seemingly lost its charm over the years. Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar declining the invitation to headline Coachella 2025 has once again called the festival's status into question. The annual festival will be held across two weekends—April 11-13 and April 18-20—next year. The headliners for 2024 were Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator, and Doja Cat.

Coachella 2025: Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar decline headlining gigs?

A recent Bloomberg report has revealed that both Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna have turned down headlining Coachella in 2025. Kendrick has previously performed on the main stage in 2012 and headlined the festival in 2017, while Rihanna has not headlined Coachella; she did perform at the festival in 2012 and 2016.?

Kendrick Lamar has a busy 2025. Last month, it was announced that Kendrick would be performing the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. Following this, he will embark on a tour of the major stadiums, which leaves him with little to no time to prep for Coachella. RiRi, meanwhile, is reportedly focused on her business ventures, particularly Fenty Beauty, which she plans to expand next year.?

Fans react to RiRi, Kendrick's no to Coachella

Amid the declining popularity of Coachella, fans were disappointed to hear Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar passed on the headlining gig as they thought the power duo could be a saving grace of the desert festival.?

One user wrote. "That's a bummer! Kendrick and Rihanna would’ve been epic headliners for Coachella. It's always tough when big names turn down those kinds of gigs."

Another user wrote, "Omg, that's kind of wild. I was so hyped for Kendrick and Riri!"

A third user highlighted. "To be fair, preparing for the Super Bowl is already a lot; I’m not surprised Kendrick said no."

?A fourth netizen joked, "Coachella’s falloff needs to be studied in universities."

Has Coachella lost its charm?

Despite boasting an eclectic lineup featuring international superstars, nostalgia acts, and up-and-coming artists, Coachella has lost its usual sparkle in recent years. With the advent of influencer culture hoarding for Instagrammable pictures and a lack of show-stopping performers, the festival's waning influence has been evident in terms of low turnout. The soaring ticket prices further fueled speculation about its declining visitors. The rise of festivals like Lollapalooza, ACL, and Summerfest—offering a diverse set of experiences—could be another reason for Coachella's fall-off.?