The Head Trip festival opens its gates today at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, giving Goldenvoice a new kind of weekend on the same grounds that host Coachella. Calvin Harris headlines Saturday, October 10, and Swedish House Mafia closes Sunday, October 11, in a one off event the promoter has billed as two nights, one stage, just this once.
What the Head Trip festival actually is
Head Trip is an electronic and dance festival run by Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella and Stagecoach. It uses a single stage, so no sets overlap, and according to DJ Mag and Resident Advisor the stage is redesigned for each artist. Romain Pissenem, known for Ibiza megaclub production, is credited with the design. Doors open at 3pm and entry is 18 and over, per DJ Mag.
BrooklynVegan compares the format to Goldenvoice’s earlier one off weekends on the polo grounds, Desert Trip in 2016 and Power Trip in 2023. The difference here is the focus on dance music with a rare amount of attention paid to staging.
Saturday and Sunday lineup
BrooklynVegan is the only source that splits the bill by day. Saturday is headlined by Calvin Harris, with Fisher and Chris Lake presenting their Under Construction show, Peggy Gou b2b Four Tet, and Seth Troxler b2b Ben Sterling. Sunday brings Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Dom Dolla b2b Kettama, The Blessed Madonna and DJ Harvey.
Resident Advisor’s listing also names Avalon Emerson, Ben UFO, Eris Drew, Octo Octa, Mad Professor and Theo Parrish, without assigning them to a day. No source we checked reports a lineup change, though the day by day split comes from a March announcement and set times were not published in the coverage we read.
The Sunflower Sound System
Alongside the main stage, Floating Points is bringing his custom Sunflower Sound System to the grounds all weekend, which BrooklynVegan calls its US debut. The setup uses ten speaker stacks inside a dome tent lined with acoustic panels made from mycelium, and Floating Points plays there with special guests.
Why it matters for dance music in the US
Head Trip puts a house, techno and club focused bill on a stage normally associated with the biggest names in pop and rock. Peggy Gou and Four Tet sharing decks, and Dom Dolla paired with Kettama, are the kind of billing that rewards dance music fans in a market still dominated by festival headliners. It also lands in a busy week for the genre, with Calvin Harris already teasing a North American tour across the US and Canada.
Traffic, crowds and Sunday weather
Local news station KESQ reported that Indio expects about 70,000 people, compared with roughly 125,000 for Coachella, according to city community services manager Jim Curtis. Monroe Street will be closed between Avenue 50 and Avenue 52 on both days as a trial the city may repeat in April. Curtis said, “We are actually going to try something new for this event.” Police have urged visitors to plan alternate routes, bring water and arrive with a full tank. Residents can reach a 24 hour festival hotline at 760 391 4112.
The weather may matter on Sunday. KESQ’s chief meteorologist Patrick Evans wrote that Tropical Storm Rachel arrives late Saturday, with the heaviest rain expected Sunday morning and a First Alert Weather Alert in place. That forecast does not mention Head Trip, and the festival had not published a weather plan in the sources we could read, so attendees should watch the official channels for any schedule changes.
What happens next
Saturday’s show gets underway this afternoon, and Sunday closes the run. Goldenvoice has framed it as a single time event, so whether it returns will depend on how the weekend plays out. For anyone heading to the desert, the practical advice is simple: check set times on the day, allow extra time for traffic, and keep an eye on Sunday’s forecast.
Head Trip festival FAQ
When and where is the Head Trip festival?
It runs October 10 and 11, 2026, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Who is headlining?
Calvin Harris headlines Saturday and Swedish House Mafia headlines Sunday, with Skrillex, Peggy Gou, Four Tet, Fisher, Chris Lake and Dom Dolla also on the bill.
Is Head Trip a recurring festival?
Goldenvoice has marketed it as a one off event, using the tagline “just this once.”
What is the age limit?
DJ Mag reports entry is 18 and over, with doors at 3pm.
Will weather affect Sunday?
KESQ forecasts significant rain Sunday morning from Tropical Storm Rachel. Check official Head Trip channels for updates. Source: KESQ.
