Head Trip 2026: A Local Guide to the Indio Festival

Head Trip is bringing Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia and a hefty lineup of electronic music to Indio on October 10–11, 2026. The pitch is two nights and one main stage. Your group can retire the spreadsheet for a weekend.

The more useful planning starts outside the music: choosing a way home, knowing which wristband you bought and picking up that wristband in the right city. That last one matters more than you might think.

Jump to: dates and location · lineup and set times · passes · wristbands and will call · getting there · what to bring · food

When and where is Head Trip?

Head Trip takes place Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, at Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio. Doors open at 3 p.m. both days. The festival is for ages 18 and older.

Goldenvoice is billing this as a one-time event. If this particular lineup is the draw, don’t build your plans around catching the next edition.

And yes, this is the Coachella venue. It is in Indio. A hotel search for “Palm Springs” can put you at the other end of the valley, so choose your room and transportation together.

Who’s playing?

Saturday, October 10

• Calvin Harris
• Under Construction: FISHER + Chris Lake
• Peggy Gou b2b Four Tet
• Seth Troxler b2b Ben Sterling

Sunday, October 11

• Swedish House Mafia
• Skrillex
• Dom Dolla b2b KETTAMA
• The Blessed Madonna
• DJ Harvey

Floating Points’ Sunflower Sound System is also listed for the weekend. The “b2b” pairings are back-to-back sets, with the named DJs performing together.

Use the Head Trip set-times page and festival app to plan your arrival. Check the lineup again before heading out; a day-by-day artist list isn’t a timetable.

Which pass makes sense?

General admission covers both festival days. GA plus shuttle adds the Any Time, Any Line shuttle service for both days. Within the same pass type, a higher price tier doesn’t buy extra access.

VIP adds an area beside the main stage with shade, seating areas, food and drink vendors, flushable restrooms and bars where you pay for drinks. Choose it for those amenities; don’t read “VIP” as an open bar.

Check the official pass page for current options and the checkout total. Service fees are included in advertised pass prices, but applicable taxes and shipping can still be added. Camping and preferred parking are separate purchases.

Will call is in Indian Wells

Head Trip uses one wristband for both days. Register it through the festival app before putting it on, and leave it on for the weekend. It cannot be shared.

If you’re collecting an order, go to Indian Wells Tennis Garden, 78200 Miles Avenue, entering through Gate 4. There is no order-pickup box office at the festival grounds. The original purchaser needs a physical government-issued photo ID and the order number.

Check the will-call hours and wristband instructions before setting out. Getting dropped at Empire Polo Club without the wristband adds a fairly unnecessary sightseeing trip.

Sort out the trip home before the first set

Head Trip offers free day parking, paid preferred parking and shuttle service. Free parking is first come, first served; cars left after 2 a.m. can be towed. Leaving the car overnight is not your backup plan.

Use the festival’s arrival directions and pickup instructions when you travel. A venue address is useful for understanding the location; event routes determine how you actually get in.

Staying overnight? Our Head Trip lodging and transportation guide connects the different parts of the valley to shuttle stops, driving and camping. On-site car camping requires its own pass, and every camper also needs festival admission.

What should you bring?

• A physical government-issued photo ID. A picture on your phone won’t meet the stated entry requirement.
• A bag within the size limit: 18 × 13 × 8.5 inches.
• An empty plastic water bottle, 64 ounces or smaller. Metal and glass bottles are prohibited. Free refill stations are available.
• Earplugs, comfortable shoes and non-aerosol sunscreen. Check the forecast before choosing your evening layers.
• A contactless card or mobile payment method. The event is cashless.

Read the full allowed-items list before packing. Festival entry generally has no re-entry, with exceptions for campers and accessibility arrangements. Don’t plan on a casual trip back to the hotel between sets.

For access needs, the accessibility guide covers parking, viewing areas, camping and shuttle assistance. Accessibility wristbands are issued on-site; a separate accessibility ticket isn’t required. Contact the shuttle team in advance if you need an accessible shuttle.

Eat before heading in

Put lunch before your departure, especially if you’re collecting wristbands first. Our Indio lunch guide is a starting point for choosing a stop; check the restaurant’s hours against your route.

Outside food and beverages are generally prohibited in the festival, with medical-related exceptions described in the entry rules. Finish the takeout before the gate. A burrito deserves a better ending than the security bin.