Music festivals have become more than just a place to hear great live music. They’re cultural experiences, weekend escapes, and sometimes a glimpse into what your favorite artist’s creative vision really looks like. I think there’s something special when a celebrity steps beyond performing and actually curates the whole festival experience themselves. It’s like getting invited into their world for a few days.
Here’s the thing. Celebrity-backed festivals bring a different energy compared to the usual corporate mega-events. These musicians handpick the lineups, design the stages, and shape the entire vibe to reflect their artistic identity. Let’s dive into some standout festivals where famous names are calling the shots.
1. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Goldenvoice)
Coachella is organized by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents, though it’s become the proving ground where countless celebrities showcase their influence. The 2025 edition features Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott leading the charge. What makes Coachella fascinating is how it evolved from Paul Tollett’s brainchild into a celebrity playground where stars don’t just perform but genuinely shape the festival culture.
Lady Gaga’s 2017 performance received critical acclaim and was described by several media outlets as “an all-timer experience” and one “for the history books”. It is Gaga’s second time as a Coachella headliner, following her appearance in 2017 when she filled in for a pregnant Beyoncé. The festival has become synonymous with celebrity influence and trendsetting moments that ripple through pop culture for months afterward.
2. Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival
The two-day event was originally conceived as a carnival meant to take place on Fairfax Avenue, but over the course of the past 12 years has grown to become Los Angeles’ premier festival. In 2024 its sold out tenth edition was held on the grounds of Dodger Stadium. In partnership with Goldenvoice, Tyler presents a truly immersive festival environment and experience for fans.
This festival perfectly captures Tyler’s quirky, colorful aesthetic. Year after year, the highly curated lineup features some of the most exciting names in music. The carnival atmosphere makes it feel less like a traditional music festival and more like stepping into one of Tyler’s album covers brought to life. Honestly, the attention to detail here is incredible.
3. Drake’s OVO Fest (October World Weekend)
Drake has been blessing his hometown of Toronto with OVO Fest since 2010, though the festival has evolved significantly over the years. Drake took to Instagram to announce that OVO Fest is officially returning to Toronto after a three-year absence. The festival is scheduled for October 26 and 27, marking a significant moment for both Drake and the city’s music scene.
In 2022, Drake launched October World Weekend as a precursor event. October World Weekend took over his hometown of Toronto from July 28 to Aug. 1 with a killer lineup featuring a Young Money reunion featuring Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj, as well as appearances from Lil Baby and Chris Brown. Dancehall legend Vybz Kartel will be making his debut appearance in the Canadian city during the two-day event in 2025. Drake’s ability to bring together legendary artists and create hometown celebrations shows his commitment to Toronto’s music scene.
4. Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival
Astroworld Festival was an annual music festival run by American music artist Travis Scott, held in Houston, Texas, at NRG Park, near the former site of Six Flags AstroWorld. The festival was first held in November 2018. The festival represented Scott’s vision of bringing back the spirit of Houston’s beloved closed amusement park.
Following the 2021 tragedy, Scott pivoted his live performance focus. The Circus Maximus Tour was Scott’s first concert tour in almost five years, following the Astroworld – Wish You Were Here Tour from 2018 to 2019. The tour started on October 11, 2023, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and concluded on November 19, 2025 in Mumbai, India. Earning a total revenue of $265 million across 85 shows, the Circus Maximus Tour is the highest grossing solo rap tour of all time. While Astroworld Festival itself hasn’t returned since the tragedy, Scott’s touring success demonstrates his continued influence in curating large-scale music experiences.
5. Made In America Festival
The festival was founded in 2012 by rapper and business mogul Jay-Z as a way to bring together music and culture, creating a Labor Day Weekend tradition in Philadelphia. The festival draws about 50,000 fans a day. Since its launch in 2012, the festival has generated more than $180 million in economic activity.
Unfortunately, the festival has faced challenges recently. For the third year in a row, Jay-Z’s Made in America music festival will not be returning to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Labor Day weekend. When last year’s event was called off, Roc Nation said: “We promise an exciting return to the festival”. Despite the current hiatus, Made In America’s impact on Philadelphia and its celebration of diverse musical genres remains significant in festival history.
6. Post Malone at Stagecoach (Featured Headliner)
While Stagecoach itself is organized by Goldenvoice, Post Malone’s evolution as a headliner represents how celebrity influence shapes even established festivals. Stagecoach Festival has become the most iconic and renowned country music fest in America. Set amidst the same backdrop as its sister festival, Coachella, Stagecoach provides three days of the genre’s greatest artists, along with activities for the entire family. Stagecoach embraces the country lifestyle with RV camping, Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse, and endless dancing in the HonkyTonk.
Malone has been confirmed to close out both Sundays, following his headline performance at Coachella’s sister event Stagecoach this year. His crossover from hip-hop to country demonstrates how modern celebrities are redefining genre boundaries and festival experiences. Let’s be real, seeing Post Malone headline a country festival would’ve seemed wild a decade ago, yet here we are.
7. Lollapalooza’s Celebrity Influence
Though Lollapalooza predates the modern celebrity-backed festival trend, its evolution reflects growing star power. Lollapalooza 2024 featured headliners Tyler, the Creator, Hozier, SZA, Stray Kids, the Killers, Future X, Metro Boomin, Blink-182, Melanie Martinez, Skrillex. The Chicago festival has become a destination where major artists don’t just perform but actively shape cultural conversations.
The four-day festival in Grant Park consistently attracts roughly hundreds of thousands of attendees seeking diverse musical experiences. What sets modern Lollapalooza apart is how headlining artists increasingly have input in crafting their stage production and festival presence. It’s become a partnership between promoters and performers in creating memorable experiences.
