Coachella 2025 didn’t waste a single second easing into the chaos. It burst out the gates on Friday (April 11) under a blazing 100-degree desert sun, with star power turned up just as high. From iconic returns to breakout firsts, Day 1 was stacked with unforgettable performances, surprise appearances, and everything in between.

Let’s break down the biggest moments from a wild opening day in the desert.

LADY GAGA RETURNS WITH “THE ART OF PERSONAL CHAOS”

Lady Gaga came back to Coachella nearly eight years after her surprise 2017 headline set — this time, on her own terms. Her new album Mayhem inspired the entire production, and she wasn’t playing around. Gaga’s set, titled The Art Of Personal Chaos, was more performance art than just a concert. The stage transformed into a surreal opera house, with costumes straight out of a dystopian fairy tale and dancers weaving between madness and melody. She didn’t just sing — she told a story about fame, identity, and the pressure of public personas. The energy? Spellbinding. And this was only night one.

TYLA BRINGS BRAT ENERGY & A KIDDIE POOL

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, Tyla gave Coachella a golden hour to remember. Dressed in a shimmering gold top and armed with a matching mic, the South African star opened her debut set with “Push 2 Start” and brought out Becky G for their duet “On My Body.” Tyla even blended Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat” into her set before climbing atop a massive tiger prop and spray-painting her name in Brat green. When she slowed things down with the acoustic intro to “Water,” then literally splashed into a kiddie pool on stage, it was clear — this was Tyla’s world now.

LISA PROVES SHE’S MORE THAN JUST MOOK

After her recent White Lotus finale appearance, fans were thrilled to see LISA — not Mook — take the Sahara stage. She cleared it up quickly: “This is her when she’s not working, you know?” What followed was a five-outfit-change masterpiece filled with hits like “Money,” “Dream,” and “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me).” LISA didn’t miss a step as she danced in perfect sync with her crew, all while owning the massive stage like it was her living room.

BENSON BOONE’S VOICE BOOMS (AND BRIAN MAY SHOWS UP?!)

Benson Boone launched his dusk performance from the top of a staircase, but the real lift-off came when Brian May joined him for a heart-thumping cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The Queen legend’s guitar riffs combined with Benson’s powerful vocals were chill-inducing. The set ended with “Beautiful Things,” and yeah — that’s exactly what it was.

GloRilla’s GLOCHELLA TAKES OFF

Aliens might’ve landed at Coachella, and GloRilla would’ve been ready. Wearing an alien mask to kick things off, she ripped through tracks like “Hollon,” “Wanna Be,” and the fan-favorite “Yeah Glo.” Even with some mic issues, she delivered raw energy and sneak-peeked a new unreleased track that had the Sahara tent shaking.

MISSY ELLIOTT BENDS TIME & STYLE

Missy Elliott reminded everyone why she’s still at the top of her game. Emerging as a literal transformer, she launched into a genre-bending, past-present-future fusion set. From “We Run This” to “Pass That Dutch,” her performance was pure innovation — showing off the transformation skills she’s been perfecting for decades.

MUSTARD ALMOST BRINGS OUT KENDRICK… ALMOST

California’s own Mustard closed out the Sahara stage with a tour through his own “Eras,” setting the stage to look like his original studio and inviting a dream team of guests: Tyga, 2 Chainz, YG, Big Sean, Ella Mai, and Roddy Ricch. Fans were salivating for Kendrick Lamar to appear — Mustard even teased it with a K. Dot feature cut into “Like That.” But it turned out to be a psych. Still, the vibe was thick, the hits kept coming, and Mustard brought the night to a thrilling, albeit slightly abrupt, end.

YEAT RISES ABOVE A BELL (LITERALLY)

Yeat’s stage was dominated by a massive inflatable bell, and yes — he climbed to the top to debut his single “The Bell.” Mosh pits opened up as he performed “IDGAF” and covered Drake’s “Feel No Ways” in his signature AutoTuned style. With guest Anyma joining for “Work,” and a few new tracks to boot, Yeat left no doubt — Yeatchella was real.

THE PRODIGY IGNITES THE MOJAVE

The Prodigy brought legit rave energy to the Mojave tent, continuing Coachella’s love for U.K. electronic legends. Maxim wore a white “HERO” tee while fans moshed and roared through tracks like “Poison” and “Smack My B—h Up.” A touching silhouette tribute to the late Keith Flint gave the set emotional depth behind the chaos.

THE MARIAS BRING SNOW (YES, ACTUAL SNOW)

The desert cooled down thanks to The Marias. As the sky shifted into twilight, engineered snowflakes fell over the crowd while the band eased into their moody set. María Zardoya was pure chill and elegance, setting the perfect tone as night arrived — and even Troye Sivan was spotted vibing out.

A.G. COOK DROPS HYPERPOP BOMBS

Charli XCX fans got their pregame party during A.G. Cook’s Gobi tent set. With sparkly synths and surprise guest Danny Brown, he lit up the evening with hyperpop remixes and piano stabs. The remix of “Mean Girls” drew massive cheers — and just whet appetites for Charli’s own set on Saturday.

MARINA UNLEASHES HER INNER ROYALTY

MARINA took the stage dressed like Marie Antoinette if she traded Versailles for glitter synths. Debuting her new track “CUNTISSIMO” and teasing her upcoming Princess of Power album, she kept the crowd enthralled. But nothing hit harder than “How To Be a Heartbreaker” and “Primadonna.”

THE GO-GO’S + BILLIE JOE = LEGENDARY FUN

’80s icons The Go-Go’s proved they’ve still got the beat. Belinda Carlisle performed barefoot, and the crowd erupted when Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong joined in for “Head Over Heels.” They ended their set with the timeless “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed,” leaving everyone dancing like it was 1981.

MGK & TRAVIS BARKER CRASH THREE 6 MAFIA

Three 6 Mafia’s set took an unexpected turn when MGK and Travis Barker popped up, demanding the party keep going. Juicy J and DJ Paul jumped back in for “Hit A Muthaf—a,” with Barker jamming out on drums. One of those wild, unforgettable Coachella surprises that keep everyone on their toes.