It’s official: Coachella won’t be happening this year. The Indio, Calif.-based music festival announced on Wednesday (June 10) that it would be postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The news is especially hard to swallow for fans of Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean, who were all set to headline the 2020 festival, which had originally been postponed to October from its original dates in April. But while we mourn the cancellation of the annual party in the desert, it’s worth asking: who should headline in 2021?
There’s no shortage of options. Aside from this year’s headliners, the first major artist who seems like an obvious choice would be Lady Gaga, who last played the festival in 2017 as an emergency replacement for a pregnant Beyoncé and reportedly had a secret Chromatica-themed set planned for this year’s first weekend. Would you be happy with a Chromatica-fueled round two of #Gagachella?
Taylor Swift, who has postponed her own Lover Fest until next year, also comes to mind as one superstar who has yet to play Coachella (and could continue the run of major pop headliners in recent years that this year’s line-up was missing). Assuming that her much-anticipated, reggae-fueled ninth studio album has finally seen the light of day by next summer, Rihanna would be another electrifying option after such a long wait.
Or would you rather see a festival circuit regular like Lana Del Rey, Calvin Harris or Run the Jewels finally move from second row of the poster to the top billing they deserve?
Vote in Billboard‘s poll below and let your voice be heard!