The Ultimate Guide to the 2018 Festival Season

Kicking off with Coachella, festival season is officially here! The big music fest in Indio, California is only the start of the numerous outdoor music festivals that take place throughout the summer, and iHeartRadio has teamed up with McDonald's McCafé, keeping you cool all season long, to bring you a look at what you can expect in the coming months. 

Whether you've already gone to Coachella, or you're headed to Stagecoach, or Governor's Ball, or even Lollapalooza, there are a lot of amazing artists who will be performing at all of the major festivals this season. So, get your best festival outfit on, and take a look at what five of the biggest and best festivals of this season have to offer.

Coachella

Dates: April 13-15 & April 20-22, 2018 | Location: Indio, California

Coachella is a festival so big, it needs two weekends. The music and arts festival welcomes music fans each year as well as hosts a number of celebrities who all attend to watch some of the biggest artists perform. This year, Beyoncé made history with her nearly 2-hour-long set, complete with outfit changes, a Destiny's Child reunion, and more. In fact, many have now referred to the performance as "Beychella."

Other headliners this year include Eminem, who released his ninth studio album, Revival (his first in four years), as well as The Weeknd, who gave an unbelievably emotional performance as he sang songs from his new EP, My Dear Melancholy. Cardi B also drew a huge crowd at this year's Coachella, having just released her debut album, Invasion of Privacy.

And, as always, some of the best times at Coachella happen at the many of the parties that take place throughout the weekend. During the sixth annual Bootsy Bellows Pool Party presented by McDonald's & PacSun, stars like Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Blake Griffin, Hailey Baldwin, Justine Skye, and more enjoyed delicious treats like McCafé® Mango Pineapple smoothies that kept them cool in the hot California sun. The event also included a poolside performance by hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd.

Stagecoach

Date: April 27-29, 2018 | Location: Indio, California

Stagecoach is country music's Coachella — it even happens in the same location! And this year's lineup is amazing. Country legend Garth Brooks is headlining on day three of the festival with his wife Trisha Yearwood, preceded by fellow headliners Florida Georgia Line and Keith Urban on days one and two (respectively). Other country stars performing at this year's Stagecoach include Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves, Jake Owen, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Lee Brice, Brett Young, and more.

And much like Coachella, Stagecoach is also known for its surprise guest appearances. Who could be joining this year's lineup on stage? Will Bebe Rexha perform her collab with Florida Georgia Line? Will Keith Urban bring out Julia Michaels for their new song? Anything can happen!

Governor's Ball

Date: June 1-3, 2018 | Location: New York City, New York

There's nothing like watching your favorite band or artist perform against the iconic backdrop of New York City. This year's Governor's Ball lineup is epic, and headlining the 2018 festival are Jack White, Travis Scott, and Eminem. Music fans can also look forward to performances by Post Malone, Halsey, Silk City (Diplo & Mark Ronson), 2 Chainz, N.E.R.D, Khalid, CHVRCHES, and more, in addition to a special performance from Shawn Mendes.

Bonnaroo

Date: June 7-10, 2018 | Location: Manchester, Tennessee 

Bonnaroo is such a great festival that many of its attendees like to camp out there. Taking place amongst acres of gorgeous Tennessee nature, this festival has over 10 stages and will feature 150 epic performances. Bonnaroo 2018 will showcase performances from artists spanning across all genres including headliners Eminem, The Killers, and Muse. Also taking the stage this year in NYC are rising pop star Dua Lipa, Khalid, rapper Future, dance music star Kaskade, and more, in addition to, not one, but two unique sets from Bon Iver.

Lollapalooza

Date: August 2-5, 2018 | Location: Chicago, Illinois

Lollapalooza is a little later in the summer, but you're going to need all that time to prepare yourself for this epic FOUR-DAY weekend of nonstop live music — that's right! FOUR DAYS! Taking place at Grant Park in Chicago, Lollapalooza boasts headliners Arctic Monkeys, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, and Jack White. And as if those four artists aren't amazing enough, here's who else you can look forward to seeing: Travis Scott, Khalid, Camila Cabello, Post Malone, Tyler, The Creator, Walk The Moon, Dillon Francis, Logic, Zedd, St. Vincent, Gucci Mane, and so much more.

Photos: Courtesy of The Narrative Group