Take a Head Trip to Indio

DLNews Entertainment: Team Chuyita & Juan Suarez

For one October weekend, the hardest decision at the Empire Polo Club might be when to take a snack break.

Goldenvoice’s new Head Trip festival is bringing Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex and an adventurous collection of DJ partnerships to Indio on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10–11, 2026. The promise is unusually appealing: one main stage, performances that have room to stretch, and a lineup audiences can follow without racing between competing headliners. Goldenvoice puts it simply: “2 nights. One stage. Just this once.” Goldenvoice

For the company behind Coachella and Stagecoach, this is another invitation to experience the desert through music — this time with electronic artists sharing a concentrated, two-night spotlight.

Doors open at 3 p.m. both days at Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio. Saturday’s venue curfew is 1 a.m. Sunday morning; Sunday’s is midnight, an important distinction for anyone arranging the ride home. Admission is restricted to guests 18 and older. All times are Pacific. Official event information

Saturday begins with an especially generous runway. Seth Troxler B2B Ben Sterling are scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m., giving their partnership two and a half hours to develop. Peggy Gou B2B Four Tet follow from 7:20 to 8:50 p.m., before Under Construction — FISHER + Chris Lake — takes over from 9:10 to 10:40 p.m. Calvin Harris is scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. Official set times

Those collaborations provide much of the weekend’s intrigue. “B2B,” shorthand for back-to-back, puts two DJs into a shared set, with the possibilities that come from responding to another artist’s selections. For this preview, Peggy Gou and Four Tet’s pairing stands out as a particularly tempting appointment: the appeal is hearing what their musical conversation becomes.

Sunday starts earlier musically, with DJ Harvey from 3:30 to 5 p.m., followed immediately by The Blessed Madonna from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dom Dolla B2B KETTAMA plays 6:50 to 8:20 p.m., Skrillex follows 8:40 to 10:10 p.m., and Swedish House Mafia begins at 10:30 p.m. Most main-stage changeovers allow 20 minutes, although the published Harvey-to-Madonna handoff has no scheduled gap. Lineup and times remain subject to change. Official set times

There is also a separate reason to wander. Floating Points’ Sunflower Sound System is scheduled throughout the weekend, alongside the main-stage program. Announced as the system’s U.S. debut, the installation will feature Floating Points and special guests inside a decorated tent — an additional listening experience that gives Head Trip more to explore than its main-stage billing alone suggests. Official lineup, Pollstar

Planning ahead matters. As of Sept. 16, the official passes page lists standalone two-day general admission as no longer available, with two-day GA plus shuttle at $589 and VIP at $899. Service fees are included; applicable taxes and shipping are additional. Organizers sell two-day passes only. VIP includes an area adjacent to the main stage, shaded seating, flushable restrooms and separate food and drink vendors. Pass details, Festival FAQ

Free day parking opens at 1 p.m., with spaces available first come, first served. Car camping is listed at $129 plus occupancy tax, with festival admission purchased separately; hotel packages are also offered. Getting here, Camping and packages

Bring a physical government-issued photo ID, register your wristband through the Head Trip app before arriving, and prepare for cashless purchases. Free water-refill stations will be available. Event information, Festival FAQ

Head Trip’s strongest invitation is the chance to settle into a full evening of music and let the artists take their time. Bring comfortable shoes. This itinerary gives them plenty of work.

Tickets and updates: headtripindio.com.