A new study by plinko has revealed that Coachella is America’s most Instagrammable music festival, generating 5.7 million Instagram posts featuring its hashtag. The research analysed Instagram hashtag data for over 40 popular US music festivals to determine which events dominate social media sharing.
Coachella leads the rankings
Coachella, one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, has had a significant impact on music and fashion. This year’s highly anticipated event will include headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G and will take place over two weekends starting 10th April.
Other top festivals
Lollapalooza – takes second place, with more than 1.7 million Instagram posts using #Lollapalooza. The four-day event in Grant Park, Chicago, started as a touring festival over 30 years ago. Its diverse lineup attracts people from all over, and its 115,000 daily capacity reflects its enduring popularity.
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) – ranks third, drawing electronic music fans to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With a capacity exceeding 170,000, the festival will run from 15th–17th May, 2026. #edclv has appeared on over 1.2 million Instagram posts.
Rolling Loud – originally hosted in Miami, Florida, will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in 2026. Headliners include Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, and NBA Youngboy. The festival’s hashtag, #RollingLoud, has gained more than 607,000 posts, placing it fourth.
Electric Forest – held in Rothbury, Michigan, from 25th–28th June, 2026, predominantly focuses on electronic music. #ElectricForest has 606,000 posts, showcasing its social media popularity. Artists such as Chris Lake and Galantis are scheduled to perform.
Bonnaroo – comes sixth, featuring artists across all genres, including Yungblud, The Neighbourhood, and Kesha. The hashtag #Bonnaroo has 574,000 posts.
Beyond Wonderland – ranks seventh, with #BeyondWonderland appearing on 521,000 Instagram posts. The electronic dance music festival holds events in California, Washington, and Illinois.
Summerfest – first held in 1968, is eighth on the list, with 520,000 Instagram posts. Reports show over 600,000 attendees in 2025. The 2026 festival will run over three weekends in June and early July.
Stagecoach – hosting top country music artists at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, follows in ninth place with #Stagecoach appearing on 507,000 posts. Headliners include Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Post Malone.
CMA Fest – held in Tennessee, rounds out the top ten. This four-day event runs from 4th–7th June, 2026, and has a long history dating back to 1972 under the name Fan Fair. #CMAFest has 396,000 Instagram posts.
Top 10 most instagrammable US music festivals
- Coachella – #coachella – 5,700,000 posts
- Lollapalooza – #lollapalooza – 1,700,000 posts
- Electric Daisy Carnival – #edclv – 1,200,000 posts
- Rolling Loud – #rollingloud – 607,000 posts
- Electric Forest – #electricforest – 606,000 posts
- Bonnaroo – #bonnaroo – 574,000 posts
- Beyond Wonderland – #beyondwonderland – 521,000 posts
- Summerfest – #summerfest – 520,000 posts
- Stagecoach – #stagecoach – 507,000 posts
- CMA Fest – #cmaf est – 396,000 posts
Insights from the study
Plinko spokesperson Jeremy Anubis commented on the findings: “Despite Summerfest and CMA Fest being the longest-standing festivals in the top 10, beginning over 50 years ago, they appear further down the ranking. In contrast, the newest event on the list places fourth, with Rolling Loud only just over a decade into its history. The remainder of the most popular events began in the 1990s or later.
“But when it comes to the popularity of events among social media users, it’s clear that the events with the longest legacy aren’t necessarily the most shareable online. The gap between Coachella and every other festival is staggering. Even Lollapalooza, in second, has barely a third of Coachella’s hashtag volume.
“Electronic music festivals appear favoured among attendees, with a third of the top festivals being EDM-focused. This suggests that the visual spectacle, light shows, and stage production may help drive social sharing just as much as the music itself.
“Ultimately, what this data shows is that hashtags have an impact outside of social media. When something is trending and being posted about enough, it translates into ticket sales and demand from fans. This can even extend to bookings, as high-profile singers are more incentivised to perform at festivals with strong online demand.”
The study highlights how Instagram visibility correlates with festival appeal, particularly for events featuring strong visual elements like electronic dance music. Coachella’s desert setting and fashion influence continue to drive its dominance in social sharing, while newer festivals such as Rolling Loud demonstrate rapid growth in online presence.