I'm Heading to Coachella—8 Beauty Trends I Expect to See on Every Trendy Festival Attendee This Year

      For music and fashion enthusiasts globally, the eagerly awaited arrival of warmer weather signifies more than just sunscreen, miniskirts, and flip-flop kitten heels. They can sense it with the first spring breeze or hear it amidst the bustling morning traffic—office drafts transform into the warm desert winds of Coachella Valley; honking car horns echo the peak moments of a bass-heavy EDM track. Across various cities, these individuals look forward to the onset of music festival season, which officially begins today. In Indio, California, the renowned two-weekend music extravaganza known as Coachella (or Bieberchella?) has elevated the festival season to new heights. Situated just two hours from Los Angeles, fashion-forward attendees flock to the lively venue to dance, share, and set music festival trends for the year ahead. As I prepare for my own trip to the desert, I am already spotting a surge of dazzling, vibrant, and bold beauty trends achieving main-stage recognition.

      “This year, festival beauty is all about embracing bold, expressive energy; it's a touch extra, and that's a good thing,” states Sydney Stanback, Global Trends and Insights Lead at Pinterest. She highlights aesthetics like “tropical showgirl maximalism” and “butterfly makeup” gaining popularity on Pinterest as festival attendees curate their styles on the platform. “It’s all about making a memorable entrance and having fun—with all gold everything, hair larger than life, and sparkle that arrives before you do.” Continue reading to explore the eight makeup, nail, and hair trends that are defining this year's festival season.

      Saturated Showgirl

      The makeup trends emerging in the festival scene today have a wonderfully campy vibe. Whether due to the revival of 2016 glam (think vibrant eye shadow, bold lips, and strong brows) or the viral influence of Zara Larsson’s maximalist tour makeup, one thing is clear: vibrant colors and glittering details are taking center stage this season.

      “For makeup, there’s an exciting blend of fantasy and performance,” says Stanback. She notes that searches for the trendy “butterfly makeup”—characterized by colorful eye shadow and detailed eyeliner—have increased by 60%. A similarly vivid trend dubbed “peak poptimism” continues to trend, featuring Euphoria-inspired rhinestones, colorful makeup, and frosted Y2K lips, distinguishing it from other looks. In summary, the mantra for festival makeup in 2026 is more is more. Bring on the body glitter and eye shadow.

      If colorful, glitzy makeup represents the sun, then the gritty, edgy counter-trend embodies the moon. Ideal for nights under strobe lights, this smoky trend, rising in popularity under an unusual search term, is already making waves this spring. Stanback reports that the term “pirate eye makeup” has skyrocketed by an astounding 330%, showcasing an eclectic mix of messy makeup—smudged black eyeliner, haphazard silver glitter, and intentionally creased smoky eyes. “She embraces eyeliner,” celebrity makeup artist Loftjet previously stated, referring to the on-trend beauty enthusiast this spring. “She’s unbothered by creasing and she isn’t afraid of a little sweat from dancing until sunrise.” This look seems perfect for anyone aiming to last from festival opening to closing time (“It’s meant to look this way,” you can assert when someone points out your smudged mascara), making it a cool approach to party makeup in 2026.

      Loftjet anticipated that the general public would adopt this alternative look after models walked the runway at the 7 For All Mankind’s popular F/W 26 fashion show, marked by smeared black eyes, and this increase in interest in pirate-themed glamour indicates they are on the right track.

      Festival Nail Trends

      While festival beauty may embody extravagance, experts have noted a shift toward more refined nail trends this year. “Chocolate tones are going to be everywhere this festival season,” says celebrity manicurist Naomi Yusada. For those who prefer letting their outfits and makeup make the statement, Yusada suggests leaning towards neutral shades for nails. She recommends everything from soft caramels to deep, warm browns—beautiful colors that echo the desert landscape—and suggests an ultra-glossy top coat to elevate these shades. “They almost appear to be melting on the nail,” she adds. For a quick application without drying time, try a set of press-ons like the sumptuous gold-and-chocolate brown set she designed in partnership with Magnum Ice Cream.

      If neutrals aren't your style this festival season, don't worry. Nail artist and NYC salon proprietor Krystal Oh reassures maximalists that playful accents like tiny fruit decals and 3D nail art will remain popular this year. She emphasizes “quirky motifs” such as martini glasses and microfruits as key trends, especially when layered under thick, juicy top coats. “These add a whimsical