The Shoes You Should Wear at Coachella This Year

As festival-goers gear up for the 2026 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, slated to take place April 10-12 and 17-19, the question of what footwear to bring might weigh heavily on their minds. Guests have to navigate the dusty desert setting of the Coachella Valley, in addition to spending long periods on their feet, running from one stage to another. That said, attendees want to strike a balance between style and practicality, often wearing shoes that they won’t mind getting a little dirty.

In 2025, the footwear showcased at the star-studded festival ranged from the slim sneaker trend (see Lori Harvey’s New Balance x Miu Miu sneakers) to knee-high boots (see Victoria Justice’s Paris Texas pair). It was also the year of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour, and the staple cowboy boot might have been even more prevalent than usual at Coachella.

For 2026, we can expect the overall bohemian essence of Coachella fashion to keep going strong, and the usual sturdy footwear categories of boots and sneakers to stay on the ground. But we can anticipate the specific types of shoes to reflect current trends to some extent, so FN has rounded up the styles that will dominate the desert this spring.

Cowboy Boots

While the Western trend might be hotter than usual right now, it’s been a longtime staple at Coachella. With those two facts combined, expect Western boots to take up a significant amount of real estate in Indio, Calif. Considering the hot weather, shorter cowboy boots might be the way to go.

If you want to experiment with colorful Western boots, there’s no time like the present. Isha Nicole, senior vice president of creative and marketing at Boot Barn, predicted to FN that new cowboy boot trends for spring 2026 would include greens, ranging from jelly mint to teal, blues, and pops of pink and fuchsia, while a wide range of browns and whites will remain strong in addition to classic Western details.

Moto Boots

Moto boots are a classic style that easily fit into the Coachella aesthetic, a slightly edgy counterpoint that balances the romantic elements of bohemian outfits. The style seems to be top of some designers’ minds lately, having shown up on the runway as part of several fall 2026 collections, including Dior with a brown suede ankle boot featuring gold details. While slated for fall, a similar beige style could seamlessly complete a range of Coachella looks, while a classic black leather moto boot would also be a versatile option.

Skate Shoes

As Vans began experiencing a resurgence last year and luxury brands, including Prada and Dior, debuted styles reminiscent of Vans, it became clear that the skate and vulcanized shoes were experiencing a comeback. Associated with streetwear, the style became one of the dominant trends of the 2010s, and it certainly found its way to Coachella during that period. It can still be seen in our current decade — in 2025, Teyana Taylor showcased the Vans x Satoshi Nakamoto Pearlized Army sneaker at Coachella’s Neon Festival.

Avoid: Flip-flops

While flip-flops might have become one of the trendiest shoe styles last year, coinciding with an overall shift toward slim footwear, they may not be the best shoes for a music festival. It might sound nice to let your feet breathe in the hot weather, but the typical flat flip-flop offers little support and leaves your feet vulnerable in a setting that can easily veer toward chaos. Thus, the boot and the comfortable sneaker thrive at Coachella.