Organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and sister event the Stagecoach Country Music Festival announced that they’d be dropping previously announced COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking requirements to attend the three weekend, three-day shows scheduled for Indio in April.

“As we prepare to spend an incredible weekend in the desert together we are announcing that there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Stagecoach 2022, in accordance with local guidelines,” a social media post from Stagecoach read on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Festival Admission Update: As we prepare to spend an incredible weekend in the desert together we are announcing that there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Stagecoach 2022, in accordance with local guidelines. Visit https://t.co/mSx3KWeASg for more info pic.twitter.com/wy4VzOTPBU

— Stagecoach Festival (@Stagecoach) February 15, 2022

Coachella also updated its website to reflect that it would be following local guidelines and not requiring vaccinations, testing or masking.

Coachella, headlined this year by Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Ye (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) will be held over consecutive weekends, April 15-17 and 22-24, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. The event has a capacity of more than 100,000 per weekend.

Stagecoach, which will be headlined by Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett the following weekend, April 29-May 1, has a capacity of more than 75,000.

Goldenvoice, a concert promoter that’s part of the larger company AEG Presents, puts on both events. Both Coachella and Stagecoach fall under the mega events category with the current COVID-19 requirements and recommendations in California to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Neither Coachella nor Stagecoach happened in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, even as other major festivals returned around the country last summer and fall.

Not requiring masks, vaccinations or coronavirus testing for an event like Coachella or Stagecoach “just sounds like a recipe for trouble,” said Richard Carpiano, a public health expert and public policy professor at UC Riverside.

“We know enough at this point about how important vaccinations are in terms of personal and collective safety and you’ve got an event that’s drawing people from all over the place,” he said. “This is an infectious disease and then (festival goers) could be passing it on to others … There’s all sorts of unintended consequences that could be coming out of this.”

A middle ground on COVID-19 prevention measures at festivals such Coachella is possible, Carpiano added.

“For a venue that was responsible enough to shut things down (earlier in the pandemic), this really seems like a radical shift back in a way.”

Coachella’s site does state: “However, the event shall be presented in accordance with applicable public health conditions as of the date of the event and which may change at any time as determined by federal, state or local government agencies or instrumentalities, artists or the promoter; such requirements may include, without limitation, changes to capacity, attendance procedures and entry requirements such as proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID-19 test, and other protective measures such as requiring attendees to wear face coverings.”

Before the pandemic, face coverings were not uncommon at Coachella and Stagecoach because of the wind and dust that can sweep through the venue.

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Fans commented on Stagecoach’s Instagram post with support for the change to the COVID-19 policies, but some complained because they had already returned their passes for refunds.

However, on the Coachella Subreddit, there was more discussion about the changes, with multiple commenters disappointed. Some pointed to festivals, such as Lollapalooza, that successfully implemented vaccination and testing requirements. Many users said they would still wear a mask because of the dust at the festival.

Super Bowl LVI, which just happened at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Feb. 13, had an attendance of approximately 70,000 people and required proof of vaccination or a negative test for entry. Masks were also required, although few people wore them indoors.

Beginning Feb. 16, the California Department of Public Health is recommending proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test if more than 10,000 people attend an outdoor event, up from 5,000 set during the surge.

In the past, Riverside County Supervisors have said they want to follow the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, and have rescinded orders that went beyond them at the time.

In August 2021, AEG presents, Goldenvoice’s parent company, announced that vaccinations would be required for its festivals and live events after Oct. 1. However, in October, Goldenvoice updated that stance and said that each festival could have its own health policy and updated the websites for events including Coachella and Stagecoach to reflect the option of proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test taken before the start of the festival.

Goldenvoice’s recent California Vibes Reggae Festival, which took place in Long Beach earlier in February, required attendees to show proof of full vaccination and proof of a negative PCR test taken within two days of entering the festival or a negative antigen test taken within one day of entering.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Staff Writer Jeff Horseman contributed to this report.

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