Goodyear Blimp Offers Unique Coachella Aerial Views

Reporters experience the iconic airship's perspective over the music festival

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:28am

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus aerial photograph showing the sprawling Coachella festival grounds below, with blurred shapes and colors representing the crowds, stages, and tents.The Goodyear blimp's aerial perspective offers a rare glimpse of the vibrant energy and scale of the Coachella music festival.Coachella Today

Journalists from The Los Angeles Times were invited to take a ride on the Goodyear blimp during the second day of the Coachella music festival. They discovered that certain footwear, like high heels, are not permitted on the blimp due to safety concerns. The blimp provided the reporters with a rare aerial vantage point to observe the festival grounds and crowds below.

Why it matters

The Goodyear blimp is an iconic American airship that has become synonymous with major sporting and entertainment events. Its presence over Coachella offers a unique perspective on the scale and energy of the popular music festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of attendees each year.

The details

The Goodyear blimp staff, including a dedicated social media manager, hosted the journalists and provided them access to the airship. However, the reporters learned that certain types of footwear, such as high heels, are not allowed on the blimp for safety reasons.

  • The journalists were invited on the second day of the 2026 Coachella music festival, which took place from April 10-12.

The players

The Los Angeles Times

A major daily newspaper serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Goodyear

An American tire manufacturing company that also operates a fleet of iconic airships.

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What they’re saying

“If you'd like to take a ride on the Goodyear blimp, it turns out you can't do it wearing heels.”

— The Los Angeles Times Reporter

The takeaway

The Goodyear blimp's presence over Coachella provides a unique aerial perspective on the scale and energy of the popular music festival, showcasing the airship's continued role in covering major events across the country.