Coachella Kicks Off With Tradition of Beer Shotgunning

For hundreds of festival-goers, the annual pre-show beer shotgun has become a beloved ritual marking the start of Coachella weekend.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:39pm

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An abstract close-up image of shattered glass beer bottles and crumpled aluminum cans, capturing the celebratory energy and ephemeral nature of the Coachella beer shotgun ritual through dramatic, high-contrast lighting and textures.The annual Coachella beer shotgun ritual leaves behind a glittering trail of shattered glass and crushed cans, a testament to the festival's vibrant community spirit.Indio Today

Every year, just before the Coachella music festival gates open, hundreds of attendees gather in the campgrounds to participate in a long-running tradition of shotgunning beers together. The event was started around 2013 by a Coachella subreddit moderator named Planty Stamey, who continues to host the gathering and provide non-alcoholic beers for the ritual. What began as a small group of friends has grown into a beloved pre-show ritual for the festival's most dedicated fans.

Why it matters

The beer shotgun has become an integral part of the Coachella experience for many attendees, serving as an annual reunion and a rite of passage for first-time campers. The tradition reflects the festival's vibrant community spirit and the ways in which music fans have built their own unique cultural practices around major events.

The details

The beer shotgun ritual involves festivalgoers gathering in the Coachella campgrounds shortly before the festival gates open, with each person holding a beer and keys in their hands. On the count of three, the entire group shotguns their beers in unison, cheering 'Happy Coachella!' Planty Stamey, the event's founder, provides non-alcoholic Heineken for those who no longer drink. The tradition has grown from around 20 people in the first year to sometimes drawing over 450 participants, with newcomers and longtime friends alike joining in the celebratory chug.

  • The beer shotgun takes place annually on the Friday morning of Coachella, just before the festival gates open to the public.
  • The tradition was started around 2013 by Planty Stamey, a moderator of the Coachella subreddit.

The players

Planty Stamey

The founder of the Coachella beer shotgun tradition, Stamey is a longtime Coachella attendee and moderator of the festival's subreddit community.

Kelsi Halverson

Another moderator of the Coachella subreddit who has been attending the beer shotgun since 2019.

Travis F.

A first-time Coachella attendee who participated in the beer shotgun for the first time in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Even people that don't know about it, they're like, 'Oh, what's going on?' I'll bring a rack of beers and just start asking people if they want to chug beers with us, throwing beers to people.”

— Kelsi Halverson, Coachella subreddit moderator

“I'm trying to find all the traditions. I saw this and was like, 'Why not?'”

— Travis F.

“It's so fun to hear all the keys doing the hshh-hshh-hshh and then just like one big collective shhh.”

— Planty Stamey, Founder of the Coachella beer shotgun

What’s next

The beer shotgun will take place again on the Friday morning of Coachella 2027, marking the start of another festival weekend for the event's dedicated fans.

The takeaway

The Coachella beer shotgun has evolved from a small gathering of friends into a beloved pre-show ritual that brings the festival's community together in a spirit of celebration and camaraderie. The tradition reflects the unique cultural practices that music fans have built around major events, creating their own traditions and shared experiences.