Palm Springs Events by Season: What's Worth Planning a Trip Around

The biggest Palm Springs events land between January and April: the film festival in January, Modernism Week in February, tennis in March, then Coachella and Stagecoach in April. Fall brings a second, smaller season with Modernism Week's October edition, Pride and the holiday parade, and VillageFest runs every Thursday night all year. Pick the event, then plan your Palm Springs weekend getaway around it. If April is the plan, start with our Palm Springs to Coachella guide.

The Palm Springs events calendar at a glance

When	Event	Good to know
January 7 to 18, 2027	Palm Springs International Film Festival	Gala opens January 7, screenings start January 8
February 11 to 21, 2027	Modernism Week	Home tours, talks and parties all over town
Usually early to mid March	BNP Paribas Open	Pro tennis down the valley in Indian Wells
April 9 to 11 and 16 to 18, 2027	Coachella	Empire Polo Club, Indio
April 23 to 25, 2027	Stagecoach	Same grounds, the weekend after Coachella
Usually late May into June	Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week	Ten days of dining specials across the valley
October 15 to 18, 2026	Modernism Week, fall edition	A shorter, quieter version of February
November 6 to 8, 2026	Palm Springs Pride	Parade on Palm Canyon Drive on November 8
December 5, 2026	Festival of Lights Parade	Downtown on Palm Canyon Drive, evening
Every Thursday	VillageFest	Downtown street fair, year-round

When is the best time to visit Palm Springs for Coachella?

Coachella runs over two April weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. In 2027 that's April 9 to 11 and April 16 to 18. Stagecoach, the country festival on the same grounds, follows on April 23 to 25, 2027. Indio is about 25 miles from downtown Palm Springs, so most people stay in Palm Springs for the restaurants and the pools, then make the drive.

Book as early as you can. April is the most competitive stretch of the year, and festival weekends fill months out. Arrive Thursday if you can swing it, give yourself a pool morning before each festival day, and plan the drive home for far longer than the map says. Our Coachella guide and Stagecoach guide cover tickets and transport.

April is also peak weather. Days are warm, nights are comfortable, and the town is at its busiest. If a festival isn't your thing, the weeks between the two Coachella weekends and right after Stagecoach are still lively, just easier on the dinner reservations.

What's on in Palm Springs in winter?

Winter is the cultural season. The Palm Springs International Film Festival opens with its awards gala on January 7, 2027, then screens films through January 18. Individual screenings are open to the public. Our film festival guide has the details.

Modernism Week takes over February 11 to 21, 2027, with home tours, lectures, parties and the chance to see inside mid-century houses you'd otherwise only drive past. Tickets for the popular tours go fast, so check the Modernism Week guide early. In March, the BNP Paribas Open brings pro tennis to Indian Wells and pulls crowds from across the valley.

What's happening in Palm Springs in May and summer?

Palm Springs in May is the sweet spot for people who want warm pool days without the April crowds. The festivals are done, the heat is building (highs often reach the mid 90s), and dinner reservations get easier. The Palm Springs Art Museum offers free admission on Thursday evenings, VillageFest keeps going, and Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week usually starts in late May and runs into early June.

Summer is quieter on purpose. Afternoons often top 100 degrees, so the town shifts to mornings outside, long pool afternoons and late dinners. See our Palm Springs weather guide before you pick dates.

Fall and holiday events in Palm Springs

October is when the season restarts. Modernism Week's fall edition runs October 15 to 18, 2026, a shorter version of February with smaller crowds. Palm Springs Pride follows November 6 to 8, 2026, with the parade heading down Palm Canyon Drive on Sunday, November 8.

On December 5, 2026, the Festival of Lights Parade fills downtown Palm Canyon Drive with lit-up floats and marching bands after dark. For concerts, Broadway tours and comedy, the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert runs its season through the cooler months, with The Bodyguard in February 2027 and The Sound of Music in May 2027. Looking further out, Desert X, the valley-wide outdoor art exhibition, returns October 30, 2027 and runs through May 7, 2028.

What is VillageFest night in Palm Springs?

VillageFest is the downtown street fair that takes over Palm Canyon Drive every Thursday evening. Expect artists, local makers, food stalls, produce and sweets. It runs year-round, with later summer hours (7PM to 10PM from June through September), so check the city's site for the current schedule before you go. It's free, and it's the easiest way to see downtown on a weeknight.

How to plan a celebration trip around a Palm Springs event

Events are a great excuse for a group trip: a birthday during Modernism Week, a girls' weekend at Pride, a friend reunion built around Stagecoach. The trick is a home base where everyone can actually hang out between plans.

The whole hotel. Just your group. A full hotel buyout at The Muse gives you all nine suites and nine bathrooms for up to 22 overnight guests, plus the courtyard pool, the six-person hot tub, the outdoor fireplace and the pergola swings. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included, and downtown is minutes away by car. Smaller crew? Book a few suites around the same pool.

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Palm Springs events FAQ

When is the best time to visit Palm Springs for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival?

Plan for April. Coachella 2027 runs April 9 to 11 and April 16 to 18 in Indio, and Stagecoach follows April 23 to 25. Book as early as possible, since festival weekends fill months ahead.

What are the best times of year to visit Palm Springs for outdoor festivals?

January through April for the big ones, plus October and November for Modernism Week's fall edition and Pride. Summer has fewer outdoor events because of the heat.

When is VillageFest in Palm Springs?

Every Thursday evening on Palm Canyon Drive downtown, year-round. Summer hours run 7PM to 10PM from June through September.

Is May a good time to visit Palm Springs?

Yes, if you like heat. May brings warm pool days, fewer crowds than April and easier dinner reservations, and Restaurant Week usually starts at the end of the month.

Is The Muse Hotel adults-only?

Yes. The Muse is adults-only, and all guests on a full hotel buyout must be 21 or older.

Pick the event. We'll save you a lounger for the afternoon in between. Send us your dates.