Gaga’s 2025 Coachella Set Was So Epic, Fans Are Rethinking Beyoncé’s Crown

When Lady Gaga took the Coachella stage in 2025, her electrifying performance set the internet ablaze with comparisons to Beyoncé’s now-iconic 2018 headlining set. For years, Beyoncé’s “Beychella” was regarded as the ultimate Coachella experience—an extraordinary two-hour celebration of Black culture, jaw-dropping choreography, and an unforgettable Destiny’s Child reunion. However, Gaga’s 2025 return brought a whole new energy to the festival, prompting fans to ask the once-unthinkable: could Gaga’s set rival, or even surpass, Beyoncé’s legendary performance?

A Tale of Two Titans

Beyoncé’s 2018 set was a two-hour masterclass in spectacle. Featuring a 32-song setlist, an all-star marching band comprised of HBCU musicians, and a Destiny’s Child reunion that made history, Beyoncé left no stone unturned. Highlights included renditions of “Run the World (Girls),” “Single Ladies,” and “Love on Top,” as well as her now-famous elevated crane moment that wowed fans. The performance, which has since been immortalized in the Netflix documentary Homecoming, became the gold standard for festival headlining acts.

Fast forward to 2025, and Lady Gaga returned to Coachella with a vengeance. Having stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Beyoncé back in 2017, Gaga came prepared this time. Her set ran just under two hours and featured 19 tracks, including showstoppers like “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” “Shallow,” and “Bad Romance.” In true Gaga fashion, the show was an avant-garde feast for the senses, complete with intricate choreography, American Horror Story-inspired dancers, and a dazzling light-up chessboard finale in which Gaga symbolically battled and defeated her own past persona.

The Debate: Beychella vs. Gagachella

Both performances have become benchmark moments in Coachella history, yet they couldn’t be more different. Beyoncé’s set was a deeply cultural, highly choreographed tribute to her roots, blending traditional HBCU band arrangements with her vast pop and R&B catalog. It was a communal experience that redefined what a festival headlining act could be.

Gaga’s 2025 set, on the other hand, leaned heavily on her theatrical instincts and artistry. While not as long or as sprawling in scale, it was a meticulously crafted performance that turned the Coachella stage into a surreal, performance-art wonderland. Her dramatic costume changes, darkly whimsical stage elements, and hypnotic storytelling drew viewers into a world that felt uniquely “Gaga.”

What the Fans Think

The online discourse has been fierce. Some fans praise Beyoncé’s ability to create a cultural moment that transcended music, cementing her place as the ultimate festival performer. Others argue that Gaga’s visionary approach, her immersive theatricality, and her ability to blend high art with pop spectacle offer a fresh challenge to Beyoncé’s crown.

In a recent poll conducted on music forums and social media, the results were surprisingly close. Supporters of Beyoncé point to the unmatched energy of her ensemble, the groundbreaking cultural significance, and the sheer volume of hits packed into her set. Gaga’s fans, meanwhile, highlight her inventive stage design, the emotional narrative of her performance, and the show’s high-concept artistry.

What’s Next?

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: both Beyoncé and Lady Gaga have elevated the Coachella headlining slot to an art form. Their performances have not only captivated audiences but also raised the bar for what’s possible at music festivals. While the question of who reigns supreme may never be definitively answered, fans are left hoping for a dream scenario: a 2026 Coachella reunion where Beyoncé and Gaga share the stage, performing their hit duet “Telephone” in an epic showdown for the ages.

Until that fantasy becomes reality, the debate continues. Beyoncé or Gaga? The question lingers, and the music world is all the richer for it.