Mark Stefanos
Framework In The Desert delivered its fifth anniversary this weekend, with three nights of banging underground electronic music in the heart of the Coachella Valley. The LA-based music experience producer again knocked it out the park, with top-tier production and a lineup of some of the biggest DJs that hit the festival’s stages, all hosted in a dedicated after-hours setting for over six hours of extra partying a night.
The event, held at the Atlantic Aviation hangar in Thermal (about a 15-minute drive from Indio’s festival grounds), once again transformed the massive space into a pulsing dance music haven, Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12, hosting over 10,000 partiers throughout, and selling out Friday and Saturday before the weekend began.
What started five seasons ago as a bold, public desert afterparty has established itself as a festival fixture. Inside, we found the dancefloor packed and active, nearly from wall to wall. Produced by Long Feng Art Car, the stage was flanked with two mesmerizing animatronic dragons, with go-go dancers performing high wire acts, all tied together under a sea of lights and lasers.
Saturday (@itskinderella)
The 2026 lineup brought underground heat from its slate of superstars. Friday night launched with a Disclosure DJ set peppered with their timeless tracks, before KETTAMA B2B Prospa closed the session with an edge.
Saturday brought a stacked bill to the hangar. Boys Noize, fresh off teaming up with Nine Inch Nails for Nine Inch Noize, and his own individual festival performance, brought a relentless energy. Brazilian phenom Mochakk kept the sound fluid and infectious, and the night capped off with cousins Max Dean B2B Luke Dean sending the crowd home buzzing.
Sunday topped the weekend with Berlin’s Marlon Hoffstadt slate of house and 90s trance, followed by Armin van Buuren sending everyone home with a bang.
Additional performers across the weekend included Riordan, Chloé Caillet, bullet tooth, Azzecca, Stawbry, Talón, and Erez.
Saturday (@itskinderella)
Beyond the music, the event was peppered with some imaginative additions, like an outdoor DJ stage with circus-like performers, steampunk characters skating around and showering the crowd with bubbles, and Long Feng Night Market, a Chinatown-inspired interactive outdoor experience with stalls and some kooky activities.
The Red Bull Bar was set up in the back outdoor area, and Wynn Nightlife provided VIP hospitality services. The event was presented by Framework in association with Wynn Nightlife, CUSP, and Corso Millner Group.
Framework also co-produced the Desert Nights series at the ZENYARA private estates during the weekend, with acts including David Guetta, Green Velvet B2B Afrojack, PAWSA, Adriatique, Bedouin, and WhoMadeWho, among others. Desert Nights returns for Weekend 2. And Framework also had a direct hand in the festival itself, programming the Yuma tent along with Goldenvoice.