Ed Sheeran Delivers Surprise Coachella Set That Stuns the Mojave Stage

In a weekend stacked with headliners, reunions, and surprise cameos, the biggest shock of Coachella 2025 belonged to none other than Ed Sheeran, who dropped in for an unannounced set at the Mojave stage — and absolutely tore the place down.

Known globally for his stadium-packing singalongs and heartfelt ballads, Sheeran reminded the desert crowd why he’s one of the most electrifying live performers on the planet. But this wasn’t a polished, arena-style set. This was raw, intimate, and completely Ed: one man, a loop pedal, and a guitar. It was a masterclass in musicianship, with Sheeran live-looping all of his instrumentation on the fly, layering beats, riffs, harmonies, and percussive guitar slaps into a seamless wall of sound that built and broke like waves over the crowd.

And what a crowd it was — word spread fast around the Empire Polo Grounds that Sheeran was hitting the Mojave stage, and by the time he walked out, the tent was packed to capacity and swelling with energy. Phones were up, voices were loud, and the collective anticipation turned to full-blown euphoria as the first loops kicked in.

The energy was relentless. Sheeran didn’t let up for a second, turning his solo setup into a kinetic, multi-dimensional spectacle. The performance felt part jam session, part heartfelt confession, and part rave, with the audience hanging on every beat drop and looping layer. The Mojave tent shook as the crowd threw themselves into every moment, singing, dancing, and shouting back the lyrics like it was a headlining set.

Between tracks, Sheeran was visibly moved, pausing to thank the crowd and the festival for the unforgettable moment. “I’ve wanted to do this for years,” he admitted, clearly savoring the stripped-down, sweat-soaked setting far from stadium pyrotechnics and jumbo screens. It was a reminder that at his core, Ed Sheeran is still that guy from the pub with a guitar and a story to tell — only now he’s telling it to thousands under the desert sky.

By the time the final loops faded and Sheeran took his bow, the Mojave crowd knew they’d just witnessed one of those rare, legendary Coachella moments people will be talking about for years. Not just a surprise — but the surprise of the weekend.

Photos Courtesy of Coachella