Live, in Photos: Corona Capital 2025 with Chappell Roan, Foo Fighters, Deftones, and More

EventsLive, In Photos

Live, in Photos: Corona Capital 2025 with Chappell Roan, Foo Fighters, Deftones, and More

Aurora, Garbage, Weezer, TV on the Radio, Queens of the Stone Age, and more from Mexico City.

Photos: Annie Lesser

November 18, 2025

Corona Capital has always been a destination for Mexican audiences to see bands that have never toured the country, or haven’t visited in more than a decade. This year was no exception: Artists like Chappell Roan and Peach Pit played their first shows in the country, while TV on the Radio took a moment to apologize for their absence since 2011 (the band was originally scheduled to play Monterrey in May 2020, but that show was cancelled for obvious reasons).

Fans were likely disappointed to miss PinkPantheress—who withdrew five days prior to the event, and whose performance would have marked her Mexico debut—and Waxahatchee, who hadn’t played in the country since 2019 and cancelled three days before the festival. There were even more last-minute cancellations, such as Måneskin’s Damiano David, who pulled out due to health concerns the day of his performance, allowing Savages’ Jehnny Beth to be upgraded from a smaller stage to play the much larger Doritos stage.

While most attendees were excited for these firsts, one of the most heartfelt performances came from Aurora, whose set marked the end of her tour. She declared she wouldn’t be performing again for a “long time,” making the show particularly meaningful. She spoke fondly of her last visit to Mexico and how she received a Dr. Simi doll she still cuddles with at home. At that moment, an audience member shook a doll in the air and handed it to her. She tearfully held the doll and thanked the crowd. She ended her set with an emotional bow, hugging and holding her band members.

This year’s lineup featured numerous indie and alt-rock acts that gained prominence in the early 2000s—including high-energy performances from Linkin Park, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Jet, and Cut Copy—evoking nostalgia for attendees of a certain age. Other performers like Mogwai, AFI, and Queens of the Stone Age have been making music since the 1990s but enjoyed surges in popularity during the high school and college years of Millennials, adding to that nostalgia group.

Gen Xers were not left out, as they were treated to a plethora of artists from the late 1980s and throughout the ’90s. The first day was particularly notable, featuring an extremely dynamic performance from Linda Perry and 4 Non Blondes and a show-stopping set that was possibly Garbage’s final concert in Mexico. Foo Fighters were amazing first-day headliners, inspiring the crowd to mosh from the start. At one point, frontman Dave Grohl joked that if fans didn’t know the lyrics, they could just follow along with the 57-year-old next to them—though that was not a problem. Deftones drew the rowdiest crowd of the weekend by far, with nonstop cup-throwing and headbanging. Deftones shirts were also the most common band merchandise seen throughout the weekend, though Oasis gave them a run for their money.

While paper crowns celebrating Corona Beer’s 100th anniversary were the most common accessory on the festival grounds, Pink Pony Club fashion dominated the event’s second day, headlined by Chappell Roan. Fans were thrilled for the pop star’s first show in the country, and many resonated with the LGBTQ+ visibility she brings to the contemporary pop stage (the crowd even chanted “lesbinas” multiple times throughout her set). She was dressed as a banshee with blood coming from her gums, entering at first with a long wedding dress and veil that felt right out of a Guillermo del Toro film, taking off and putting on more layers on the theme throughout her set. She joked that she could only be this ghastly in front of a Mexican audience.

Linkin Park closed the festival with one of the largest crowds of the weekend. Despite the intensity, the audience was surprisingly chill; fans checked on each other’s safety and avoided the shoving seen at other headlining sets or during the Deftones performance just one set earlier. The crowd showed as much love for the band’s new music recorded since Chester Bennington’s passing as they did for their classic hits, and fully embraced new singer Emily Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara.

Street vendor selling merch outside Corona Capital

It’s impossible to discuss this festival without noting the economic state of Mexico City. While the country mirrors the inflation rates of the United States, the capital is hurting from rapid gentrification and tourist appeal—some local businesses have almost doubled their prices over the last two years. Many locals struggle to afford music festivals, and attendance has dwindled at other events in the area, but Corona Capital continues to use exclusive acts to lure people in. The question remains whether the festival can sustain itself amid the increased cost of living in Mexico, as it continues to be one of the most expensive festivals in the world to attend.

This financial tension extended to merchandise, where prices rose to the equivalent of $55 for a souvenir water bottle. Conversely, fans can still view certain aspects of the festival as more affordable than those outside the country due to the reasonable costs of food and drink, including an onsite OXXO selling items at standard prices. Additionally, leading up to the festival gates, dozens of vendors both on the ground as well in official-looking tents line the sidewalks to sell unofficial merchandise.

Check out our full photo recap of all three days of the festival below.

DAY ONE