Music. Fashion. Spotlight.
As the 25th edition of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival approaches, campers around the world prepare for the heat of two lively weekends of music. From April 10-12 and April 17-19, a diverse range of artists meet in the deserts of Southern California to perform their top hits for hundreds of thousands of fans. Along with the strong musical aspects, Coachella has a huge culture of diverse fashion among campers. Every year, campers prepare their best outfits for Coachella, making it so much more than a music festival.
Friday, April 10 and 17, 2026
The first night is known to be the boldest, its eye-catching nature setting the tone for the festival’s unique vibe. The headliner for the night, Sabrina Carpenter, elicited a tone of playful, confident and flirty energy, starting Coachella with a kick.
Carpenter’s setlist consisted of her top hits, ranging from the flirtatious “House Tour” to an emotionally enticing conclusion of “Tears”. In addition to her singing, the pop star led an all-out entertainment-based performance with multiple dialogues, outfit changes and set customizations.
At Carpenter’s second performance, she surprised the crowd by bringing out the “Queen of Pop”, Madonna. The moment caught many fans off guard, adding to the “anything-can-happen” energy of the festival. The two artists sang a duet, exhibiting some of Madonna’s songs such as “Like A Prayer” and “Vogue“.
Influencer and Internet Personality Martin Andrijasevic expressed his opinion on Carpenter’s set, “No shade on Sabrina, but it felt like a little too much theatrics versus actually just playing the music.” Andrijasevic then went into depth on how he felt it conflicted with the set tone of the festival. “I think the Coachella crowd is just there to listen to your hits, it’s not really supposed to be a concert vibe.”
Saturday, April 11 and 18, 2026
Besides its official classification of Coachella, a witty nickname of “Bieberchella” seemed to stick when referring to this year’s festival. The singer-songwriter Justin Bieber is no novice to fame, but he is a first timer at the “Greater Palm Springs”.
Bieber took a unique approach to his set, incorporating a nostalgic and interactive performance. After an exhibition of his new releases, Bieber took a unique route of quirkiness, playing various YouTube videos and memes. It was a throwback for loyal fans to reminisce on his early pop days and his most viral moments.
The crowd had a very contrasting range of opinions due to his unconventional show. Some fans expressed frustration due to the prolongation of his old hits, as the nostalgic beats were played at the end. Others questioned Bieber’s seriousness, attributable to his leisurely attire as he searched through random videos.
On the second weekend, there were many guests featured on Bieber’s headlining Coachella set. One notable guest was Billie Eilish, he serenaded his 2009 hit “One Less Lonely Girl” to her. The moment was heartfelt for Eilish and Bieber, since she’s been a fan of him growing up and experienced a special friendship as he mentored her through early fame and music-making.
Other artists that performed with Bieber during his set were SZA performing “Snooze”, Sexyy Red performing “Sweet Spot” and Big Sean performing “As Long As You Love Me” as well as “No Pressure”. These rap and R&B songs shifted the vibe from prior tender-hearted melodies to a hyped, energetic atmosphere.
Sunday, April 12 and 19, 2026
As the fun-filled weekends came to an end, Coachella ensured a strong finale. With an energetic, captivating and unforgettable performance, Colombian pop star Karol G made history as the first Latin artist to headline at Coachella.
Her set had many special moments, surprises, six costume changes and many guest artists. The guest artists that joined and performed with Karol included Becky G, Mariah Angeliq, Greg Gonzalez and Wisin. After an eventful concert, she ended the night with ‘Provenza’, accompanied by fireworks reflecting the energy of the performance.
Including more guest artists, Karol G brought out J Balvin, Ryan Castro and Peso Pluma. Before another high-energy performance like last weekend, she opened with a “Latina Foreva” video message. After performing with her guest artists, she announced her new upcoming tour, “Nos Vamos de Tour”.
Not only did she make sure to put on an unforgettable show, but she also brought social awareness to the current state of the Latino and Hispanic community in the U.S.
“Latinos have been struggling in this country lately… we stand for them,” said Karol G. As a Latina herself, she makes sure to advocate for Latino representation and social justice in the U.S.
The 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival brought big performances from Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G, ensuring a weekend to remember. On top of the musical aspects, standout fashion and unique styling on campers was a notable trait of the lively weekend, making it more than just a musical festival.
The next Coachella 2027 will take place over two weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California: April 9–11th, 2027, and April 16–18th, 2027. Tickets for both weekends are available to purchase on May 1, 2026, via Coachella’s website.
