Thousands of music fans have gathered in the California desert as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival kicks off its 2026 edition in Indio, with pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter set to headline the opening night.
The festival, which takes place over two consecutive weekends, marks the start of the United States’ major music festival season and features a diverse line-up of global stars. Among the headline performers this year are Justin Bieber and Colombian reggaeton star Karol G.
Friday’s performances will also include rising artists such as Teddy Swims and girl group KATSEYE, alongside established names like Moby.
However, the highlight of the opening night is expected to be Carpenter, who has promised what she described as “the most ambitious show” of her career. The “Manchild” singer first performed at Coachella in 2024, the same year she released the hit single Espresso.
The first day will close with a performance by Italian DJ Anyma, who is set to premiere his new immersive audiovisual production titled “ÆDEN.” The show will later tour internationally with stops planned in cities such as Milan, London, and Seoul.
The festival continues on Saturday with a highly anticipated performance from Bieber, whose appearance comes after a widely discussed comeback performance at the Grammy Awards earlier this year.
Fans have already shared videos online of rehearsals believed to include hits such as Sorry and Where Are Ü Now, sparking renewed excitement among longtime supporters.
Saturday’s line-up also features techno pioneers Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer, K-pop star Taemin, and British electronic pop artist PinkPantheress.
French DJ David Guetta returns to the Coachella stage, while legendary musician David Byrne, co-founder of the band Talking Heads, will also perform.
Another much-anticipated appearance is Nine Inch Noize, a collaboration between industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize, who recently announced a joint album.
The festival’s main stage will also showcase influencer-turned-singer Addison Rae and New York rock band The Strokes, led by frontman Julian Casablancas. The band is expected to release a new album in June after a six-year hiatus.
Sunday’s closing headline performance will come from Karol G, who becomes the first Latina artist to headline the festival. The Latin Grammy-winning singer previously made her Coachella debut in 2022 with a performance paying tribute to icons such as Selena, Celia Cruz, and Daddy Yankee.
Her 2026 performance is expected to reflect the “Caribbean showgirl” aesthetic of her latest project, Tropicoqueta.
Sunday will also mark the festival debut of legendary K-pop group BIGBANG, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a major return to the international stage.
Other performers include punk pioneer Iggy Pop, British DJ Fatboy Slim, electronic group Major Lazer, indie-pop band Foster the People, and singer and visual artist FKA twigs.
The festival will conclude with an open-air screening of the first episode of the third season of the HBO drama Euphoria, starring Zendaya, which is returning to television after a four-year break.
Fans around the world will also be able to watch the performances as the festival is streamed live on YouTube.
