Canadian pop star Justin Bieber delivered a headline performance at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, with surprise appearances from Nigerian Afrobeats stars Wizkid and Tems during Saturday night’s show at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Bieber’s set marked a major return to large-scale live performances, blending tracks from his 2025 album SWAG II with some of his biggest early-career hits in a nostalgic, career-spanning showcase.
Opening with new material, the 32-year-old singer paused mid-set to reflect on his journey, telling fans: “I feel like we gotta take you guys on a journey,” before revisiting clips from his teenage years and early YouTube performances.
He went on to perform snippets of fan favourites including Baby, Never Say Never, and Beauty and a Beat, drawing huge reactions from the audience.
Midway through the show, Tems joined Bieber on stage for a live performance of I Think You’re Special, followed by Wizkid, who appeared for a rendition of the Essence remix, the global hit featuring both artists. Their joint appearance became one of the night’s most talked-about highlights.
The performance also featured more intimate moments, with Bieber interacting directly with fans, sharing viral clips, and addressing the crowd in a relaxed, conversational style. He also gave a shout-out to his wife, Hailey Bieber, and their son, earning further applause.
Bieber’s appearance at Coachella signals a significant comeback following his 2022 diagnosis with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which led to partial facial paralysis and the cancellation of his 2023 world tour.
Since then, he has gradually returned to music, releasing SWAG and SWAG II and performing at smaller venues before taking the Coachella stage, now seen as a milestone marking his full-scale return to touring.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival continues across the weekend and the following week, featuring a wide range of global artists across multiple stages.
