Coachella comes twice a year, and continually claims the spot as one of music’s most-watched weekends. From surprise guests to intentional art installations, the weekend is jam-packed with amusement from Friday through Sunday evening, when the headliner’s last note brings the festival to a reluctant close. But ever since Goldenvoice birthed the major musical celebration in 1999, Coachella has been about much more than just the music.

2026, thus far, has been a year full of nostalgia. Artists are leaning into their roots now more than ever before, while the masses yearn for touchpoints that bring them closer to fond memories of simpler times. This year’s “2016 trend” resurfaced many iconic symbols of Coachellas past: flower crowns, crocheted pieces, neon snapbacks — making Coachella 2026 one to watch. The festival itself celebrated a milestone 25th anniversary, while another monumental moment was christened: Karol G’s headline performance, marking the first Latina headliner in festival history. But this year in particular, there was a palpable, yet intangible excitement lingering in the air…some call that Bieber Fever.

Justin Bieber‘s stronghold on the weekend carried far beyond the performance component, with his Skylrk label leading the merch charge. One of the festival’s most coveted on-site activations, the Skylrk Oasis was nestled in the back corner of the festival, aside the sleek merch pop-up, which housed limited-edition hoodies, eyewear, “It’s Not Clocking To You” graphic tees, and other crucial festival accessories.

Mk.gee was another motif, not only appearing as a mainstay on guitar for Dijon‘s Friday evening set, but also appearing during “DAISES” to close out JB’s Saturday night headlining spectacle.

We reported live from the desert and rounded up all of our favorite moments from the three-day festival — everything we loved from Weekend 1 below.

 

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Day 1

Kaytranada’s Set at 818 Outpost:

A Kaytranada set is always a good way to start the day. The DJ primed the crowd at 818’s Outpost event, bringing out Justine Skye to set the tone for Day 1.

Headliner Sabrina Carpenter’s Custom Dior Looks:

Sabrina Carpenter brought her signature, effervescent glam to Indio with her performance. The star’s “Sabrinawood” set paid homage to Old Hollywood and some of the icons that shaped her. As such, she had to dress the part. Dior stepped in to equip the singer with four custom looks that she donned on stage: a red sequined mini dress, a gold sequined mini dress with billowing chiffon sleeves, a white lingerie-informed look, and a black lace corseted bodysuit — the show’s swanky finale look.

Dijon Did That “Talk Down” Remix:

On Day 1, there was simply no better place to be at sunset than the Outdoor Stage for Dijon’s set. With Mk.gee on guitar, Dijon delivered an era-spanning set as the California sky changed colors behind him. A particular highlight, if we had to pick? The “Talk Down” rendition that only certain crowds get if they’re lucky.

Heineken House Served Peak Nostalgia:

Wale performed some throwbacks in the Heineken House, a stage and hangout lounge that put Heineken front and center at the festival. Plastered in green, the House served up beer and good vibes all day long. The stage brought some of the festival’s most nostalgic performances of the weekend, getting the crowd rowdy with a performance of “No Hands” by Wale and “Temperature” by Sean Paul — two 2000s era certified classics.

fakemink’s Big Stateside Festival Debut:

All eyes were on fakemink for his Friday night set. The new face of the UK underground took over the Gobi Stage for his first-ever US festival performance. Mink’s forty minutes on stage were electric, as he flipped between SoundCloud cuts and new era classics, including, of course, “LV Sandals,” “Makka,” “Easter Pink,” and “Music and Me.”

No CAP, Central Cee Rocked Custom Gap:

Gap’s presence at Coachella was palpable – literally, a large number of attendees winding up in one of the label’s limited-edition Coachella zip-up hoodies at some point before the end of the night. Though Gap’s festival fervor wasn’t limited to just the fans, as Central Cee carried a major on-stage moment for the brand. The rapper donned a custom Gap hoodie with “CAP” stamped across the middle, in Gap’s signature style.

Blood Orange Sang in Circles — Literally:

 

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Blood Orange leaves an impressionable mark on all of his music. It’s what gained him an army of loyal fans that came to support his Coachella set on Day 1. That unwavering originality is also what informed his choice to be one of the first artists to perform “In the Round,” a new stage set up at Coachella. The round stage allowed for a unique 360-degree audience view, creating a sense of intimacy no matter where you stood in the crowd.

Justin Bieber’s SKYLRK Oasis Provided a Reprieve from the Raves:

Justin Bieber’s Saturday headline appearance was enough to drive Coachella ticket demand up more than ever before. But he was making waves at the festival before he even took to the stage, with his second-ever IRL retail experience for Skylrk. His brand’s viral renderings of futuristic sunglasses and modular phone cases had fans enamored, so it was no surprise that the pop-up was nearly sold out of inventory by the end of each festival day. A relaxing oasis complemented the shopping experience, where fans could immerse themselves in surreal scenes, chill out between sets on beanbags, and take inventory of their new Skylrk swag.

The xx Played “Intro” as the Outro:

Another solid sunset moment on Day 1 was The xx’s anticipated on-stage reunion. The trio’s Coachella comeback came at about the halfway point of the first day, Romy, Jamie, and Oliver taking their places like no time at all had passed. Marking their first festival appearance in eight years, the group ran through all of the nostalgic songs like “Angels,” “VCR,” and “Crystalized,” and closed out with the iconic “Intro” as the set’s outro.

Surprises:

Carpenter refrained from bringing out a traditional surprise music guest and instead opted for theatrics to complement her dramatized set. Susan Sarandon provided an interlude, reading a monologue between songs, and Will Ferrell acted as an impromptu electrician in a humorous cameo on stage.

 

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Dijon’s raw set kept the audience captivated. Perhaps the only thing that could break their concentration was an appearance by Mk.gee, which was expected, but still just as exciting in actuality. KATSEYE also wowed fans by bringing Huntr/x stars Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna on stage to perform “Golden” from K Pop Demon Hunters.

Lastly, Swae Lee brought his son out in a Spider-Man costume as he performed Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack hit “Sunflower,” and it was adorable. There were some other guests too, and though they weren’t dressed in Spider-Man costumes, they also made waves. His guests included Nav, Jhené Aiko and Rich the Kid.

Day 2

Hailey Bieber’s First Rhode Activation in the Desert:

The First Lady of Bieberchella had a full plate during Weekend 1, as Hailey Bieber also planned her own activation outside of the festival during the high-energy opening. The event was in celebration of Rhode’s latest collab with none other than Justin Bieber himself, and it showcased carnival-inspired games and chromed-out photo opps. The skincare brand’s newly launched peptide lip treatment flavor and acne “Spotwear” drew a buzzy crowd, making the pre-event the spot to be before the show began.

WHATMORE Brought NYC to Coachella Valley:

As WHATMORE’s breakout year continues, the New York City boy band is gearing up for a big festival run this summer. The first on the lineup was Coachella, where the gang brought the authentic NYC energy all the way to the desert. All five members donned full Advisry ‘fits, Keith Herron’s New York-based streetwear-meets-high-fashion label, as they ran through a setlist of their classic TikTok flips and debut album tracks.

A-List Spottings at Revolve Fest:

Revolve Fest continued for its 9th year, unveiling a large-scale setup so grandiose it almost competed with parts of the festival itself. An evening Don Toliver performance surely gave some attendees a tough choice to weigh. Before he took to the stage, preceded by Kehlani and a Chase B DJ set, we kept our eyes peeled for what’s known to be the recurring “influencer Olympics” of Coachella. Here’s who we spotted.

Geese Caught Bieber-Fever:

 

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Gen Z’s favorite emerging band from New York City, Geese, performed a highly anticipated set at the Gobi stage. The performance showed off Geese in their truest form — they sang fan favorites, including “Cobra” and “Trinidad,” and shuffled through Omegle roulette on screen behind them. It seems band members caught a little bit of Bieber Fever themselves mid-set, as they graced the audience with their special rendition of hit track “Baby” merged with “2122.”

The Strokes Mourning Their PinkPantheress Set-Time Overlap:

Seeing The Strokes under the stars in the desert is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. To some, it was merely the prelude to Bieber, but to those with taste, it was the perfect opening act. Julian Casablancas, however, was more concerned with his overlapping “Man, I’m bummed. I wanted to see PinkPantheress. She’s playing at the same time as us,” he said to the crowd. “What the f*ck, man. They f*cked us.”

Bieberchella:

 

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It goes without saying that for many festival-goers, this was the main attraction. Pop mogul Justin Bieber has been on a touring hiatus since 2022. He even refrained from performing in general for a while, but his mass-watched Grammy’s performance gave fans a hopeful taste of what was to come. Little did they know his Coachella performance would stray from the undone nature of his Grammy’s offering. The star’s Coachella set was still equal parts intimate and raw because it felt like watching YouTube videos with an old friend — that friend just happens to be Justin Bieber. But the live experience of watching JB play old hits roulette with his own music was anything but pared back.

 

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A few days before Weekend 1 ensued, local Coachella Valley residents shared recordings of Justin’s throwback tracks echoing through the hills of Indio. It left fans guessing — will he really take a trip down memory lane with us all, or will he stick to SWAG? After playing some SWAG and SWAG II staples, which turned out to be exactly what Bieber did, pausing along the way to laugh at old videos of himself, and even throwing some random memes in between. The overall crowd reaction was positive. Some post-performance reviews questioned the relevance of the performance concept, but to loyal “Beliebers,” it made perfect sense. It all started on YouTube, after all.

Surprises:

Kehlani made her second appearance of the day when GIVEON brought her out as a surprise guest at the Main Stage. Their voices harmonized over her viral track, “Folded,” resulting in a resounding, buttery-smooth symphony. Sombr rose quickly from rookie artist rankings to being widely adored for his 80s-inspired sound. He united his generation with the old guard by bringing out Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. PinkPantheress brought an unexpected fan on stage — Tyriq Withers — and crowned him as her “Romeo.”

Day 3

The Guess Compound’s VERDY Installations:

Guess hosts content creators and celebrities from its community every year in Indio, welcoming them to the Guess Compound. The compound houses each group, while spa services, La La Land Cafe, and a party house are all on site as well. It was a good Day 3 refresh before heading into the festival, and we got a chance to check out exclusive VERDY statues scattered strategically throughout the compound. As for the compounds’ residents? Young Thug, Becky G, and Amelia Gray Hamlin, just to name a few.

FKA Twigs Performs:

On day three of Coachella – especially once the sun goes down. Leave it to FKA Twigs to rev up the energy to a nearly palpable level. Twigs began her set lying down in a bed, before kicking off an impressively choreographed set, complete with a cameo from Honey Balenciaga and a “cellophane” performance.

Heineken Debuted the Clinker:

Heineken’s Clinker is social anxiety’s worst nightmare. The festival-ready smart band wraps right around Heineken cans or glasses, allowing users to turn “Cheers!” into connections. Just one clink of your glasses and the device’s special tech syncs with listeners’ streaming data to show you your best musical matches. This was a hit at the Heineken House, with some game-changing tech that could level up future festival experiences.

Isaiah Rashad Hosted an Impromptu Set at the Do Lab:

 

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Isaiah Rashad‘s album rollout, at first, existed totally separately from Coachella. The rapper kicked off his It’s Been Awful era just last week, ushering in the record’s rollout with a trailer and lead single, “SAME SH!T.” A Coachella performance was not on the docket – until Sunday morning, that is, when Rashad announced he’d be popping by the Do Lab for a surprise 6pm set on Sunday evening. Zay ran through the classics – “Lay Wit Ya” and “RIP Young” included – before getting into “SAME SH!T” and some other new stuff.

Clipse Carries

Something about seeing “Mr. Me Too” with Travis Barker on drums… Pusha T and Malice took over the Outdoor Stage on Sunday evening for a high-octane set filled with New York grit and true hip hop energy.

Karol G’s Milestone Performance as the First Latina Headliner:

 

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Karol G made history as Coachella’s first Latina headliner — and her performance made serious headlines in more than one way. She made five outfit changes, repping Colombia with every new look, including a dazzling tiered skirt that showed off the colors of her native flag. The entire performance was an homage to her Latina roots, as she incorporated a traditional, women-led Mariachi band and guests, Puerto Rican-Cuban artist Mariah Angeliq, and Becky G. Karol G spoke in her native language for the duration of the set, except for when she commemorated the special moment and honored the artists who paved the way before her. “I am Carolina Giraldo from Medellin, Colombia. And today, I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella.” It was a monumental way to end a monumental weekend.

Gap’s Hoodie House Holds It Down Through the Desert Weather:

Stationed next to the Sahara Tent, Gap set up shop for the weekend, equipped with all of the necessary gear for the chilly desert nights. Gap’s Hoodie House was home to a limited-edition release of Coachella x Gap hoodies, complete with an entire customization station.

Thugchella Takes It Up a Notch:

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It was easy to forget that Young Thug wasn’t a headliner. The artist section for Thugger’s set was easily just as packed as Carpenter’s headlining kick off, and just a few levels down from the Bieber crowd extravaganza. Going down on Sunday at 7:50 pm, Thug took the stage for his first major performance since returning from prison. The rapper positioned himself on a UY SCUTI-inspired stage, complete with constellation-style red lighting projected into the sky behind him, and donning a custom Sp5der set and pair of Mattias Gollin-designed Sp5der x Vans. The setlist was expansive, beginning with “Ski” and “Surf” before transitioning into deep cuts like “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” – for the first time live since 2015 – and “Mamacita.” Classics included “Check” and “Best Friend,” with guest appearances coming from Ty Dolla $ign for “CARNIVAL,” NAV for “Trimski” and Camila Cabello on “Havana.” Thug also debuted his first solo foray into the electronic ether, preceding “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” with an EDM track dubbed “Small Walls.” Arguably the best part throughout the night? Thug ensured North West was okay at all times. Before any moshing began, Thugger checked in that North was safe.

Surprises:

 

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Clipse opened their performance with drumming legend Travis Barker, who commanded the Outdoor Stage with “Chains & Whips.” MIA came out for a surprise performance of “Paper Planes” at Major Lazer, and Young Thug brought fans back to an iconic collab with Camilla Cabello, as she joined him on stage to perform the 2017 hit “Havana” along with Nav returning for the pair’s new track, and birthday boy Ty Dolla $ign popping out for “CARNIVAL.” Subtronics brought Destroy Lonely on stage at the Sahara tent, where two worlds unexpectedly collided as they debuted a new single. Little Simz kept the audience on their toes by bringing out JT.