Weekend in the Desert
- Emeri Wisotsky
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Top Three Coachella Performances 2026
Every year, Coachella compiles some of the most popular musicians, and this year was no different. Headlined by Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, this year’s festival blended numerous styles of music all while putting on amazing performances and having unforgettable collaborations.
Held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, Coachella takes place over two weekends. This year, it was on April 10-12 and April 17-19. The festival, which started as a more underground music festival, has evolved into a mainstream event. Today, it attracts major artists, influencers and media attention. Considered one of the most famous music festivals in the world, Coachella features multiple stages where artists perform throughout the day and night, each with their own set times that allow fans to plan around which artists they want to see. The festival had three main headliners, each closing out a night with a remarkable performance.
Sabrina Carpenter was the first headliner, performing on Friday. She opened the weekend with her up-beat pop songs and lively stage presence, setting an exciting tone for the festival. Most of her songs were from her most recent albums “Man’s Best Friend” and “Short and Sweet,” along with some popular songs from her earlier work. During the second weekend, her set gained even more attention with a surprise appearance by Madonna. Having one of the world’s most iconic artists at the performance made it quickly become a highlight of the festival, further making Sabrina Carpenter’s headlining set an essential moment of this year's Coachella.
On Saturday night, Justin Bieber followed with what was arguably the most talked-about performance of the festival. He played both his newer music and as throwbacks from earlier in his career. Using his laptop on stage to sing along with his younger self, he created a sense of nostalgia for everyone. A major part of his performance was all of the special guests he brought out, including The Kid LAROI, Billie Eilish, SZA, Sexyy Red, Big Sean and Dijon, making the set feel like a major event rather than just a production.
Karol G closed the weekend out with Latin pop, becoming one of the most vibrant and radiant sets of the festival. She performed songs from her 2025 album “Tropicoqueta,” as well as her past work. She also brought out several guest performers, including Mariah Angeliq, Becky G, Cigarettes After Sex and Wisin. Her performance also marked a historic moment for Coachella and Latin musicians, as she became the first Latina artist to headline the festival.
From pop to Latin music, Coachella 2026 showed how the festival keeps growing into a display of many styles of music.
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