Indio (United States) (AFP) – Thousands of fans gathered in the California desert for the hotly anticipated Coachella Festival, which kicked off Friday with pop princess Sabrina Carpenter in the headliner spotlight. The star-studded line-up — which also features headliners Justin Bieber and Colombia’s Karol G — will grace the stage in Indio on two consecutive weekends, kicking off the US music festival circuit for 2026.
Under Coachella’s desert sun, music fans donned cowboy boots, short shorts, and glitter galore for the festivities. Friday’s acts include standout emerging talent Teddy Swims, girl group KATSEYE, and electronica pioneer Moby. The opening night’s highlight though is Carpenter, who promised “the most ambitious show” of her career in an interview with Perfect Magazine. The “Manchild” singer made her Coachella debut in 2024, the year she released her catchy summer smash “Espresso.”
Fans were treated to slushies and selfie opportunities at “Sabrina Carpenter’s Pit Stop” — a gas station installation that featured the pink van from her “House Tour” video, released this week. “It’s so much more special when you can immerse yourself in and physically touch the concept an artist is trying to sell,” said Lina Luaces, Miss Universe Cuba, as she posed in one of the vintage cars on display. Once inside, the festival’s events will play out on nine stages, and closing out the first day will be Italian DJ Anyma, who is set to premiere his new production, “ÆDEN.”
– Bieber Fever –
The party continues across Coachella’s nine stages on Saturday, with a heavy dose of yesteryear’s biggest stars. The 90s are back with industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, who will team up with German producer Boys Noize for a performance, and the aughts will be repped by New York City rockers the Strokes — who are slated to release a new album in June after a six-year hiatus. But peak nostalgia may hit like a bout of “Bieber fever,” on the heels of the 32-year-old singer’s comeback at the Grammy Awards this year, with hits such as “Sorry” and “Where Are U Now.”
The night will also feature performances by techno stalwarts like Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer, K-pop stars such as Taemin and British dance sensation PinkPantheress. French DJ and producer David Guetta returns to the desert in Indio, and David Byrne, the legendary co-founder of Talking Heads, will make an appearance. As a testament to the diversity of genres on display at Coachella, the festival’s main stage will host influencer-turned-singer Addison Rae.
– ‘Tropicoqueta’ –
Sunday’s cherry on top will be reggaeton star Karol G, the first Latina to headline the festival. The winner of eight Latin Grammy Awards made her Coachella debut in 2022 with a performance that paid tribute to Latin music icons such as Selena, Celia Cruz, and Daddy Yankee. For this year’s show, the “Provenza” singer is expected to embrace the “Caribbean showgirl” aesthetic of her latest project, “Tropicoqueta.”
Sunday also promises the festival debut of K-pop kings BIGBANG, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a highly anticipated return to the international stage. Also appearing will be the godfather of punk Iggy Pop, and British DJ and producer Fatboy Slim, who dominated the electronic music scene in the 1990s. Other acts include Major Lazer, indie-pop band Foster the People, and British singer, dancer, and visual artist FKA twigs.
The festival will close with a screening under the stars of the first episode of the third season of “Euphoria,” the HBO high school drama series starring Zendaya, returning to television after four years. Coachella will also be streamed live on YouTube.
© 2024 AFP
