All The Best Performances of Coachella 2026

Blood Orange

Pulling the audience into every angle of his performance, Blood Orange, aka Dev Hynes, transformed his Mojave Tent set into a fully immersive 360-degree experience using Coachella’s newest circular stage set-up. Moving fluidly between guitar and cello, the English singer-songwriter reimagined hits like “Champagne Coast,” “Jesus Freak Lighter,” and “Charcoal Baby” into a softer, more orchestral and meditative arrangement. A tender cover of “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” supported by airy backing vocals, further deepened the set’s intimate tone. Much to fans’ excitement, he also crossed over into Turnstile’s stage, joining the band for a performance of “SEEIN’ STARS” (see next entry), cello in hand. – Andrea Manuel, News Writer

Turnstile

It still amazes me how one of the world’s biggest rock acts right now is a legitimate hardcore punk band, and while Coachella 2026 wasn’t their first appearance at the festival, Turnstile’s Friday evening set at the Outdoor Stage could very well have been, as they played like they had something to prove. From the poignant video intro by singer Brendan Yates’ father (who was recently injured in an incident involving a disgruntled ex-band member) to a 12-song set that featured “T.L.C.,” “SEEIN’ STARS” (with a welcome appearance by Blood Orange), and intense closer “BIRDS,” Turnstile delivered hardcore urgency and veteran precision in a performance for the ages. – Jason Caballa, Managing Editor

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter turned the first weekend of Coachella into her own with grandiose and meticulously crafted stage set pieces, wardrobe, and an all-out, headlining debut featuring her hits and tracks from Short ‘n Sweet, Man’s Best Friend, and emails i can’t send. This is already expected at her caliber, but what we got was a full Sabrinawood experience that also featured cameos from Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Will Ferrell, Terry Crews, and Sam Elliott. – Ralph Regis, Lifestyle & Culture Writer

Yet in her performance for the festival’s second week, Carpenter upped the ante even further with a very special guest –– bringing out the one & only pop icon, Madonna. Of course, Madonna’s entrance was executed in the most extra way possible –– with her coming out as the special guest of the “Espresso” hitmaker’s “Juno” segment. The duo then performed the pop icon’s classic hits like “Vogue” and “Like A Prayer”, before surprising audiences further with a brand new collaboration, titled “Bring Your Love.” For Carpenter, such a moment could’ve been seen as a public display of anointing her as a bona fide pop princess, done by the Queen of Pop herself. – Gabriel Saulog, Associate Editor

Dijon

It’s no surprise that Dijon was one of the Coachella’s most talked about acts over the first week of the festival, with his Friday set living up to the hype at the Outdoor Theatre (alongside a sweet surprise appearance at Justin Bieber’s headlining set the day after.)

He brought out beloved collaborator Mk.gee, and together they built a dense, guitar-heavy sound with the help of an eight-piece band — at one point stacking five guitarists onstage at once. Yet rather than replicating the recordings, their live arrangements stretched and deepened his songs, showcasing their improvisation wizardry, which shed their lo-fi edges in favor of something more expansive and resonant (especially with tracks from his latest album, Baby) – Gabriel Saulog

KATSEYE

Marking their Coachella debut as a long-awaited dream finally achieved, the global girl group KATSEYE drew a massive, tightly packed crowd at the Sahara Stage, delivering a high-energy set driven by their signature sharp choreography. They opened with the live debut of their latest single, “Pinky Up,” immediately setting the tone for the rest of their set. The energy peaked when HUNTR/X singers Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna joined the group on stage, turning the tent into a full-on singalong of the iconic anthem “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Even with member Manon sitting out the performance, KATSEYE powered through, filling the Sahara stage with their intense dance breaks and commanding presence from start to finish. Ending on a high, the girls drove the set to an explosive close with “MIA” and “Gnarly,” leaving the Sahara crowd in full uproar. – Andrea Manuel

Nine Inch Noize

Seeing this name on the 2026 lineup when it was first announced raised a lot of eyebrows and questions, until it became clear that it was set to be a live performance by industrial rock legends Nine Inch Nails and producer Boys Noize. Instead of the live band that NIN would typically tour with, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Boys Noize huddled over synths, samplers, and sequencers, performing faithful but noise-drenched renditions of NIN classics like “Heresy,” “Copy of A,” and “Closer,” and joined by Reznor’s Filipina-American wife, Mariqueen Maandig of How To Destroy Angels for much of the set, turning the Sahara Stage into a rave from hell on Saturday night. – Jason Caballa

Anyma X LISA

After strong winds caused a cancellation of his set during the festival’s first week, Anyma finally got to take the stage with an excellent Coachella showcase that was well worth the wait. Going beyond the usual musical performance, both he and BLACKPINK’s LISA executed an immersive live spectacle that merged cutting-edge visuals with sonic drama. But forgoing the use of an impressive optical illusion, Anyma’s signature techno futurism provided a cinematic backbone, while Lisa’s magnetic stage presence cut through with razor-sharp choreography and global pop appeal. The chemistry was unexpected but undeniable, elevating the set into a cross-genre moment that blurred the line between underground credibility and mainstage dominance. – Gabriel Saulog

Slayyyter

Being one of the earliest performances for the festival (especially at 3 in the afternoon, where the sun is at its hottest) would often result in a low to middling audience turnout, yet Slayyyter’s highly anticipated Coachella debut saw the Mojave Stage at over capacity.

Performing the entirety of her latest album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, for the massive crowd, the rising pop star turned the Mojave stage into a massive rave, inviting audiences not just to sing along, but scream along to her high-energy anthems like “CRANK,” “YES GODDD,” and “$T LO$ER.” None of these are easy tracks to deliver in the live setting (given the intensity of its vocal demands and loud electronic production), yet Slayyyter and her band easily delivered an unforgettable performance that could easily shoot her up to superstardom in a just world. – Gabriel Saulog

Foster The People

Foster the People dialed it back to the early 2010s as they played tracks like “Houdini,” “Call It What You Want,” “Helena Beat,” “Coming of Age,” and of course, “Pumped Up Kicks.” Despite lineup changes over the years, co-founder and frontman Mark Foster still brought the same level of sound and energy reminiscent of their first appearance at the festival in 2011 and their second in 2014. Apart from the performance itself, Foster also shared a hopeful message, talking about wanting to quit the industry altogether before they got to release their 2011 breakthrough hit “Pumped Up Kicks.” – Ralph Regis

BIGBANG

BIGBANG’s Coachella 2026 set felt less like a comeback and more like a reminder of who set the bar in the very first place. Reasserting their status as architects of modern K-pop’s global reach, the K-pop icons commanded the stage with razor-sharp precision and an effortless sense of spectacle –– fusing nostalgia with reinvention, turning a hit-stacked catalog into a living, breathing arena moment in the desert.

Each member brought a distinct charisma that translated seamlessly to the festival’s massive scale, elevating the performance beyond a reunion into a cultural event. Even after all these years, their chemistry was still there, sharp and unforced, and the crowd fed off it from the first beat. For in a festival built on big moments, BIGBANG’s reunion was undeniably the one that actually stuck. –Gabriel Saulog

The Strokes

Despite being given the unenviable timeslot of playing just before headliner Justin Bieber on the main stage, New York City’s most famous nonchalant rockers The Strokes delivered a memorable set to an audience that was made up of Beliebers and actual fans who came to see them, no doubt hyped by the recent announcement of their new album coming in June. Besides the just-released single “Going Shopping,” Julian Casablancas and his gang of well-dressed mates played an assortment of favorites from the band’s first three albums and a few more from the Grammy-winning pandemic era release The New Abnormal, emanating utter cool all throughout. – Jason Caballa

Wet Leg

Wet Leg turned up the heat of the season and slayed the main stage on Sunday with a well-rounded performance of songs including “Wet Dream,” “davina mccall,” “mangetout,” and “Chaise Longue.” The indie rock band brought out German DJ and singer HorsegiirL during their performance of “CPR,” a track from their sophomore album, moisturizer. Marking their second appearance at the festival, Wet Leg brought their catchy and danceable sound to the stage, making their set as rocking as you’d expect. – Ralph Regis

PinkPantheress

Pinkpantheress turned the Mojave Tent into a late-night club set, pulling the crowd straight into her neon-lit dance floor. She opened with her 2026 hit “Stateside,” with the screen flashing “Pinkpantheress has arrived” as she stepped into the smoke-drenched stage. From there, she moved through tracks like “Romeo,” “Noises,” and “Nice To Know You,” each one pushing the energy higher.

She bent the set further into club culture, with surprise guests The Dare, HoresegiirL, Thundercat, and actor Tyriq Withers appearing as “Romeo” for the track’s reprise. Pink’s performance highlights come with hits “Boys A Liar pt. 2” and “Illegal,” before she closed the night calling out, “What’s my name?” — with the crowd instantly roaring back, “Pink!” – Andrea Manuel

On Week 2, Pinkpantheress continued the festivities with a bigger celebration – one that came in celebration of her 25th birthday. Joined once more by Tyriq Withers, alongside special guests like Zara Larsson, KATSEYE’s Manon, Ninajirachi, Slayyyter, and actress Chase Infiniti, the British pop star delivered yet another memorable performance that reminds us just how far she’s come. – Gabriel Saulog

Justin Bieber

There was already a lot to unpack from Justin Bieber’s meta headlining performance at Coachella’s first week, but what transpired on the festival’s second weekend only solidified his star power as one of the 21st century’s most prolific musicians. Performing with more gusto and energy (perhaps) more than ever before, the Biebs executed an immersive, if heartfelt, two-hour set that reminded the world how there’s no pop star out there like him.

His smooth, soulful vocals not only sounded excellent with his later material (like SWAG and Justice), but also surprised audiences with how fitting they were with his classic hits –– giving them a reimagined take of the songs that many of us grew up with. Though the Canadian pop icon’s stage presence was strong on its own, the set was made even better by the stellar array of guest performers who appeared on both weekends, including Tems, Dijon, SZA, Big Sean, and Billie Eilish (who was selected as Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl.”) In a way, it was as if the moment was healing for both Bieber and his fandom of Beliebers –– making it more meaningful than anyone would expect. – Gabriel Saulog

BINI

Carrying the weight of the Philippines on their backs, the members of BINI proudly represented both OPM and P-pop with their first-ever Coachella performance. Though beyond the significance of what their performance means for the country, what transpired on the Mojave Stage last Friday was history-in-the-making, as the Nation’s Girl Group utilized every moment of their performance to show the entire world watching just how dedicated (and passionate!) they are about their craft.

In their 45-minute set, the group moved through a stellar mix of their bubblegum pop hits over the years — ranging from the English BINIverse songs, to the FlipMusic-produced hits like “Karera,” “Salamin, Salamin,” and “Pantropiko” — with the latter three being absolutely surreal to hear on such a massive festival like Coachella. Yet from the second they stepped out, there was this undeniable energy that you could feel radiating from BINI’s members, which saw them confident, polished, and completely magnetic. Every move was sharp, every vocal on point, and even the crowd could feel how much this performance meant.

For what transpired wasn’t just a win for BINI — but it was a proud moment for all the fans who’ve been rooting for them from the start. – Gabriel Saulog