It’s that time of year again: The 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival have announced their genius mix of headliners for April.
All I know about Coachella is what I hear from influencers who attend. They dress in elaborate, often uncomfortable and expensive-looking outfits or costumes. I see them advertising Aquaphor because they’re paid to and because the desert is so dry that they need the whole bottle for just two weekends. They are tired for weeks straight because they’re still up when the day starts and ends.
So I can’t possibly imagine what it’s like for the people camping. Thousands of people each weekend camp at Coachella because it’s less expensive than hotels, solves the problem of transportation and offers a fun community. It’s the economical alternative, but likely not the most comfortable.
Given the chaos of the event, the music must be spectacular. If fans are at all disappointed, well, it’s too bad Coachella doesn’t offer refunds, which is why the choice for the 2026 headliners are genius: something new, something old and something reliable.
While popstar Karol G has performed at Coachella before, a Latina headlining the show will be new for the music festival:
“I do think, headlining Coachella as the first Latina, it feels like there’s a really high bar for the show I need to reach,” Karol G told Rolling Stone. “I want to deliver something from my heart that represents my love for my community and my fans.”
Her album “Tropicoqueta” takes one listen to become addicted. It has everything a concert-goer wants: a steady beat, a spell-binding rhythm and a hypnotic voice.
Since its release on June 20, “Tropicoqueta” has seen much success. Karol G has now joined Jenni Rivera, Selena, and Sharkira who have achieved at least four No. 1 albums on Top Latin Albums. According to Billboard, her albums’ top songs, which peaked on the Hot Latin Songs on Jul. 5, include “Latina Foreva” at No. 4, “Papasito” at No. 5 and “Verano Rosa” at No. 9.
Furthermore, Karol G has landed 20 simultaneous songs on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart back in June, breaking her own record. Clearly, Karol G has built a record-breaking reputation worthy of Coachella.
Many Latino artists have performed at Coachella, but the first to headline was Bad Bunny in 2023, and now Karol G. Either Coachella decided Latin music has a large enough audience for another headliner, or the recent awards and chart-topping success made Karol G a must-have.
Either way, Karol G’s performance will be a breakthrough for Coachella. It is also the perfect opportunity for fans to fall in love with “Tropicoqueta” before tour dates come out.
As for something old, I’m sorry Justin Bieber, but you’re a dad now.
In all seriousness, Justin Bieber will likely never lose significance in today’s pop culture. However, Coachella 2026 will mark his first major U.S. show since cancelling the rest of his world tour for his last album, “Justice,” for health reasons in 2023. The Los Angeles Times reported that this cancellation on February 28th came after many postponements in September and June of 2022.
In three years, Bieber’s been focused on his health, marriage and family; notably the birth of his son on Aug. 23, 2024 as Bieber shared in an Instagram post.
Released on July 11 and September 5, respectively, “SWAG” and “SWAG II” are not seeing the mainstream popularity you would assume for a hit artist like Justin Bieber.
So far, “SWAG” has peaked at No. 2 on Billboard 200 and the release of “SWAG II,” which did not debut on Billboard 200, seems successful in keeping SWAG on the top of the charts. Bieber’s hit song of the album, “DAISIES,” peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 and “YUKON” at No. 17.
While “YUKON” may remain more elusive to anyone who isn’t a diehard Bieber fan, you’ve likely heard “DAISIES” on social media.
“I’m counting the days, how many days til I can see you again…” sings Bieber. We’re all counting the days til we can see a new performance from Bieber at Coachella, and to see if his albums deserve more hype.
Finally, if you like pop music, you like Sabrina Carpenter — our reliable contender.
In 2024, before the album release of “Short N’ Sweet,” Carpenter performed at Coachella and fans were instantly in love with her iconic stage presence and hypnotizing vocals. The outro of her hit song “Nonsense,” which was first performed at Coachella, catapulted her into a worldwide sensation for her future tour.
In only a year and six days after the release of “Short N’ Sweet,” Carpenter released another hit album, “Man’s Best Friend.”
In true Sabrina Carpenter fashion, she expertly weaves not-so-subtle romantic relationship remarks with easy to dance to music. Considering every song in the album is about a man, she manages to make each song interesting. Whether that’s by making it a ballad over pop tune, or offering a house tour vs. singing there’s “nobody’s son, not anyone left for me to believe in.”
On Sept. 13, just fifteen days after its release, “Man’s Best Friend” reached No. 1 on Billboard 200, with all 12 songs making it onto Billboard Hot 100. Carpenter’s song “Manchild” peaked at No. 1 and “Tears” at No. 3.
Carpenter’s consistency to pump out catchy, raunchy and well-loved songs along with her exponential growth to A-lister status makes her a “safety” headliner for Coachella 2026. Her lyrics are addictive, her story is memorable, and her performance of “Man’s Best Friend” is highly anticipated.
As Carpenter sang in her “Nonsense” outro at Coachella 2024, “Coachella, see you back here when I headline.” Talk about manifestation.
So how does Coachella, for how expensive, exhausting and hot it is, continue to lure well over 100,000 people each year? Through a headliner lineup fans can trust, love and look forward to.
Coachella will be held April 10-12 and April 17-19.
Leila Montoya can be reached at mont1761@stthomas.edu.
