This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.All the Best Moments You Might Have Missed From Weekend One of Coachella 2026

Joel CalfeeWed, April 15, 2026 at 6:20 PM UTC

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The Highlights From Weekend One of Coachella 2026Getty Images

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Another year, another buzzy Coachella in the books.

Weekend one just wrapped on the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and it featured showstopping performances from headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G, as well as unforgettable moments from some of the other marquee guests, like PinkPantheress, Katseye, and Addison Rae.

When it comes to Coachella, you can be sure to expect plenty of celebrity cameos, scene-stealing looks, and career-best performances, and this year’s festival did not was no exception.

Ahead, we’ve broken down a few of the standout moments from weekend one of Coachella, and watch this space for updates once the second installment kicks off this coming Friday.

Sabrina Carpenter transports us into her campy showgirl world.

Welcome to Sabrinawood. As the first headliner of the weekend, Sabrina Carpenter delivered a showstopping spectacle that saw her running through some of her biggest hits from Short n’ Sweet and Man’s Best Friend. Within a stage set to look like the Hollywood Hills, the pop singer moved through makeshift bars, jazz lounges, and cabarets, all while dancing with men dressed like dogs, driving around in vintage cars (one of which transformed into a giant splashing fountain), and bringing out a few surprise guests, like Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell. Here, Carpenter made it clear why she has earned her place as one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

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Justin Bieber goes down memory lane, with the help of YouTube.

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As someone who was first discovered via the internet, it felt like Justin Bieber was speaking to his younger self during his headlining set on Saturday evening. That night, Bieber pulled out his laptop and played YouTube videos for fans, doing karaoke to a series of his old hits (like “Baby,” “That Should Be Me,” and “Favorite Girl”), and crooning along to videos of himself singing as a little kid (while sneaking in a few funny memes in the process). It was just like one of those classic music video nights you have at home, but brought to a much bigger arena. From the audience, Katy Perry put it best when she said: “Thank God he has premium. I don’t want to see no ads.”

PinkPantheress shares a “kiss” with a surprise guest.

As she kicked off her Coachella set, PinkPantheress informed the audience that she was in search of her “Romeo” (in a reference to her song of the same name and, of course, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). As it turns out, she found him in the form of actor Tyriq Withers. The Him and Tell Me Lies star made a few surprise appearances throughout the British singer’s lineup, acting as her supposed love interest. However, the best moment came toward the end, as PinkPantheress performed her hit “Illegal.” Once the song was finished, the two leaned in for a kiss—but their smooch was covered up by a sign that read: “The End.” Well played.

Katseye perform a duet of “Golden” with the singers of KPop Demon Hunters.

Christopher Polk - Getty Images

When Katseye took the stage for their first-ever Coachella performance, they decided to double the girl group power and invite Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna of the fictional group Huntrix to join them on stage and sing the Oscar-winning song “Golden” from the latter’s animated Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters. It was a triumphant moment of two girl groups coming together, both of whom dominated the cultural conversation all this past year.

Addison Rae brings out Maddie Ziegler for a hypnotic dance break.

Kevin Mazur - Getty Images

You might recognize Maddie Ziegler from her time on Dance Moms, or as the longtime muse of Sia, who has cast the dancing virtuoso in a number of her videos for songs like “Chandelier” and “Elastic Heart.” Addison Rae, who has her own background in dance, decided to bring Ziegler out as a surprise guest during her Coachella set on Saturday, where the two performed a gorgeous pas de deux to the song “Aquamarine.” The hypnotic performance was a highlight of Rae’s winning Coachella debut, and a rare moment where dance took center stage during the festival.

Karol G closes the weekend with an electric set—and a powerful message.

As the final performer of the weekend, Karol G also made history as the first Latina headliner ever at Coachella—and she held nothing back with her performance. The spirited setlist included over 20 of her biggest hits, brought to life with vibrant costuming, a cave-inspired backdrop, and a flurry of guests, including Becky G, Wisin, Cigarettes After Sex lead singer Greg Gonzalez, Mariah Angeliq, and the all-female group Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.

Toward the end of her performance, the Brazilian superstar shared a powerful message with the audience, saying: “This is not just about me, this is about my Latino community, this is about my people. And at the same time, this is for my Latinos who have been struggling in this country lately. We stand for them, I stand for my Latino community, and at the same time, I’m very proud because this brings out the best of us: unity, resilience, and a strong spirit.”

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