The Coachella Valley Music Festival on April 20, 2013.
sachoben via Wikimedia Commons
While Coachella Valley was once defined by its indie-rock roots, the 2026 festival cemented its transformation into a theater for cinematic pop and high-concept staging. Here’s a definitive ranking of the weekend’s standout sets.
Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter’s Friday night’s headlining set transformed the Coachella Stage into a cinematic production dubbed “Sabrinawood.” Her performance featured complex set-pieces and five distinct looks. The pinnacle of the night was during the second weekend when she transitioned into a surprise performance of “Vogue” alongside Madonna. It was a landmark moment that felt more like a Broadway-caliber film than a music festival set.
Karol G
Making history as the first Latina to headline the festival, Karol G delivered an electrifying Sunday night set that paid deep tribute to her Colombian heritage. The high-octane spectacle featured choreography by Parris Goebel and a jungle-themed production. It was a victory lap that proved she is currently operating at the absolute peak of her powers, closing the festival with an energy that few could match.
PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress turned the Mojave Tent into a high-concept rave. Clad in her signature plaid, her set reached a fever pitch when she transformed the stage into a literal dance club, bringing out stars like Janelle Monáe, Tyriq Withers and Zara Larsson, among others. Between performances of hits like “Pain” and the energy of the surprise guests, it was the most modern-feeling set of the weekend.
The Strokes
The legendary band’s set was airtight, filled with hits and Casablancas’ trademark deadpan quips proved that industry veterans still have a massive place on the main stage. Additionally, large screens behind the band displayed a video montage condemning footage of recent bombings in Gaza and Iran. The visuals highlighted the destruction of universities in both regions, with captions such as “The last university still standing in Gaza” appearing as Casablancas repeatedly sang, “What side you standing on?”
Laufey
If you needed a break from the adrenaline of the main stages, Laufey’s performance at the Outdoor Theatre stage was a standout. Bringing a full orchestra to the desert, she turned the polo fields into a jazz club. The set felt like a Broadway musical, complete with a literal swing on stage. Highlights included her new track “Madwoman” and a massive “blah blah blah” singalong during “From the Start” that proved her bossa-nova jazz vibe is a perfect fit for a Sunday night’s capstone.
KATSEYE
The girl group drew one of the largest crowds the Sahara Tent has seen in years. Despite performing without Manon, who is on hiatus, their stage presence was just as incredible. A standout moment included their first performance of the new single “Pinky Up” and a surprise collaboration with the Grammy-winning trio Huntrix from “K-Pop Demon Hunters”.
Addison Rae
Addison Rae proved she has much bigger aspirations than her social media origins suggest. She managed to put on an expert-level production, and the guest appearances by Maddie Ziegler for a surprise dance routine during “Aquamarine” and Olivia Rodrigo to perform her new single “Drop Dead” were genuine highlights for the pop-hungry crowd.
Slayyyter
Slayyyter’s Friday afternoon set was a raucous way to kick off the festival. Her “pop-screamo” energy and tracks like “CRANK” set a level of intensity that many night-time acts failed to reach. Not to mention, the singer handmade her own performance outfit in the week leading up to the show.
Justin Bieber
Easily the most polarizing set of the weekend. Bieber’s Saturday night’s headliner slot was unconventional and stripped back. At one point, he was literally scrolling through YouTube on his laptop and singing along to his own iconic music videos. While some fans appreciated the intimate connection, others felt it was a low-energy choice for such a massive platform.
The opinions expressed by the columnist are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The News Record. If you have any concerns or feedback, please feel free to reach out at editor@newsrecord.org.